Ok, it does look like it's checking for list updates, just more often.l than I expected. I went into the settings and disabled as below and the calls stop. So all good!
"check update opt-in Check for update of version (on startup and when opening options): check update enabled: NO"
I was doing some investigating of various browser telemetry using android pcap log. I noticed that on any browser I install bypass paywall plus there is a call to gitflic.ru when viewing a page even when it's not on the list of processed websites in the extension. I can't tell the contents as it's https. Considering this extension and developer have been around for a long time I've no reason to suspect the extension but I'm wondering why the connection? I doubt it's checking for updates as it does it often when viewing any page. Any thoughts from anyone? I'm not trying to run down the app at all, I think it's really good, just wondering why the connection.
I think your right that yes it does seem like a coordinated crack down at the moment. Almost like round 2.
My experience with Russian sourced software is to treat it as low trust, like I do everywhere else, until proved otherwise. An example is gitflic.ru. I'm cautious about it but can see a number of developers moved there after being thrown of MS's Github so a very legitimate reason to use it. Is potential Russian surveillance any worse than the government of the country in which you live? Probably not.
As others are saying, rip anything you can't download from anywhere else otherwise just download. I've been through this too and ripping old VHS or DVD takes a lot more time and hassle than downloading it.
Genuine question, are Russian sites any worse or better than anywhere else these days?
In the professional world it's called "Distributed backups" and is recommended technique for archiving. I'm doing my bit daily at no charge to the media industry, just out of the goodness of my heart :)
Whack a mole.
Looks quite possible. It does connect every time you visit a site on the bypass list but not viewing other sites.
Just tried all 3 sites on desktop and dab.yeet.su working fine again. The other two are still 30sec samples.
Thanks. Interesting, just tried dab.yeet.su and it's working fine now. That's on my phone so will check on my desktop in case it's an issue at my end.
Many thanks for checking this. When I used the following setting in the extension I didn't see any further calls.
"check update opt-in Check for update of version (on startup and when opening options): check update enabled: NO"