uBO + eMatrix problem

[Gemmaugr]

Since the last update (33.8.1.1) I have not been able to get these two addons to play nice. They used to work incredibly well together for many years, but now I even get ads on youtube! No matter what I do it seems.

Does anyone have any similar experience or tips to configure them to do their thing without interference (if that's what it is)?

It currently seems like uBO have taken precedence over eMatrix, while it used to be the other way around. Now I have to allow everything in uBO to get eMatrix to do its thing.

I just want the filterlists and element picker from uBO, and the fine-grained content-blocking from the visually superior eMatrix.

[Michaell]

I'm still on 8.0 and not planning on doing small version updates. But that is how I use them together so it may affect me later. I do use some functions/settings in uBO that aren't in ηMatrix. Have you tried changing some of the settings in uBO to see if you can isolate the cause?
These are my settings in uBO (sometimes have to change Block CSP):

ubosettings.jpg

[tpcsanh]

I use uBO and eMatrix.

Similar to you I use uBO's Filter lists and have created rules with the Element picker. Then eMatrix.

Ater updating to 33.8.1, several sites I normally visit had issues. Specifically, the images were missing (but not on all sites). And maybe other things were missing.

After trying a few things, I remembered there was a recent update to one of the Filter lists that broke things. (It was fixed.)

When I disabled "Phishing URL Blocklist" everything worked.

I don't know enough to say why, but there is a difference between the list that broke things and one of their previous lists. Their list has been updated since and it still contains this difference. So, maybe it isn't that?

[back2themoon]

No problems here with 33.8.1.1. Make sure to not have overlapping functions, although they should work well together in any case.

YouTube can break any time, regardless of everything. I assume you are using the latest uBO?

[vannilla]

Just a head's up: I don't use uBlock (nor do I plan to) so I can't guarantee eMatrix will always cooperate throughout future updates.
On the other hand I didn't need to change anything fundamental for a long time already so it's ok to expect the current behaviour for a while still.
Given eMatrix's current development any compatibility issue is really in uBlock's side of the field.

[Hmm81]

I use uBO and eMatrix.

Similar to you I use uBO's Filter lists and have created rules with the Element picker. Then eMatrix.

Ater updating to 33.8.1, several sites I normally visit had issues. Specifically, the images were missing (but not on all sites). And maybe other things were missing.

After trying a few things, I remembered there was a recent update to one of the Filter lists that broke things. (It was fixed.)

When I disabled "Phishing URL Blocklist" everything worked.

I don't know enough to say why, but there is a difference between the list that broke things and one of their previous lists. Their list has been updated since and it still contains this difference. So, maybe it isn't that?

I'm still using 33.8.0, but had the same issue, therefore I don't think it has anything to do with upgrading to 33.8.1.

What did work is exactly as you suggested. Disabling the Phishing URL blocklists.

Thanks.

[Blacklab]

Definitely an odd change to the 'Phishing URL Blocklist' recently... if enabled in uBlock Origin that filter list now blocks searches using DuckDuckGo with message "Oops... The server encountered an error and could not complete your request."... exactly the same result in Basilisk.

More curious is that with the same 'Phishing URL Blocklist' enabled in current Firefox 141.0 or LibreWolf 141.0-1 all works normally?

Home page for 'Phishing URL Blocklist' = https://gitlab.com/malware-filter/phish ... -blocklist

[Gemmaugr]

I was aware of the "Phishing URL" kerfaffle, and had no issues with that personally. I did update it after the fix was out to ensure though. Maybe that could have been it. I've now disabled it (and conflicting Hosts lists that exists in eMatrix). If it goes back to normal I will report back.

It just seems like the allow/deny list priority was changed from eMatrix to uBO (I had it all configured in eMatrix, but not uBO).

These are my current settings (I've changed things around a lot, back and forth, to try to fix this issue). Tell me if you see any issues:

[Gemmaugr]

Two further changes. I disabled the Phishing Army and Easylist (optimized) in uBO Filterlists.

[Gemmaugr]

Just a head's up: I don't use uBlock (nor do I plan to) so I can't guarantee eMatrix will always cooperate throughout future updates.
On the other hand I didn't need to change anything fundamental for a long time already so it's ok to expect the current behaviour for a while still.
Given eMatrix's current development any compatibility issue is really in uBlock's side of the field.

Any plans to add an element picker and filterlists to eMatrix? Then it would be perfect!

Thanks for your work btw.

[back2themoon]

Right, I had that list already disabled. The reason was to save some work from uBO (it is very a large list) and try staying below the total number of 500.000 filters, which is allegedly some sort of limit which if exceeded, may cause uBO Legacy to struggle. Allegedly.

Instead, in this important category I use:

- All 7 uBO built-in filters of course.
- Online Malicious URL Blocklist (AdGuard)
- Scam Blocklist by DurableNapkin
- ESET software

All of the above, plus whatever brains I have should be enough to prevent me from getting... phished.

Tell me if you see any issues.

I see too many lists. My suggestions for you:

Disable all hosts files in eMatrix
(uBO) Remove both Phishing Army lists. When you see "0 used out of x" it usually means it's useless anyway and not being used due to overlap or other reasons. Very large lists.
Remove the Dandelion Sprout list, which is also huge. He doesn't like us and for me at least, the proper response to that nonsense is to stay away.

Note for UXP browser users: Due to the Pale Moon community being protective of consistent abusive hate speech and grave insults, I will no longer use Pale Moon, Basilisk or Borealis to test any entries or for anything else. PC browser entries that can't be reproduced in Firefox, Vivaldi or Tor Browser, will be delegated to uAssets instead.

StevenBlack/hosts: do you really need that massive list? Why disable the default Peter Lowe’s Ad and tracking server list?
The Malicious URL blocklist: similarly, I don't think you need that either. A significant amount of it isn't being used anyway.

Save and export your new uBO settings, close Pale Moon, delete the "\extension-data\ublock0.sqlite" file", open Pale Moon and import the saved uBO settings.

If you want increased security, you should add competent security software that also protects Pale Moon without the need for browser extensions. Microsoft's does not fall into that category.

Any plans to add an element picker and filterlists to eMatrix? Then it would be perfect!

I don't think eMatrix is meant or designed for that.

[Gemmaugr]

Remove the Dandelion Sprout list, which is also huge. He doesn't like us and for me at least, the proper response to that nonsense is to stay away.

Note for UXP browser users: Due to the Pale Moon community being protective of consistent abusive hate speech and grave insults, I will no longer use Pale Moon, Basilisk or Borealis to test any entries or for anything else. PC browser entries that can't be reproduced in Firefox, Vivaldi or Tor Browser, will be delegated to uAssets instead.

Done. Thanks!

Why disable the default Peter Lowe’s Ad and tracking server list?

Because they also exist in the eMatrix Hosts list.

[back2themoon]

Because they also exist in the eMatrix Hosts list.

Right, I forgot you were doing that. Still, I agree with the overhead comment in this uMatrix guide, leave all filterlist processing to uBO and disable all eMatrix lists. No need for two extensions performing the same action (even with different filterlists).

By the way, the default state of ηMatrix is a bit curious for me: those 4 hosts lists enabled, but their auto-update disabled? I don't know if that's inherited from uMatrix but perhaps vannilla can shed some light?

[andyprough]

Any plans to add an element picker and filterlists to eMatrix? Then it would be perfect!

Have you tried just using uBlock alone in Advanced Mode? https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/ ... r-features
Gives you a lot of the same ability to deny or allow scripts and elements per-domain as in eMatrix. That way you would have one tool - uBlock - to do everything you want to do. I use the uBlock/eMatrix combo because the eMatrix gui is simpler for me to navigate, but I've used the uBlock Advanced blocking in the past many times as well.

[Gemmaugr]

Any plans to add an element picker and filterlists to eMatrix? Then it would be perfect!

Have you tried just using uBlock alone in Advanced Mode? https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/ ... r-features
Gives you a lot of the same ability to deny or allow scripts and elements per-domain as in eMatrix. That way you would have one tool - uBlock - to do everything you want to do. I use the uBlock/eMatrix combo because the eMatrix gui is simpler for me to navigate, but I've used the uBlock Advanced blocking in the past many times as well.

I've tried, once. But have the same problem as you. I find the eMatrix visual appearance much, much, easier to read (I do have uBO Advanced settings turned on, because Dynamic Filtering/Element Picker doesn't work without it).

[vannilla]

Any plans to add an element picker and filterlists to eMatrix? Then it would be perfect!

eMatrix has no idea what a document is, so it's impossible at a technical level.

By the way, the default state of ηMatrix is a bit curious for me: those 4 hosts lists enabled, but their auto-update disabled? I don't know if that's inherited from uMatrix but perhaps vannilla can shed some light?

To be honest the autoupdating part of hosts management has always given me headaches. There are some parts that should work but don't and I never figured out why, especially since tests are unreliable too.
Anyway, the elephant in the room is that hosts in eMatrix are useless and are provided merely to make some things more convenient. Disabling them even without uBlock does not reduce the extension's power a bit though it might require further configuration elsewhere.
At one point I considered removing them but I decided against changing the status quo.
About the autoupdate default I don't remember if I changed anything myself, I'd need to look at all commits again when I'm at my PC.

[andyprough]

To be honest the autoupdating part of hosts management has always given me headaches. There are some parts that should work but don't and I never figured out why, especially since tests are unreliable too.
Anyway, the elephant in the room is that hosts in eMatrix are useless and are provided merely to make some things more convenient. Disabling them even without uBlock does not reduce the extension's power a bit though it might require further configuration elsewhere.
At one point I considered removing them but I decided against changing the status quo.
About the autoupdate default I don't remember if I changed anything myself, I'd need to look at all commits again when I'm at my PC.

Ahh, so it sounds like we are free to disable the 4 hosts files with no ill effect. I think I will prefer that, as I like to run extensions as light as possible, and extra hosts files and filter lists seem to me to add to memory usage and possibly add to the time required to connect and render a page. Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of these assumptions.

[Michaell]

One reason to keep the hosts files enabled (if you don't also have them in uBlock) is it provides a clue that maybe those domains are something you don't want to unblock. I use that a lot when I'm deciding what to unblock in ηMatrix; I rarely unblock anything that either the filter lists or the host files have blocked. I on the other hand don't use a lot of filter lists.

[vannilla]

Ahh, so it sounds like we are free to disable the 4 hosts files with no ill effect. I think I will prefer that, as I like to run extensions as light as possible, and extra hosts files and filter lists seem to me to add to memory usage and possibly add to the time required to connect and render a page. Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of these assumptions.

They should not use any more resources than any average web page built after 2010, so unless you are under heavy pressure and you can't close tabs there's no need to worry. What you gain is marginal.

One reason to keep the hosts files enabled (if you don't also have them in uBlock) is it provides a clue that maybe those domains are something you don't want to unblock.

Yes, the domains blocked by hosts files will be colored with a deeper red as a warning. (Colorblind mode is puple and high contrast mode is bold and crossed, IIRC.)
But other than that they are not really used for anything else and the same behaviour can be obtained through the advanced configuration tab.

[andyprough]

Yes, the domains blocked by hosts files will be colored with a deeper red as a warning. (Colorblind mode is puple and high contrast mode is bold and crossed, IIRC.)
But other than that they are not really used for anything else and the same behaviour can be obtained through the advanced configuration tab.

The hosts files don't seem to be updating even manually for me right now. Do they need to be updated occasionally?