By work computer, I mean one that you have very limited control over - can’t install anything, or add extensions, etc.
For example, there used to be a trick where you could run a Bing search of a YouTube URL and the results would include an embed of the video but with Bing’s own video player, and something about that made the ads not work. Which was great - ad free YouTube on a computer I can’t install ad blockers on!
That doesn’t seem to work anymore, but makes me wonder if there are things like that - just little roundabout tricks to make the experience less trash, on a rig where my options are limited to what’s already there.
Asking about any tricks, not just YouTube or ad related ones (but those too if you know any!).
Thanks all!
I used to have to run “portable” apps that didn’t require any permissions to install or run.
https://portableapps.com/about
We got endpoint protection now and I can run way more stuff without jumping through hoops.
I just found stuff that isn’t blocked that I found entertaining, like reading random Wikipedia articles or playing on MS paint or poking around with the command prompt.
Also speaking of CMD, sometimes it will be blocked but Powershell won’t be, and you can run any traditional DOS commands as well as powershell cmdlets.
I think that DuckDuckGo do this for video but I’m not sure
Don’t underestimate how much liberty you can get if you just install it via Microsoft store.
There’s portable Firefox (lots of apps actually) packages also, no install necessary in the first place. Bummer if they are only allowed to run pre-approved applications. In this case OP would have to live with the ads. Although I’d question why such a locked-down environment wouldn’t block ads via firewall in the first place.
Because legit ads aren’t malware. The edge protection devices actually filter and monitor the ad traffic like any other Internet traffic, scanning for known or heuristic attacks.
Blocking ads at the Enterprise is more expensive than it’s worth. When legit traffic is blocked, it makes work for the team, and avoiding that makes the filters too permissive to be useful.
Portable apps will get you fired, don’t use them if you’re not authorized.
There’s portable Firefox (lots of apps actually) packages also, no install necessary in the first place.
I’m sure we went through a phase at the day job where the (windows, ugh) machine was unable to execute apps not in the approved (unwritable) locations; local admins can execute a file saved specifically in C:\windows\tmp or so, just for installs. I’m not sure that’s still in-place after the 10->11 downgrade, but I wouldn’t be surprised. We’re pretty locked-down, and while we can request exemptions for work-derived stuff, we have a large agreement confirming we never use the work gear outside of work stuff so I haven’t needed to test the boundaries lately.
I work remotely and there’s no such reg covering side-gig or home gear used for day-job stuff; can’t be, if you think about it. So I KVM the pretty monitors and comfy keyboard over to the work box in the 9-5 and leave it absolutely untouched outside of that. It’s even in its own DMZ because we’re a small section of a larger shitbag global exploitation company and they could demand some whackadoo spy shit on us without us knowing, until we find out and tell the union.
So.
- you maybe can’t run third-party apps without a local admin account
- KVM switch. I use the one also available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNS4RRY1 as HDMI is my floor tech level, but there are myriad variations to choose from.
That’s it. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk, and hit the merch table in the lobby.
Install a vm (or use wsl) and just work in Linux in there.
You get root, and can use software that respects you. For a speed penalty of course.
He can’t install a vm
Many companies will allow ad blocking extensions if you just ask.
A second computer? Maybe a tablet or so. A holder for your phone.
If all you want to do is watch or listen to stuff while you work that might be easier.
In my case, not an option. Healthcare setting, patient info is all over by our work stations, so having personal devices out will get you accused of a HIPAA violation in a hurry - even if it doesn’t have a camera, people get paranoid.
People do still use personal devices at work, but I see em get burned for that semi-regularly.
Heh, humorous. The last time I was in the ER the doc was watching something about world of warcraft on youtube. I seriously debated slipping him a note about the various other ways to access it.
I’ve actually played on a private server alongside an anesthesiologist! We both grew up on Vanilla WoW and the earlier expansions, and both developed the same animosity to Blizzard for the finger they gave to that original target audience. The WoW itch is still real; but Blizzard won’t get another cent from me.
I’ve been desperately trying to get a friend who has played since vanilla to try a private server, but he just refuses on the basis that the progress made “isn’t real.” It’s incredibly frustrating.
You’ve probably tried this approach already, but just in case: “You don’t play videogames to make progress, and you don’t make progress by playing videogames. You play videogames to have fun and pass time, and those are driven by the experience brought on by the game’s content, not by the name of the game’s host. Also, fuck Blizzard.”
There are a lot of frontends you can use to access services:
https://github.com/mendel5/alternative-front-ends#youtube
Portable Firefox/Librewolf might be able to be pulled off.
Portable apps in general.
I was able to add a lot via Scoop: https://scoop.sh/ but your work computer might be too locked down.
Use the work computer for work stuff and get your own for everything else. The company has reasons for locking down the machines and mucking about with that can get you into deep doodoo very quickly.
If they are stupid enough not to install adblockers, their reasons for controlling the computer like that fail to impress me.
Agreed. That doesn’t make mucking about a good idea, though.
Maybe they’re not installing adblockers to discourage people from using it for other purposes?
Probably trying to help OP too. In the case of YouTube, I’ve know management who want to know how long people use work computers for YouTube, so it blocks it. Take the hint op. Do personal things on personal devices. Work computer is for work
I can barely use my work computer for work, don’t give me ideas
can’t install anything, or add extensions, etc.
Can you install user apps (which don’t require admin elevation) or is it truly nothing?
Firefox, for example can be installed as a user by just declining the admin prompt.
Otherwise you can snag a portable version.
May also be worth checking if the company maintains a list of approved software anywhere. Firefox probably won’t even raise an eyebrow, but other software might, depending on your use.
Can you install user apps (which don’t require admin elevation) or is it truly nothing?
It’s truly nothing - healthcare setting, so it’s pretty strict. Absolutely no installing anything, or plugging in an external drive to run shit from that. We’re allowed to use the work comps for personal stuff so long as it’s not getting in the way of our actual duties. For me this usually means putting some music on while I’m charting, but nowadays it’s more ad than music without an ad blocker.
The bing trick was great - pull up a 2+ hour long full-playlist-in-one-video, and just let it run in the background… but that loophole got closed. But from the hospital’s perspective, they didn’t care if we did shit like that - they couldn’t give a rat’s ass if we slurped up all of Googles ads or not; they just don’t want any liability from a security or privacy standpoint.
I hate to break it to you but it may be time to pony up for a subscription to YouTube, Spotify, or whatever music service scratches that itch for you… Probably better than trying to fuck with HIPAA.
Probably better than trying to fuck with HIPAA.
Not sure you understand the goal - I’m not trying to pull anything shady with patient data; but to find better ways to use those comps. There are functions protected by HIPAA, and functions that Microsoft/Google/etc have enshittified that I’m trying to make a bit more user friendly - the only overlap in the venn diagram here is that they happen on the same computer.
Fortunately our charting software isn’t loaded with unskippable ads (…give it a few years…), so even if there are ways to fuck with that software, there’s no need to.
Wasn’t saying that was your intent just that most suggestions on here involve running unauthorized software or visiting sketchy websites. There is an alternative though.
When it comes to decisions that could impact your livelihood, $10-ish/mo is a small price to pay.
True, @Murse@slrpnk.net could pay for it using the mental health fund their company provides! Wait…
I mean, I could afford a YouTube subscription just fine; nursing isn’t exactly a path to some Scrooge McDuck mountain of gold or anything, but we’re not living paycheck to paycheck either. My refusal to pay YouTube isn’t because I can’t, it’s because they’re Google, and fuck Google. If there was a playlist generator/streamer made by an ethical company who’s product is actually worth using, then fuck yeah point me to their subscription page! Unfortunately, the only options I’m aware of are either shit products or shit companies, so I’ll continue to be a stingy asshole until I find something worth supporting.
…and although it’s not really on topic for this thread, feel free to drop some recommendations - I’m most familiar with music.youtube, spotify, and pandora, but youtube is youtube, and the other two leave a lot to be wanted for the playlists they provide. Or they did at least, it’s been probably over 5 years since trying pandora or spotify… maybe they’re better now? /shrug
If you’re at home, set up pihole or use an content-blocking DNS on your router. But then if you’re home, you should be using a personal device for non-work stuff. There are also a bunch of alternative (and some sketchy) front-ends for various websites.
I’ve honestly given up on getting around corporate controls and just completely separate personal stuff from work devices, especially nowadays when companies are going full big brother because of people using AI tools/agents and the chances of someone accidentally uploading stuff that shouldn’t be out there is getting increasingly common. So they are locking down stuff more and more, and increasing monitoring/surveillance.
If you have physical access to the hardware, the world’s your oyster. Until you get caught anyway.
Probably best to give a nice gift to one of the top IT folks - or be buddy-buddy with them - for the Admin password with the assurance that you’ll take care of it if you mess the system up. Or better, that you won’t in the first place.
This got me a good deal of leeway once upon a time, but then, maybe things are a lot harder to circumvent these days.
One of my other employers had all company functions on an RDP server and staff could do whatever they needed, heck, wanted - within reason - with their desk PCs with everything else securely away in a window on their desktops. The solution doesn’t scale well though, especially when the company server can’t use the processing power of the desk PCs, so that might not be right for your company. Indeed, the company in question eventually had people doing their work on the bare metal, so to speak.
By that point I was VNCing to my home PC instead in a weird reversal of the previous setup.
portable apps might work and also if the screen saver comes on outside your control you can fullsize a video or a presentation and then put something over it.
Running portable apps is a good way to get a call from the security team when endpoint protection blocks the unauthorized executable.
If you are using it on your home network, you could still use network level adblocking with something like adguard or pihole. That won’t work if you are hybrid or fully in the office, but I share your pain. Windows is hell from the first login all the way through to the “these apps are preventing the computer from shitting down” screen.
As for watching YouTube, an alternative frontend like invideous may help. Alternatively, you might try duck duck go. I think they relay the video through their own server.
