YouTube's crackdown on tools that block advertising continues with server-side ad injection. The developer of...
  • YouTube is testing server-side ad injection to counter ad blockers, integrating ads directly into videos to make them indistinguishable from the main content.
  • This new method complicates ad blocking, including tools like SponsorBlock, which now face challenges in accurately identifying and skipping sponsored segments.
  • The feature is currently in testing and not widely rolled out, with YouTube encouraging users to subscribe to YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience.
  • csm10495@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    41·
    13 days ago

    In theory this could be beaten by using a link to a timestamp at 1 second in. If it starts at 0, it’s an ad.

    • viking@infosec.pubEnglish
      7·
      13 days ago

      That would work for ads before the content, but not if they are spliced into the running video.

      • csm10495@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        13 days ago

        Use a timestamp link for now, if it gets a different time than requested, there’s an ad.

        I’m sure some algorithm could be written to beat it. Still crappy overall but figured they’d do this sooner or later.