Android: Issue with Ads on Google Search

Browser Support Ad-Blocking
1

Description of the issue:
I had been having a hard time finding a way to block Google Ads on Google Search on Brave Browser for Android.

On Desktop, it’s very easy to block by using the Custom Filter

  • www.google.com###tvcap
  • ogs.google.com###tvcap

However, this custom filter doesn’t work on Android.

Why I’m Trying To Block Google Ads on Google Search?

  • If you have a VPN or DNS that block ads on a DNS level. All the ads you will see on Google Search on Brave Browser for Android are DEAD WEIGHT.

  • You click any of the ads. It will be blocked from loading thus making it useless to be there in the first place and just clutters the Google Search result on Brave Browser for Android.

Exact URL of the website in question:

Did the issue present with default Shields settings? (yes/no)
Yes

Does the site function as expected when Shields are turned off?
Yes

Is there a specific Shields configuration that causes the site to break? If so, tell us that configuration. (yes/no):
Yes

Does the site work as expected when using Chrome?
Yes

Brave version (check About Brave):
1.24.86

2

###tvcap would cause a false positives, I haven’t seen any google ads recently

What we’re blocked via “tvcap” on google.

easylist/easylist_general_hide.txt:###atvcap + #tvcap > .mnr-c > .commercial-unit-mobile-top
easylist/easylist_general_hide.txt:###center_col > #taw > #tvcap > .commercial-unit-desktop-top
easylist/easylist_general_hide.txt:###center_col > #taw > #tvcap > .cu-container > .commercial-unit-desktop-top
easylist/easylist_general_hide.txt:###center_col > #taw > #tvcap > .rscontainer
easylist/easylist_general_hide.txt:###cnt #center_col > #taw > #tvcap > .c._oc._Lp
easylist/easylist_general_hide.txt:###taw > .med + div > #tvcap > .mnr-c:not(.qs-ic) > .commercial-unit-mobile-top
easylist/easylist_general_hide.txt:##.mw > #rcnt > #center_col > #taw > #tvcap > .c
3

Is this on desktop perhaps?

Not sure about false positives, I have the ##tvcap filter for quite a long time now, and I haven’t seen any Google Ads on Brave Browser for Desktop ever since nor there’s any issue in the search results I receive.

Note:
In addition to the recently added Element Picker on Brave Browser. ##tvcap is what it produced when it block Google Ads via Element Picker.

On another topic:
How about on Mobile, any recommended custom filter?

1 Like
4

I give up . (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

I’ll switch to Firefox with uBlock Origin instead for my smartphone.

Tried finding all possible filters from doing remote debugging to searching AdGuard Mobile filter rule related to Google Search and none of them work.

That 2 day filter finding was a waste. Sigh.

5

You’re free to add those filters into brave://adblock

6

I did add all those filters on brave://adblock. Didn’t work

google.com###tvcap
google.com###tads
google.com###taw
@@://googleadservices.com^|
@@://www.googleadservices.com^|
||googleadservices.com^,domain=google.com
www.google.com##.qGXjvb

There’s still ads on Google Search.

7

These are invalid:
@@://googleadservices.com^|
@@://www.googleadservices.com^|
||googleadservices.com^,domain=google.com

8 
google.com###tvcap
google.com###tads
google.com###taw
google.com##.qGXjvb

Would be the ones to include into brave://adblock

9

Yeah. Indeed, but I was trying my best to do trial and error just to find the correct filter or way to block those dead weight ads.

I see them all the time. I can’t click any of them. My VPN and DNS ad/tracker blocker makes loading those ad clicks invalid.

10

Just try the suggested cosmetic in my post, see how that goes. (the 4 lines I posted, cleaned up from the orginal post)

11

Okay, I’ll try this now.

12

Wait… it worked?

I added them, then refresh Google Search. Didn’t work.

But it worked magically after clearing cache and cookies… @_@

EDIT: 2/2
Nvm. I was mistaken the search result from Firefox + uBlock Origin.

Custom filters. Didn’t work. Let me send a screenrecord for reference.

13

enabled aggressive ads/trackers in shields for google?

14

Sadly, it doesn’t work even with cosmetic flag enabled.

Here’s the screen recording.
Aggressive Filtering Disabled + Custom Filters Added

Aggressive Filter Enabled + Custom FIlters Added

15

Okay, I see the issue, needs to be investigate further

16

Noted on this. Hopefully this will be fixed soon.

Thank you.

18

@SpringAnne You don’t make sense. What you posted is not related to finding ways on how Brave Browser can natively block Google Search Ads.

@fanboynz it seems the poster above is a spammer.

19

@Fanboynz I assure you, I am Not a Spammer! However, according to 3 Ad & Track Blockers, Your Name definitely shows up.
@A5A2239A I’m sorry if I don’t seem to be of any help to you. However, I copied and Pasted most of the information given from Information about Brave, given By Brave. And from An Application in Google Play called Ad Choices, where it tells you how to Opt Out of Not only Google Search Ads, But Any and All Ads you may come across in Google, Chrome, And Any Browser where you use Google Search. I myself don’t use Google Search unless I have no choice. That @Fanboynz name is Mentioned in the Many Advertisers who Spam you with their Ads, especially on Google Search. All I can tell you, since you don’t seem to be very akin to programming or website building, is Don’t use Google Search. There are Several Search Engines that Block Ads and Trackers.
It’s not nice to come off on the immediate attack like that on someone who knows something about how to block Ads, and Trackers, and is only trying to help you. If you don’t understand what is Said, instead of sending Rude Emails, which is what you did, just ignore it and wait for someone who isn’t so technical rather than being rude.

–Spring A. (AKA Heidi) Robinson.

20

I checked Google Play Store and I don’t see any apps called Ad Choices

Screenshot_20210608-171219_Google_Play_Store
Screenshot_20210608-171219_Google_Play_Store1034×2048 210 KB

Anyone will get an impression of you being a spammer if you keep using that… uncommon way of structuring your sentences.

I suggest you try to use bullet points to send your message across instead of one big block of text.

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