Proton VPN - No longer blocking malware, ads, and trackers? [FIXED] - eviltoast

[Edit: With guidance from Proton Support, I switched VPN protocols in the application’s preferences menu (https://protonvpn.com/support/how-to-change-vpn-protocols/), from IKEv2 to Smart, and afterwards I started seeing ads and trackers (etc.) blocked on the application’s GUI again. I’ll post any other relevant info I learn of here.]

Original post:
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/9468390

I use Proton VPN. I have a paid account. I like to use the NetShield feature to block malware, ads, and trackers. Typically, when I view ad- and tracker-bloated websites, Proton VPN records how many ads and trackers it’s blocked during my current VPN session.

About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that despite NetShield being on with the above settings, it no longer appeared to be blocking any ads or trackers per the print out on the GUI. I updated the program, and it’s now up-to-date, but that hasn’t fixed my issue.

Is anyone else experiencing this? What’s going on, has Proton VPN stopped blocking those things or is the print out not working?

  • EmperorHenry@infosec.pubEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    I’ve noticed that the ad-blocking in most VPNs can’t stop most advertisements from loading. Edit…However, I’ve been using the adblocking in proton for a long time now and even when I did a trial run without adguard installed, I noticed that zero ads loaded in windows and the count of how many things got blocked was really high in a matter of minutes every time I made a new connection to one of proton’s servers…edit end

    I’d recommend adding adguard for desktop to your setup. There’s a lifetime license available $80 USD for 3 devices on the lifetime plan…

    Maybe even start using brave browser with brave’s adblocking and fingerprint blocking set to aggressive as well as adguard for desktop.