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This is one of the main reasons why I do 90% of my web browsing in emacs-w3m, which does not support Javascript. Avoiding Javascript not only lets me avoid all

This is one of the main reasons why I do 90% of my web browsing in emacs-w3m, which does not support Javascript. Avoiding Javascript not only lets me avoid all that bloat and slowdown, but also avoid Javascript-based tracking, malware, and exposing myself to Javascript vulnerabilities. I also have the power of the entire Emacs ecosystem at my fingertips when I surf the web this way, which can be very helpful in many ways. Unfortunately, some sites I find essential will not work without Javascript, and for them I go back to Firefox. In Firefox, I use uMatrix and uBlock Origin to only allow through the minimal amount of stuff that'll let the web page work, and filter out ads. I have a really old, slow laptop, so web browsing is slow for me, but not nearly as slow as it would be if I consented to swallow all the crap that the modern web tries to force down my throat. I yearn for the good old days without Javascript or Webassembly. There was Flash back in those days, but fortunately not a single serious site I ever visited required it, so I could avoid every Flash-using site like the plague. But today the Javascript plague is unavoidable.

chungalunga 6y ago
I started using w3m primarily a few weeks ago. It’s been awesome for actually grabbing the information I need and not getting sucked into attention sinks.
larkeith 6y ago
You can also disable JS via uBlock Origin by default, and enable it on a site-by-site basis.
- LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
  That's what I do, too.
- 0xdeadb00f 6y ago
  I use uMatrix for that. I like the block/allow interface. Off topic: if I use uMatrix should I still be using uBlock Origin as well? Or does uMatric encompass all the features of uBlock and then some?
- pmoriarty 6y ago
  uMatrix not only allows you to block JS on a site you're visiting, but gives you fine-grained control over blocking JS from sites that site calls out to, and subdomains of that site as well. I find uMatrix much more flexible than uBO in this regard. I don't even know if doing all this is possible in uBO, and suspect it's not, or that at least it's hidden away pretty well, while this is front and center in uMatrix's interface.
  - larkeith 6y ago
    You can do some of that with uBO (see "hard" blocking mode), but my understanding is that uMatrix gives you more granular control. I need to learn more about using uMatrix to confirm, though.

chungalunga 6y ago

I started using w3m primarily a few weeks ago. It’s been awesome for actually grabbing the information I need and not getting sucked into attention sinks.

larkeith 6y ago

You can also disable JS via uBlock Origin by default, and enable it on a site-by-site basis.

LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
That's what I do, too.
0xdeadb00f 6y ago
I use uMatrix for that. I like the block/allow interface. Off topic: if I use uMatrix should I still be using uBlock Origin as well? Or does uMatric encompass all the features of uBlock and then some?
pmoriarty 6y ago
uMatrix not only allows you to block JS on a site you're visiting, but gives you fine-grained control over blocking JS from sites that site calls out to, and subdomains of that site as well. I find uMatrix much more flexible than uBO in this regard. I don't even know if doing all this is possible in uBO, and suspect it's not, or that at least it's hidden away pretty well, while this is front and center in uMatrix's interface.
- larkeith 6y ago
  You can do some of that with uBO (see "hard" blocking mode), but my understanding is that uMatrix gives you more granular control. I need to learn more about using uMatrix to confirm, though.