[browser] There is no way to block adverts, web bugs and trackers in the web browser

[Chris Croome]

I would like to block trackers from being loaded by the web browser, with functionality something like Ghostery and / or uBlock Origin Firefox add ons.

As a work-around, for now, you can install Privoxy and use that, this works very well, for example see https://ubuntu-phone.host1.webarch.net/wiki/Proxy_Web_Traffic -- of course this is far from ideal for non-technical users.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Neil McPhail (njmcphail)]

Alternatively, a mechanism to alter /etc/hosts without having to remount '/' would be welcome. This would permit advert blocking in all network apps.

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

As pointed out in the description, ad blockers are usually implemented as browser extensions. Oxide (the web engine) doesn’t have an extension mechanism, and it’s not part of its design goals to grow one. So unless we fork an existing open source ad blocker codebase to work only with the UserScript mechanism that oxide exposes, we can’t really implement such a feature.
Keeping the bug open though, as it’s a valid feature request.

[Olof Rydberg (0lof)]

The browser app will never be good in my opinion without an adblocker.

Host blocking works well on Ubuntu Touch, no need to make / writable more than temporarily. It isn't enough however. Some web sites deliver the ads themselves through their site and for those sites host blocking doesn't work. Considering the audience Ubuntu should be targeting, a well working adblocker should be a no brainer and of high priority.