• 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.
    • @viking@infosec.pub
      link
      fedilink
      English
      710 months ago

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

      • @csm10495@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        110 months 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.