I must say, I don't understand the disable JS movement. I browse with JS on, and uBlock Origin to block ads. It's rare that I have any javascript-related problems in my web browsing. On the other hand, I definitely use a number of sites that rely on javascript for useful purposes.
If you're worried about tracking, you can block ads and tracking scripts without disabling javascript. If you're worried about viruses, well, all I can say there is that in my experience and understanding, if you keep your browser updated, the odds of getting a virus via browser JS are exceedingly low. Doubly so if you're not frequenting sketchy sites.
I don't know, it seems to me like advice from a time before security was a priority for browser makers, and high-quality ad blockers existed. At this point, I really don't see the value.
On a great many web sites I have to spend the first 60 seconds on the site clicking on "X" boxes in popups to make them go away. In many cases there are actually several layers of popups obscuring the content, and some are delayed so they only pop up after you start reading the content. No I do not want to subscribe to your mailing list. No I don't want to take your survey. No I do not want to "chat" with your bot-pretending-to-be-a-human. Yes this is my sixth article from you this month but I will not be paying for a subscription, because I have enough of those already. Yes cookies are OK but I want the minimal set. And no I will not disable my adblocker because doing so makes this whole bloody nightmare even worse.
Disabling Javascript makes most of this insulting crap go away, and sometimes it is the only way to read the content.
I personally visit "a great many websites" daily, and rarely have this problem. Maybe it's uBlock doing it's job, or maybe it's the kind of site you go to?
Or maybe I need to try uBlock again rather than assuming my Pihole is as good as it gets. Thanks for the suggestion.
Of course it isn't. Pihole and similar DNS-based blockers do nothing for those kinds of spam which require performing DOM manipulations to be removed. Check uBlock settings after installing it. It has a separate "annoyances" list. I enabled everything in it a few years ago and never had a single problem. It removes all the GDPR banners, "please give us your email" popups, useless "oh I am so original" plates in forum signatures, etc. etc.
I wasn't aware of this option in settings. Thanks.