1. Is MV3 killing Adblockers like people say? while MV3 is more restricted than MV2, it will not kill adblockers.
   
2. Is Google killing adblockers? no, there is Adblockplus, Adguard and uBlock MV3 complaint extensions in the store.
   
3. Why do people say Google is killing adblockers then? It's based on not understanding how adblockers filters/rules work.
   
4. Will I see Youtube ads because Google is going to workaround how adblockers work? Not exactly, Google can't do anything about it, the method used in MV3 is the same way ads are being blocked in MV2, which is by injecting a JavaScript snippets. The only way Google can do anything is if they completely change the way they deliver their ads, for example, embedding them just like Twitch does it.
   
5. I heard adblockers can't update lists frequently like they do now because lists are included in the extensions and reviewing extensions take days, is that true? Yes, that's true, but recently google added a Skip review for eligible changes to extensions that will take care of that (you can read it on their 'developer chrome' blog), and Developers can publish SAFE STATIC RULES updates without needing to go through a review by the extension store. This means Adblockers can normally update their lists and they will be available to users within minutes. This also only applies to extensions that use declarativeNetRequest API, which is aimed at Adblockers and how they do things like updating lists. In fact, this what Google says in their blog about it: "In Manifest V3, developers of content filtering extensions make heavy use of the Declarative Net Request API. These extensions rely on filter lists which can change often and need to be kept up to date for users. We already support dynamic rules and we are adding this option to make sure developers can continue to offer the same set of capabilities in MV3."
   So while the concern is true, how can these factual actions taken by Google, like improving MV3 DNR limits based on Adguard and Adblock Plus feedback, and this skip review for CONTENT FILTERING extensions, can translate to some people as Google is killing adblockers and Google this and Google that? well, it's just a contradictory logic.
   

But this post is not exactly about MV3 or to defend MV3, the only truth we know is that MV3 is the future in Chromium browsers, and nobody can do anything.
The purpose of this post is to explain how Adblockers work and why MV3 while more restricted in what MV2 allowed extensions to do (Mv3 adds positive and negative things), there shouldn't be big issues for most adblocker rules to be implemented and work and do what Mv2 did. In terms of adblocking, that's what matters here anyway, if a rule is working or not, even if they miss some other features they had, like an easy to use slider or a buttons.
Adblockers aren't doing any magic, a dev anti-adblock implementation might not work in MV2, just like it won't work in Mv3, because adblocking is always evolving to cover many cases where trackers and ads are getting through. This is why you see some scriptlets being implemented just to address a single site, because sometimes that is the best approach, and sometimes a single scriptlet or a different type of rule will cover many at the same time.
So no, this is also not to justify the creation of MV3, but MV3 wasn't made to specifically damage adblocking, MV3 is the whole extension platform, so every extension will be affected. Of course, the explanation behind MV3 is to give Chromium browsers the power with native APIs to do the filtering and everything extensions do, they say it is for performance, battery and security reasons, but in terms of adblockers it doesn't matter if true or not, because right now most major MV3 complaint adblockers are able to block, hide and modify most of what MV2 are doing.
Is MV3 perfect for adblockers? no, but also that can be relative and depends on the website, it works fine in some websites, in others it needs some work. Also, MV3 keeps evolving so it will not have the same features today that they will have in a year, just like a year ago we didn't have userScript and DNR limits were terrible and there was no skip review for static rules.. etc etc.
So of course, I believe many arguments against Mv3 are also based on pure lack of logic and reason, like think about this, why would Google provide Declarative Net Request API, if they don't want extensions to do that? if they wanted to kill most of Adblocker effectiveness they would have done that, the browser can do it natively for developers so why provide an Extension API if the plan is to limit and kill adblockers? that's how some people's logic doesn't make any sense.
Their claims is also based on their lack of knowing how Adblocking rules work, and they think everything is just the doom of dooms by not knowing how Adblockers do what they do, like cosmetics. Do people even know all it does is add display: none !important to an HTML element? that's all it does, and that can be done by every adblocker today, MV2 or MV3, if they are developed correctly. There are some Mv3 that are more advanced than Mv2 adblockers for example.
So this is more to let some people drop the fear and misinformation, with the concepts of Adblocking and the manifestv3 extension platform. It's okay to have some doubt and be uncertain about stuff, but making claims like "google is killing adblockers" or "Google will stop supporting adblockers" are just ridiculous.
And this is why:
First, Like I said, Adblockers don't do 'magic' to do what they do, Adblockers fundamental idea is very simple in the way they do their job, this is because everything done by the Adblockers can be done by anyone using the same features to create websites and all, like Devtools, Block Network Requests, Modify or Add or remove CSS properties, attributes, classes, nodes, modify headers, modify CSP inject JavaScript snippets which would allow to have access to many APIs like remove or set cookies or local storage items, set functions or stop then from running, close windows, stop popups from opening... etc.
This means Adblockers can't be killed because if Google were to block Adblockers for doing simple tasks like that, most other extension would be blocked, for example: 7tv or Betterttv inject JS in Twitch so Twitch page replaces words by images. Dark Reader or midnight-lizard will modify the CSS to modify the way websites look. Something like Inssman or ModHeader will modify and add and remove the request and response headers, and make other advanced stuff that would work like what Adblockers do to do their job.
So for Google to block adblockers, they need to change completely the way web technologies are made, this is also because when you open devtools, a page is an open book, you can check anything a website does and modify it and even retain some changes after you reload the page when you use Sources -> overrides. So it is not possible for Google to do that.
If people think Google could block extensions based on name? Adblockers can just drop the use of "adblockers' in their name and move on. If people think Google could use the Static rules (in MV3 rules that come with the adblocker have to be reviewed by Chrome Extension Store), well, Youtube currently doesn't use any essential static rule for its adblocking, maybe for anti-track purposes but not really for the video ads, so even if Google were to block Adblockers based on other types of rules like Scriptlet injection, there will be an official list to load in the adblocker that will do the job. Adblockers are allowed to use custom rules, and since scriptlet injections rules are not counted towards any Dynamic rules limit in DNR, then you can add as many as you want, because the limits in DNR are for DNR not other types of rules that don't touch the API.
Yes, Adblockers support many type of rules to achieve anything they do, this is important because it seems for the way people comment or write their posts that they think Cosmetics are the same as a Network Request filter and they all obth are limited to DNR API, people should finally stop thinking thata rule can be treated the same as another, especially when we talk about DNR limits.
DNR API is ONLY about Network Request filtering, this is, anything that the browser connects to when loading a page, you can see all these connections in Devtools -> Network, and you can use the Network Request Filtering inside Devtools to achieve the same an adblocker would do (maybe better, since Devtools has access to anything, even extensions, while extensions can only see pages, no internal pages or other extensions.). These ones are the only rules that count towards the limits of declarativeNetRequest API which is replacing WebRequest API. Other rules, like cosmetics or scriptlet injections are not counted towards the limit, so basically, anything that looks like example^ or example$domain=test, example/ads/*$xhr,scriptare the only ones that have to do with DNR API, but if they are simple cosmetics example##.class or Scriptlet Injections example##+js(scriptlet), they are not going to use DNR.
This is very important to understand, because most people make Cosmetic filters either by using native CSS selectors or pseudo-classes or Procedurals (selectors made with JS), and something like Youtube and others use scriptlet injections to achieve the adblocking capabilities, not network request becasue the ads don't get delivered that way or because modifying the way ads are delivered will not get blocked easily by Youtube or any other provider.
So Google can't even do much about adblockers in Youtube, because they would have to change the way ads are delivered to achieve that, just like Twitch did, and even in Twitch there are still workarounds like a scriptlet that lowers the quality to 360p while the ads are running, or extensions to proxy the connection to countries were ads are not implemented. This is the only way they have been able to fight a little the way uBlock, Brave or Adguard implementation to block Youtube ads, by changing a little the JSON stuff, but in 8 months Youtube hasn't been able to do much.
Now, about Anti-adblock technologies, this is not new, any website have been using similar methods to try to scare people and annoy people to disable adblockers, some are more effective the ones, some are not avoidable by simple methods and you need to allow some connections, but basically browsers can't tell if you are using Adblocker or not, what developers do is they build a logic to assume you are using an adblocker. Youtube latest anti-adblocker trick, was to go to Easylist, see an element that is being HIDDEN by cosmetics, and tell the page "if this element has the CSS display: none !important; then display the anti-adblock notice" nothing that wasn't fixed in 3 seconds by filter mantainers, that's it, not anything big to combat adblockers, just what any other website has been using in years, but something like Youtube hasn't really done much to fight adblockers in months for the way scriptlets were made by Adguard and uBlock with tons of research behind them on how to effectively implement them.
So why are people still stuck in the idea that Google can do anything about adblockers? it is fime to stop. Yes, Manifestv3 brings changes some negative changes, but also some positive ones, also some limits and all that, but it's not going to kill adbockers, especially when Google keeps making the extension platform more powerful by adding more APIs, for example recently they added userScripts API, which seems to be amazing allowing extensions to inject JS code natively, easy, without sacrificing performance, and since the idea of Manifestv3 is letting the browser do all the job by native APIs, then the performance between MV3 extensions shouldn't be an issue anymore, now it will be about extensions offering or not specific features and how devs improve and expand the extensions without killing the browser or opening security issues or something.
BTW recently Google made some changes to improve DNR limits. - More Static Rules: Previously only 50 static rulesets could be added per extension and only 10 enabled simultaneously. they were increased to be 50 simultaneusly and 100 rulesets in total. - More Dynamic Rules: 5000 were the limit and it was increased to 30000, but this is only for DNR rules: block, allow, allowAllRequests or upgradeScheme, while other dynamic net request rules stay at 5000. This is the change that was made based on Adguard and Adblock Plus feedback, because between internal lists and custom lists the 5K was too low and hit easily. You could see other limits by finding MAX_NUMBER_OF_DYNAMIC_RULES in Chrome's documentation.
So the limites are not the end of the world either, even if you were going to add your own rules.
Adblockers have evolved, they are not simple network requests and then cosmetics to hide whatever leftovers display in the page, this has needed years of researching and implementations, but they are not going away, because there are already MV3 complaint extensions in Google Extension Store, some are more capable than others, some offer most of the MV2 counterpart rules parity, some need work but it doesn't mean the effectiveness of the adblocker is gone.
These are some of the rules adblockers relay on, of course some have more value than others.
But in Adblocking world, If a rule exists, it will only be valid if the Adblocker supports it, there is no magic here either, a rule is either supported or not, this is why lists have thousands of rules, manually updated by humans everyday and all adblockers I tested, and why it is important for adblockers to find a way to support most of the rules they previously supported, sometimes an adblocker might support a rule and not the other like injecting CSS code in any HTML element, so it's not a limitation of the platform and how developers didn't care to give that feature or not yet.
Of course, if you don't believe me, you and anyone can test these rules and see if their adblocker of choice is effective or not, or if the rules you need to achieve X or Y exist, their documentation should easily let you write your own rules, so anyone could easily write a rule and adapt it to each Adblocker's syntax and see if the adblocker has the support for those features or not. I have done this for years and have made lists, of course Adblockers are always adding new type of rules and evolving so it is hard to keep up, especially if a rule is not documented because it is experimetal and might or not be implemented in the end.
Anyway, these are the main types of adblocking rules so you can see the differences:
Network request: They will block anything you see in Devtools -> Network tab, the most basic one is example^ and they can use modifiers to filter them more and be more specific: document, domain/from, scrpt, 3p, image, xhr, css, popup, redirect, redirect-rule, to, other, media, all. The first part before the $ is the URL the browser sees, the modifiers after the $ are just ways to filter them to be more specific if necessary. So, it requires a bit of reading to know how to write rules but it is easy, especially cosmetics, but for example you can set up to block specific images in specific domains you use test.jpg$image,domain=example or a script when it is loaded as a third-party connection test$script,3p This is what blocks as an Adblocker, any other rule can block, but this is the main one in charge of that and modify or block network request.
Cosmetic: example##.test this are the ones with native CSS selectors and pseudo classes. All it does is whatever you 'select' by using CSS selectors and pseudo classes, will be added the property display: none !important, and that's it, they don't block, only hide whatever element is selected, which is always a misconception of people when they say "Adblocker X is not blocking ads" but it is a static image that just doesn't have a specific rule set up.
Scriptlet Injection: example##+js(scriptlet) these are one of the most important filters in recent years, increasing the importance because injecting JS is powerful, and allows to do too many different things. But for example you could use a scriptlet to stop visibilitychange and then videos won't detect you tabbed out and stop them, so it is a whole world on its own, it is the biggest type of rule, because it allows to do almost anything with a website by injecting JS and using APIs like any pages does, this is the future of adblocking and it's like a reverse-engeneering type of thing, so instead of you building a feature by using JS in a page by a web dev, the adblocker is going stop or remove or modify what was built with JS by using the same JS that is native to the browser, again, no different than what you can do in Devtools. I wonder if Mv3 complain extensions will allow us to use our own scriptlets eventually, userScripts API should be the new better official API way of doing it as far as I know, it only needs dev mode to be enabled and it should allow users to download or add their own JS code to inject in pages, but I am not an extension developer to know the exact details and the performance compared to what MV2 extensions do when injecting scriptlets, but I am positive about it especially when it is a API provided by the browser and all.
Redirection rules: example$redirect=resource or example$redirect-rule= or ABP would use something that has the syntax $rewrite=abp-resource:resource this basically will replace a network request and use a local modified resource, this means you can replace a JS file with a noop one. This is important becuase it's frequent to detect adblockers based on network requests not being delivered, so this will allow the page to think it got the file, but since it is useless, nothing trackers or ads will happen, so you can block the request and faking the deliver of the file.
Content Security Policy (CSP): example$csp=default-src;sandbox;script-src This is not used often but it is very powerful. It works for a whitelisting stuff from a page, so you will add what you want to whitelist depending what you want to do. There are similar ways to achieve that in some adblockers by using $to (at least both $CSP and $to are supported by Adguard in MV3).
Procedural cosmetics: example##.test:upward(:has-text(TEXT)) some use the :contains() instead of :has-text(). But these are just non-native selectors made by JS, they allow amazing things but are slower than native CSS selectors and pseudo classes, so make things easier depending on situation at the cost of performance.
Action operators: :style() example##.test:style(css property) (or in Adguard = example#$?#.test {css property}), :remove(), :remove-attr(), :remove-class(), pretty useful to modify the websites and remove elements instead of hiding them, when hiding is not enough, remove-attr and remove-cass are still available in the form is scriptlet injections, since you have to inject JS to achieve what they do, but using them with normal CSS selectors, looking like normal cosmetics gives more flexibility for the rules and how they are applied in a page, like if an element changes in the page.
There are also the Specific or Generic rules, Generic are the ones that will apply to every page, specific will apply to specific domain(s), and there are also the exceptions, so rules are not applied to specific domains or completely to override something that was added by a filter list, same as $badfilter and other rules that are used in filter lists but users rarely use.
Most of rules that were in MV2 have been implemented in MV3, and the more time that passes the more an adblocker will evolve one way or the other, which is exactly what adblockers have been doing for years.
But in the end, people can test all this and drop the idea of the Evil MV3, because there already 3 major adblocking extensions in the store that are MV3 complaint anyway, some have more features than others, some already support all the same supported rules that they had in Mv2, some will include advanced features eventually, so people should just wait and see, there is still time for Extension Store to hide Mv2 extensions, and for Browser to completely remove Mv2 support, so rushing to judge based on ignorance shouldn't be a thing anymore.
Extensions in the store:
Adblock Plus: This seems to be the only official mainstream MV3 adblocker at the moment, it replaced the MV2 version sometime ago, so their decision to do that shows they were ready for it.
It works fine, every previous rule that was reported to be supported by MV2 in their documentation How-to-write-filters works, also, it allows you to use your own Custom Adblock rules and lists, It also has a logger through devtools.
The only problem people will notice is that it is still the same freemium extension as before, maybe more aggressive now because you need a subscription to unblock some features/lists, but you don't need that because you use any list you want, and you can write your own filters, unless they add scriptlets or something restricted only to premium users, then there is no reason why you can't make them yourself.
It seems to do a good job blocking Youtube ads, in my quick test of watching many videos. ABP compared to uBlock and Adguard has been fast, but lacks many important rules I like to use, so in terms of being for advanced users, it is not, but it works and it is fast. So missing some features like injecting CSS in a page, or adding your own scriptlets is not something I expected for it to have. But for general use it works great.
In the end they just switched all their million of users (between Edge, Chrome and Opera extension stores) to MV3, and I am sure nobody noticed the difference.
uBlock Origin Lite: This extension is also a separated extension from the MV2 conterpart, but it seems to offer good support for the rules.
There are one serious limitations though, no custom adblock rules or lists at the moment. But obviously it is not a limitation of MV3 when the other 2 extensions offer it.
It is really hard to test what exact features it supports or not compared to the MV2, for that single reason, no custom adblock rules.
But It seems to block Youtube ads fine in my experience, so it should be easier to do things when they add custom adblock rules and all that, but seems like it is in a decent spot.
But I made a reverse way of testing rules, a quick one because I didn't want to take hours doin it.
I opened the filter lists and searched for any random rule hltv.*##.leftCol > div [data-link-tracking-page="Widget"]:upward(.leftCol > div) that has :has() and :upward(). If the rule is not present in the domain, I would just create the HTML node structure and see if it works or not.
Well, they work, so it supports procedural cosmetic filters. The only problem I encountered that is not present in ABP or Adguard is that when I modified the rule, the rule has to be come invalid and show the element, for example an attribute, but when modifying the attribute the elements were still hidden with the display: none !important property, which is not what they have to do, like it's not watching the DOM correctly, but it is not an issue people will encounter, but more lika a behavior issue in how other adblockers work.
I also encountered some issues, where cosmetics are not being applied, if I go to cgpress you can see the right side has am ad leftover, but if you use devtools, you see that span[data-ez-ph-id] is in the list of cosmetics being applied, so it works but for some reason the other property being set by the page with display: block !important; is still being applied and not being overriden by what uBlock Lite is adding so you can remove the !important added by cgpress devs and the element will be hidden properly.
But this means it is not the adblocker not being able to do it, it is just it is not applying the cosmetic correctly in some cases, which is something the dev has to fix because ABP doens't have an issue for example.
uBlock Lite is also able to inject CSS with the action operator :style(), if you go to uBlockorg website, you shall see a message that says "uBlock is unrelated to the well-known uBlock Origin." in red, well, that's injected by the adblocker with the :style() action operator. So it supports most good rules, and while it is hard ot test without custom user rules, it's great and fast.
Adguard: Adguard is a separated extension "MV3 Experimental", it offers more features than ABP, by features I mean, rules. The logger is only present if you build and sideload the extension though, no official support for that yet, like ABP implemented, but It allows custom adblock rules and lists.
It seems to have the same issue as Adguard MV2, the performance of ExtendedCss (procedural) cosmetics is a little slower than what you would get in ABP (MV2 or MV3) and last time I reported and issue with native :is() pseudo class, but who knows when they are going to fix it, the issue is present in both MV2 and MV3, so it is not a MV3 issue but Adguard being Adguard.
But it works for the most part, seems like it has some little issues with the Scriptlet Injections though, so it runs when you load the page but then the scriptlet doesn't get injected anymore, which would affect Youtube adblocking, but doesn't mean that they won't improve it, because I tested uBlock Origin Lite and ABP as well and the issues are not there. Since uBlock Lite can do it, we I hope people won't blame MV3 and think it is MV3's fault.
But it offers great features like being able to inject any CSS property you want by using #?#.selector {style}, or you can use $csp to modify the CSP permissions in a page, and $to and many rules you can read in thier Github and the kb page How to create your own ad filters, and while it still doesn't support the great advanced list of rules the MV2 supports, it is closer and closer on each big release. Of course not having a logger makes it hard to test and see what rules are being used by Adguard in the normal version (you can get logger in the dev built version) but we hope eventually all this will be resolved when installing MV3 matters, I guess the most important thing to resolve is the Scriptlet Injection and how it is not working correctly, but other filters seem to work okay... we can only wait and see but Adguard's business comes from adblocking, so you hope they will have the extension ready soon, because Scriptlet Injections is like the most important filter in my opinion, and it's what important sites like Youtube need. So while it supports great features, that single issue is problematic, but it should be okay soon, it was working fine before, it will work fine again.
So... Will people still say Google can kill adblockers after reading this? probaly. Some people might think who am I to 'teach them anything' or don't care about what I wrote in this post and want to get stuck intheir ideas, but at least I am the kind of person who has found and reported bugs in how adblockers apply their rules, misbehaviors and limitations and workarounds and everything like that, this is because I meddle with adblockers enough to do all that. If someone needs a rule or a solution to a problem with a page, I am sure an Adblocker might be able to solve it. This is another thing about adblockers, they have evolved so much to do more than just adblocking or antitracking, you can use its features for so many thing, that you can completely change websites by modify their CSS, not just colors but position, size of the elements etc... I still hope some people learned something and how adblockers are easy to test and experiment with and even if MV3 Adblockers are still not feature parity with MV2, that doesn't mean they are going anywhere, or they can be killed by anyone like Google without changing the whole web.
Any questions about adblockers, I never have issues with that, any rule peopel need, I can help with that too. I know some people are weird on the internet, maybe too passionate to have a conversation, but I still hope someone learned anything from this post. I tried to cover everything I could to explain the details, so I hope I covered most of it so if people are interested they can go to each Adblocker documentation, see what feature they support and maybe learn how to write their own rules and how to fix their web by themselves if necessary.
Thank you very much for reading and have a good day.

So I'm binge watcher and frequently stream Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max. I'm always looking for the best VPN for streaming. So far, I have found four solid services. Which ones would you recommend?

1. NordVPN for streaming

• Claims to unlock many streaming platforms and regional libraries
• NordLynx protocol gave me speeds of 500+ Mbps
• 10 Gbps servers further improve server performance
• Obfuscated servers to hide your VPN traffic (but I don't think these are useful for streaming)
• Double-VPN servers enhance security (but again, probably not useful for streaming)
• 10 simultaneous connections (yay!)
• Subscription starts around $3/month
• 24/7 live chat support
• 30-day refund guarantee.

NordVPN gave me consistently fast connection and worked across all streaming platforms. My IP was never blacklisted and I didn't get a proxy error. I've used the NordLynx protocol to get the best connection. It was fast enough to let me stream shows in 4K. Is it the top VPN for streaming, as others have recommended, or are there better options I should use?

2. Surfshark VPN streaming is cheap

• 3,200+ servers in 100 countries
• Audited no-logs VPN service
• AES 256 encryption
• Claims to work on all major streaming platforms
• Speeds are pretty good
• Obfuscated servers (Camouflage mode)
• 10 Gbps servers
• Unlimited connections
• Budget subscription plans around $2.20/month
• Kill switch
• 24/7 live chat support
• 30-day refund policy

Surfshark gave me speeds close to NordVPN, which isn't surprising as both use a similar WireGuard VPN protocol. It allowed me to watch shows on various platforms without problems. I've tested it on various European and US servers and never experienced buffering.

3. ExpressVPN decent VPN for streaming

• 3,000+ servers in 105 countries
• Unlocks most streaming sites
• Strict zero-logs policy and RAM servers
• AES 256 encryption
• Split tunneling
• Moderate speeds and consistent connection
• 8 simultaneous connections
• Threat protection blocks malware, trackers, and intrusive ad
• Expensive at $8.32/month (most expensive VPN for streaming I've seen)
• 24/7 customer support
• 30-day refund window

ExpressVPN was noticeably slower from Surfshark and NordVPN, but still allowed high quality streaming. It worked on a decent amount of streaming platforms as well. The obvious drawback here is the price. What do you think?

4. IPVanish VPN for streaming

• 2,200+ servers in 50 countries
• Unlocks many streaming platforms
• Fast speeds
• AES 256 encryption
• Kill switch
• US-based VPN (not ideal for privacy)
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• 2-year plan for $2.20/month
• Split tunneling
• 24/7 live chat
• 30-day refund policy (but NOT on monthly plans)

While fast, IPVanish wasn't reliable on remote servers. I also couldn't unlock some streaming sites. If you had a better experience, let me know.
What VPNs do you use for streaming? What are your favorite streaming sites to unblock with a VPN?

Ok, as the title says, I'm looking for the best VPN for Netflix. I've been researching the world of Netflix VPNs for the past few weeks and I'll share what I've found. But what are others using to access different Netflix libraries from around the world?
From what I see, there are five big-name VPNs that consistently work with Netflix.

1. NordVPN for Netflix

• 6,300+ servers in 111 countries
• Unblocks 17+ Netflix libraries, including the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, and more
• Fast and consistent speeds (I got over 700 Mbps on US servers)
• Double-VPN servers route all traffic through two VPN servers for improved security.
• Obfuscated servers conceal that you’re using a VPN, which is important for countries where VPNs are illegal.
• Threat Protection feature (blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing sites)
• 10 simultaneous connections
• Affordable at around $3/month with the coupon

Based on my experience in using NordVPN for most of the past year, I found that this VPN can easily unlock Netflix. Depending on which server I connected to, I could unlock different Netflix libraries, gaining access to new shows.
NordVPN also works on Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer.

2. Surfshark VPN for Netflix

• 3,200+ servers in 100 countries
• Unblocks 15+ Netflix libraries (all major regions)
• Double-VPN servers route all traffic through two VPN servers for improved security.
• CleanWeb - Stops intrusive ads, malware, and trackers
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Most affordable option (they have various coupons and deals going on)

My experience using Surfshark. Similar to NordVPN, I was able to unlock many Netflix regions quickly with Surfshark VPN servers. I never experienced the infamous proxy error, nor did my server get blacklisted. I found that Surfshark performed similarly on remote and close servers, and I never experienced lag.
Surfshark also works on Disney Plus, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime.

3. ExpressVPN for Netflix (Good, but expensive)

• 3,100+ servers in 105 countries
• Unblocks 10+ Netflix libraries
• Fast speeds
• 8 simultaneous connections
• Expensive at $8.32/month with the cheapest plan

I have not tested this one. Anyone have any experience using ExpressVPN with Netflix? Is it worth the high price?

4. IPVanish

• 2,400+ servers in 75 countries
• Unblocks 10+ Netflix libraries
• Fast speeds
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Around $2.20/month with two-year plans
• Based in the US (not great for privacy)

IPVanish claims to be the best VPN for Netflix on its website, but I did not have the best luck with it a few years ago. That said, a lot can change over time. I have not tried using this VPN with Netflix in years, so I'm curious to hear if anyone else has tried it.

VPNs that I found to not work with Netflix

Ok, I know Netflix and VPNs are a cat-and-mouse game, where Netflix will block some IP addresses, then the VPNs will get new IPs to unblock the service. That said, these are the VPNs that I've found to not work well with Netflix:

• Mullvad
• CyberGhost
• PIA
• PureVPN (very buggy VPN app on my Windows laptop)
• Hotspot Shield (free version)
• ProtonVPN (free version)

Ok, that summarizes my experience of testing out VPNs with Netflix. What VPNs do you use with Netflix?

Hi .
With my old firewall I was able to use iOS shortcuts to control it (not directly, but via an API docker proxy). So I had a 1-press shortcut on my phone, it would trigger an API call to my SAN that ran a simple Sinatra app, that would in turn make an authenticated call to my old Firewall via API, to trigger commands.
Example:
I set up a shortcut on wife's and grandparents' phones to control Kids Wi-Fi (movies & gaming) - to simply turn it on and off. This way, I didn't give them admin access (or even had to explain how all of that worked). And they could unblock entertainment for kids, when they are done with homework.
It would be great to either have API access to Firewalla or even better - integrations with iOS shortcuts.
Alternatively, if I could give simplified non-admin access in the App to other users - that could work too.
I was wondering if anybody figured out any kind of solution / approach for this?

What Does Open Proxy Mean on Instagram?

Instagram has stringent rules regarding its usage, and encountering an "Open Proxy" error indicates that you won't be able to access the app or website from the device using the flagged IP address. This typically means Instagram has banned your IP, rejecting all data requests sent from it.

What May Cause This?

1. Excessive liking, commenting, or following/unfollowing accounts.
2. An IP address associated with past malicious activities on the platform.
3. Using public Wi-Fi that has been exploited for malicious purposes.
4. Unrecognized login attempts or posting unusual content.
5. Clicking on links from unfamiliar sources.

How to Fix Instagram Open Proxy Error?

The first step is to try unblocking access directly through Instagram support, though success is often limited, especially if your actions still violate the platform's rules. Another option is using an Instagram proxy. An Instagram proxy acts as an intermediary server, masking your device’s IP address and providing an additional layer of privacy and security. This setup allows your device to communicate with Instagram via the proxy server, which forwards your requests on your behalf.

The Power of Instagram Unblock Proxy

Beyond resolving IP bans, Instagram proxies offer various advantages, such as managing multiple accounts, growing followers, and scraping information. Here’s what you can do with Instagram unblock proxies:

1. Access Unblocked: Proxies can help bypass restrictions in workplaces, educational institutions, or countries. While VPNs provide comprehensive security and privacy, proxies are faster as they do not encrypt the entire internet connection.
2. Manage Multiple Accounts: Instagram allows up to five accounts per user. Proxies are essential for handling more than a few accounts, preventing your IP from being flagged by Instagram.
3. Grow Followers: Multiple accounts with unique profiles and content strategies can attract more followers. While this approach may not be entirely ethical, adhering to Instagram’s guidelines ensures sustainable growth.

How to Use Instagram Proxy Effectively?

1. Assign One Account per Proxy: Allocate just one account to a distinct proxy to prevent potential banning issues. Choose high-quality, reputable proxy providers with IP rotation and advanced security features.
2. Scrape Slowly: Use web scraping tools or custom scripts in programming languages like Python. Mimic human behavior by adding random pauses between requests and limiting concurrent requests.
3. Avoid Free Proxies: Free proxies are often unreliable and insecure. They are usually overcrowded, slow, and may not provide privacy or anonymity. Known free proxy IP addresses are actively blocked by Instagram.

OkeyProxy is a top choice for Instagram proxies. Offering rotating residential, static residential, and data center proxies, OkeyProxy’s rotating residential proxies, obtained from authentic residential users, make your Instagram bot nearly identical to real users, allowing you to automate tasks without the risk of being blocked.

I've been experiencing a strange internet connection problem for weeks. I noticed that the ping on servers located in Bahrain and the Middle East, in general, has increased drastically from 15-25 to 120 and above.
At the same time, I noticed a sudden unblocking of all banned websites in the UAE, such as gambling sites and hack forums, on my end. I tried this on both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers.
Later, I visited these websites using Firefox and received a message indicating that the website was blocked in the UAE with Etisalat's logo.
I thought the issue might be related to my Chrome extensions, so I deleted all of them, but the problem persisted. I even reset the browser entirely, yet the issue remained. I couldn't understand the connection between browsers and games in the first place.
Solutions Tried:

1. Checked DNS settings, and everything seemed normal.
2. Deleted and reinstalled both browsers, but the issue persisted.
3. Deleted ExitLag and still faced the same problem.
4. Installed Kaspersky antivirus and it reported everything as normal.
5. Ran Speedtest on Bahrain servers, and the ping was normal (21).
6. Executed commands:
   • netsh winsock reset
   • netsh int ip reset
   • ipconfig /release
   • ipconfig /renew
   • ipconfig /flushdns
7. Used Google DNS and flushed DNS using the command ipconfig /flushdns.
8. Verified that my device wasn't using any proxy or unfamiliar DNS.
9. Ensured that settings were automatic in both IPv4 and DNS.
10. Checked background programs, but everything seemed normal.
11. Restarted the router.
12. Tried using my laptop, and I faced the same issues.
13. Tried using my mobile phone, and I didn't face the issue.

Despite trying all these solutions, I'm still facing the same problem (High ping in-game and unbanned websites). Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hello Reddit Community,
Original Post [Summary]:
We've been experiencing some issues with our Public IP recently. No changes have been made within the past year, but now we are finding that sites are blocking our Public IP because their systems are detecting our IP as a Bot or Proxy. Ticketmaster is just one of the many sites that is currently blocking us. Ticketmaster support said that our IP is being blocked due to belonging to a banned hosting service and that the block could not be undone.
Besides using a different IP/provider what else can we do? Anyone else experiencing a similar issue?
Secondary Post [More Details]:
We're facing a significant issue with Ticketmaster that we hope someone here can help us resolve. We are an enterprise company, and our primary internet IP address has been blocked by Ticketmaster. Their Service Resolution Team informed us that the block is due to our IP belonging to a banned hosting service, and they stated that this block cannot be undone. They advised us to use a different IP or provider, but this is not a feasible solution for us. Our on prem infrastructure is hosted and internet is provided by Equinix.
Key Points:
Enterprise Company: We are a large organization, and switching to a new internet service provider is not economical or practical. Implementing a new internet service could also potentially lead to the same problem in the future.
Lack of Support: Ticketmaster's Service Resolution Team has refused to engage further or provide a clear path to resolve this issue.
Industry Standards: Other enterprise companies like Microsoft 365, OpenDNS, Talos, FedEx, and Purolator have established protocols for submitting requests to unblock IP addresses. It seems reasonable to expect a similar level of support from Ticketmaster.
Our Ask:
Advice and Support: If anyone has experience dealing with similar issues or has contacts within Ticketmaster who could assist, we would greatly appreciate your help.
Escalation Paths: Any information on how to escalate this issue within Ticketmaster or alternative solutions to bypass this block without changing our ISP.
This situation is affecting our employees' ability to order and purchase tickets through Ticketmaster, which is a significant inconvenience for our team. We believe there should be a fair and reasonable way to address and resolve this block.

Thank you in advance for any assistance or advice you can provide.

Title.
We have a group of 5-6 friends and we usually play and end up 3-4 each friday.
2 of them are newer and are still getting used to MTG. Myself and the rest of the group have been playing for 2-6 years, we're somewhat competitive but our rules are pretty simple: No infinite combos, No proxies.
Outside of that our decks are pretty straight forward, we all play staples and whatnot.
I mostly play Yuriko or Edgar Markov Vampire Tribal. Most decks are pretty strong but get real momentum on turn 3+.
One of them has a relatively cheap Fynn, the Fangbearer deck.
Holy shit!
Turn 1: 1 drop 1/1 deathtouch Turn 2: Fynn drop + attack = 2 poison counters Turn 3: +1-2 additional 1/1 deathtouch drops (more if sol ring or other mana ramp because green)
By turn 4 it can get pretty devastating, had an enchantment that made creatures with low power unblockable, he could basically 1 shot anyone at that point. He also rocks proliferate so even if you lock Fynn down, he can sometimes just proliferate and kill everyone after a few turns if the game ends up being a drag.
I know most people will say just remove him or counter him, but turn 2-3 removal is often not possible. Also, if our pod happens to have 1-2 of our newer players, they dont really have time to see shit coming haha.
What would you do in this situation? Build a bit more around removal? Most games we can manage him and focus him, but with deathtouch, it almost seems like removal is the only way to go. We still love playing against it and see it as a challenge. It's funny as the deck costs pennies compared to some of our other decks lol.

Hey everyone!
I recently dove deep into the fascinating world of web unblockers and thought I'd share some insights that might just change how you see internet restrictions and web scraping. You might already know that web unblockers are like secret passageways that let you sneak past internet censorship or geofencing. Think of them as VPNs on steroids, allowing not just encrypted data transfer for privacy but also unrestricted browsing freedom.
But here's where it gets really interesting, especially for folks in the web scraping arena. Web unblockers serve as these powerful APIs designed to outsmart anti-bot protections. They’re like the ninjas of the internet, using tactics such as IP rotation, browser fingerprinting, CAPTCHA solving, and even Javascript rendering to access the data we need.
Now, you might think a proxy does the job by changing your IP address. But web unblockers? They're the whole package, offering a bunch more than just a disguise. Yet, it's not all smooth sailing. No single web unblocker can claim victory over every anti-bot mechanism out there. Tech giants like Cloudflare are in constant evolution, crafting more complex defenses to keep bots at bay.
This is exactly why I conducted the Great Web Unblocker Benchmark. It's a showdown to see how different web unblockers stack up against the toughest anti-bot solutions in the wild. Sure, there's a price tag attached to these unblockers, but picking the right one isn't just about spending money—it's about investing in seamless data access for our projects.
In the end, the key takeaway is weighing the cost against the potential to maintain an uninterrupted data flow for our customers. Let's keep pushing the envelope and finding the best tools to navigate these challenges together.
Cheers to an open and accessible web for all our scraping needs!
Linkt to the full article: https://substack.thewebscraping.club/p/what-is-a-web-unblocker

i have a dell chromebook. everything is blocked (not through go guardian the district blocked everything) proxy sites are blocked, and websites for vpns are blocked. can’t even go into dev mode. ik it’s possible on our chromebooks cuz some smart nerdy kids found out how to unblock it

I like to think I've come up with at least a couple fun/interesting decks. I'm just curious what people think of this spread!
Master Chef Lae'Zel if most certainly my favorite, creating an unholy amount of +1/+1 counters. It was the first deck I ever built, definitely my strongest, and my fav.
Up next is Queen Kayle bin-Kroog. This deck is so fun to play. Best wincon is probably discard damage off [[Glint-horn Buccaneer]], especially fun when the ability is copied and the damage is boosted from [[Taii Wakeen, Perfect Shot]]. Alternate wincon with infinite unblockable combats with [[Sword of Feast and Famine]] [[Rogue's Passage]] and [[Aggravated Assault]].
[[Thalia and the Gitrog Monster]] is definitely the most popular commander I play based of EDHrec. It's a goofy landfall deck where I don't always try to win through [[Scute Swarm]] don't worry. Probably my second strongest deck just because the commander is so scary.
I made a Laughing Jasper deck after I pulled him on release day. Not a tuned deck by any means (no Sol Ring, Swiftfoot Boots, etc.) but can mill pretty hard. Kinda just outlaw jank haha.
Oops another landfall deck. How could I not build Bonny Pal though! Between her and [[Mordenkainen]] I get some massive token out. A super fun time (for me).
Lastly is my most recent deck, true jank with 0 dollars spend to build it, Amalia Benavides life manipulation deck :) horrendous land base, but a couple easy combos and some fun things to do.
Other than that I have the new Gonti precon and a Rin and Seri, Inseparable deck that is 100% proxied and copied from someone else's decklist.

Hey Netflix enthusiasts and VPN users! 🌟
I've spent countless hours testing and researching to bring you the definitive guide to the best Netflix VPNs for 2024.
After extensive testing, I've narrowed it down to one frontrunners: NordVPN.
Here’s why Nord is ou your go-to choice:

NordVPN:

A powerhouse in the VPN world, NordVPN stands out for its exceptional ability to unblock Netflix across the most regions. Its user-friendly interface, combined with lightning-fast speeds, ensures a seamless streaming experience. I've tested it and it works with 20+ regions no problems.

• NordVPN Video Review
• NordVPN Written Review

Pros of why you should choose Nord over other VPNs:

• sock5 proxy support
• dns customization in app
• better mesh networking features that allow remote vpn
• better password manager / drive bundles
• one of the biggest server networks that can easily max out 1 GBPS connections (most VPNs can't)

How to get cheaper Netflix?

Check out gamsgo, a service that lets you split the cost of streaming services with other users!
Getting cheaper Netflix via the old turkish method is not reliable and does not work that well anymore unfortunately...

I've built a couple dozen edh decks by now so I have a good idea how to construct a "regular" deck but I kind of want to try out cedh and have found that I'm not entirely sure how to go about that. I looked at all the top cedh decks on edhrec and see that the common factor is ALL of them have the same mana rocks. Every possible 0 cost mana rock plus mana vault and sol ring.
Ok I have most of those and can proxy the rest. But now I kind of can't figure out what makes a cedh deck. Am I supposed to maximize tutors and free spells to pull off a combo? So just throw in all the deadly rolick's and deflecting swats and force of wills? Are there certain cmc's for spells or commanders that kind of inherently make a card not cedh viable? Is a 5 cmc commander not cedh viable? People say that most cedh decks aim to win by turn 3-4 so does that mean that if I goldfish my deck and it is not routinely winning by then it's not going to be a viable cedh deck?
I want to avoid making that deck that is too powerful for casual and too casual for cedh.
I am of course the kind of guy that doesn't want to play the same combos as everyone else and want to win with some style so I am looking at trying to craft an infinite combat turns combo that kills via unblockable commander damage. Is that too complicated a combo for cedh? Do combos need to be like 2-3 cards max for cedh viability?

Hey anime fans! Are you a die-hard Crunchyroll subscriber who can't get enough of those sweet, sweet Japanese animations? 😍 Well, I've got some awesome news for you - with the right VPN, you can watch Crunchyroll from literally any corner of the globe! 🌎
Now, I know what you're thinking - "But won't that violate Crunchyroll's terms of service?" And you'd be right to be a little worried about that. Using a VPN to access content that's not available in your region could be seen as a no-no by the anime streaming gods. 😬
But fear not, my fellow otaku! I'm here to guide you through the Wild West of VPNs for Crunchyroll, so you can watch your favorite shows without any legal risk. Plus, we'll make sure your internet service provider (ISP) can't slow down your precious anime streams. 💨
So grab your body pillow, get cozy, and let's dive right in! 💻
Why You Might Need a VPN for Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is available in most countries, but the shows you can watch often vary based on where you're located. 🌐 Different licensing agreements mean the full library is usually only accessible from the US.
If you're traveling abroad or living outside the States, you might find your favorite shows are blocked or unavailable. A VPN can give you a US IP address, tricking Crunchyroll into thinking you're accessing it from within the country. Boom! Full anime collection unlocked! 🔓
But that's not the only reason to use a VPN for Crunchyroll. These nifty tools can also:
- Stop your ISP from throttling your internet speed when streaming video 🐢➡️🚀
- Protect you from hackers and snoopers on public WiFi networks 🔒
- Allow safe and private torrenting of anime shows (if that's your thing) ⛵
So while a VPN may be essential for unblocking Crunchyroll libraries, it also provides some great privacy and security benefits too. It's a win-win! 🏆🏆
How to Choose the Best VPN for Crunchyroll
Not all VPNs are created equal when it comes to streaming anime. There are a few key things you'll want to look out for:

• 🌐 A large network of US servers for accessing the full Crunchyroll library
• 🚀 Blazing fast speeds for buffer-free streaming in HD
• 🔒 Strong encryption and a strict no-logs policy to protect your privacy
• 🔓 Proven ability to consistently unblock Crunchyroll
• 💰 Affordable pricing plans with a money-back guarantee

With those criteria in mind, here are my top VPN recommendations for watching Crunchyroll in 2024:

1. 🥇 NordVPN - All-Around Awesome for Crunchyroll

It's no surprise that NordVPN tops this list. This VPN powerhouse ticks all the boxes - it's super fast, insanely secure, and awesome for streaming.
NordVPN has over 5,400 servers across 59 countries, with a huge portion of those servers located in the United States. That's a lot of IP options for unblocking that sweet Crunchyroll content! 🇺🇸
Need speed for silky smooth anime binges? NordVPN's NordLynx protocol is based on WireGuard and can hit blistering download speeds of 445Mbps! Plus, it bypasses Crunchyroll's VPN blocks like a hot kunai through butter.
When it comes to security, NordVPN doesn't play around. You get military-grade encryption, a kill switch, protection against WebRTC leaks, twoavavailable double VPN servers, and Onion over VPN for accessing .onion sites. It's also one of the most privacy-focused VPNs, with an independently audited no-logs policy.
Other cool NordVPN features for anime fans include Smart DNS for streaming on devices that can't run VPN apps, split-tunneling, and up to 6 simultaneous device connections.
NordVPN is a teensy bit pricey compared to some rivals, but frequent discounts make it totally affordable. There's even a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can take it for a test drive first.

1. 🥈 Surfshark - Unlimited Device Support and Amazing Value 💰

Here's a VPN that really packs a punch for the price - Surfshark is an ultra affordable option that still delivers all the goods for Crunchyroll streaming.
With over 3,200 servers across 100 countries (including many in the US), you'll have no trouble finding a fast, reliable connection to the Crunchyroll库 Surfshark's speeds are blisteringly fast too, thanks to its WireGuard implementation.
But where Surfshark really shines is in its unlimited simultaneous device connections. That's right - one subscription lets you stream Crunchyroll on as many phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles as you want! Perfect for the whole anime-loving family. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Security features include military-grade encryption, a kill switch, protection against WebRTC/DNS/IPv6 leaks, and Surfshark's handy bypasser that disguises your VPN traffic. There's also a strict no-logs policy that's been independently audited.
Other cool things like split-tunneling, static IP servers, and a smart DNS solution called Nexshield round out Surfshark's streaming-friendly feature set.
Surfshark isn't perfect (no VPN is) but it delivers insane value at a crazy low price - especially with its regular discounts and 30-day money-back offer.

1. 🥉 ExpressVPN - Beginner-Friendly Apps and Top-Notch Streaming

If you're new to the VPN game, ExpressVPN is probably your best bet for using with Crunchyroll. Its apps are a dream for non-techies, with a simple, intuitive interface across all platforms.
But don't let the user-friendliness fool you - ExpressVPN is a serious powerhouse when it comes to unblocking and streaming capabilities. It works with heaps of video services including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and of course Crunchyroll.
ExpressVPN has high-speed servers in 94 countries, including cities all across the United States. It uses its own proprietary Lightway protocol that's designed for super fast, reliable connections. No more buffering woes!
On the security front, you get military-grade encryption, perfect forward secrecy, a kill switch, and DNS/IPv6 leak protection. ExpressVPN doesn't log any of your online activities either.
Some other nifty features include split-tunneling, smart DNS, mediastreamer for smart TVs and gaming consoles, and up to 5 simultaneous connections.
The only real downside? ExpressVPN doesn't come cheap. But frequent discounts take a bit of the sting out of the pricing. Plus there's that sweet 30-day money-back guarantee as a safety net.

1. 💻 CyberGhost - Streaming Optimized Servers and Massive Network

CyberGhost has one of the biggest VPN server networks around, with over 7,700 servers spanning 91 countries. That's a whole lotta options for finding a lightning-fast US server to unblock Crunchyroll!
But the really cool thing about CyberGhost is its streaming-optimized servers, which are configured specifically for buffer-free video streaming on popular services. There's even one optimized just for Crunchyroll!
I took CyberGhost for a spin and could easily access the full Crunchyroll anime library, with no stuttering or quality issues. Slick!
CyberGhost covers all the security essentials too - military-grade encryption, a kill switch, DNS/IP leak protection, and a comprehensive no-logs policy that's been independently audited.
Other streaming-friendly features include unlimited bandwidth, 7 simultaneous device connections, and Smart DNS for non-VPN devices.
CyberGhost is pretty affordable, especially on longer plans. You can test it out yourself thanks to the generous 45-day money-back guarantee - plenty of time for an extended anime binge!

1. 💻 Private Internet Access - Simple But Solid for Crunchyroll

If you're looking for a straightforward, no-nonsense VPN for accessing US Crunchyroll, Private Internet Access (PIA) could be just what you need.
PIA has servers in all 50 US states, and it's a cinch to connect to the fastest one for your location with the auto-connect feature. Its WireGuard implementation means lightning-quick VPN speeds too.
While not as fancy as some premium VPNs, PIA has all the essential security chops - military-grade encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a cast-iron no-logs policy that's been proven in court.
The Android app comes loaded with an internet killswitch, split-tunneling, proxy support, and the ability to use PIA on unlimited devices. Sweet!
PIA might not dazzle with eye-catching features, but it's reliable, secure, and excellent value for money - especially if you nab one of the frequent discounts. It even throws in a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Crunchyroll Anywhere with a VPN! 📺🌍
There you have it - my top VPN picks for watching ALL the Crunchyroll anime you can handle in 2024, no matter where you're located on this big ol' globe.
But before you rush off and start binging, there's a couple things to keep in mind:
1) While using a VPN for Crunchyroll is likely fine legally, it does violate the platform's terms of service. So maybe keep a low profile and don't go shouting about it from the rooftops. 🤫
2) Make sure to grab a VPN with a money-back guarantee, so you can test it out with Crunchyroll first before fully committing. My #1 recommendation NordVPN has a risk-free 30-day refund window, which is awesome.
So there you go! Now you're free to travel the world catching every Crunchyroll anime as it airs, whether you're kicking back at home or on a beach in Bali. 🏖
Grab one of those trusty VPNs, settle in with your favorite snacks, and let the anime binge commence! Kanpai! 🍻