I get the reason for there being Ads in the sync app. I don’t have the funds to pay for ultra and that’s also fine.
But what I find concerning is the type of ads I see. I live in Germany for clarification and most of what I see are websites acting like news sites (right leaning at times). When I accidentally tap on them my browser immediately blocks the website for unsafe practices on their end.
Now I really don’t mind the ads in apps if it’s the usual app ad, random products or Amazon type of things. But I hate it when every ad is a boomer ass clickbait ad about how solar energy is definitely worse than anything else.
This is my main complaint about sync right now and it might push me to stop using it again as the ads are also very frequent…
Block them. Google NextDNS, takes about 10 seconds to set up with a simple change in your phone’s DNS settings.
I didn’t know this trick, any downside to do this ?
The team running NextDNS gets a log of all sites your devices connects to, and we don’t get much information into how they are running the business.
On the upside, you also get a log of all the sites your devices connects to, and now you have multiple, easy ways to block what you want. Ads based on your choice of blocklists, brands (Samsung, Microsoft etc), Platforms (TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat etc.), categories (Cryptocurrency, Porn, Gambling, Dating etc.). It’s great!
You can turn off logging and set logging to be stored in Switzerland for example. You’ll have to trust the guys running it that they don’t still have access and can turn it over to authorities though.
Downside is you aren’t supporting the Dev. Can buy it if you want.
as z4rk said
but I’d also like to add that you can use pi-hole instead on a local old computer
it gives the same functionality, but self-hosted
I use a pi-hole. This works great for all devices in your home network. But as soon as you use mobile data on your phone instead of your home WiFi, you no longer have these benefits.
you can use a local VPN server (wireguard) and always connect to it on your mobile devices
yeah, obviously leaving stuff to other companies like nextdns will always be more convenient, but now you have to trust them