zerozen

Project Overview

ZeroZen is a fully local cross-browser extension that combines ad and popup cleanup with video downloading: a rule engine clears ads and popups, AI detection covers new tricks beyond the rules, and the download toolbox saves videos completely. There is no server and no account.

Key Features

• Four-layer cleaning: network-layer declarativeNetRequest blocking, appearance-layer CSS hiding/removal, popup guard, and feed gap backfill
• 41 built-in rule packs with 7283 rules, switchable per group
• Rule subscriptions: 10 preset sources supporting Adblock, hosts, plain domain, and JSON formats
• AI detection: uses a self-configured OpenAI-compatible endpoint to detect native ads and fake download buttons, off by default
• Click-to-rule: Alt+Z lets you turn any element into hide, remove, or allow rules
• Download toolbox: video sniffing, m3u8 decryption and merging, fragment-level resumable download, and auto archiving by type
• Reading mode and clean browsing for distraction-free reading
• Intranet friendly: private networks, NAS, and online docs are disabled by default
• Bilingual Chinese and English support

Target Audience

• Chrome, Firefox, and Safari users who want to clean up web ads and popups
• Users who need to download web videos
• Privacy-conscious users who prefer fully local tools

Quick Start

1. Download or clone this repository
2. Chrome / Edge / Brave / Arc: open chrome://extensions, enable Developer mode, and load dist/chrome
3. Firefox 128+: load dist/firefox/manifest.json temporarily, or install the xpi from dist
4. Safari (macOS 13+): run npm run build and npm run build:safari, then run in Xcode and enable the extension
5. Use Alt+Z to block an element and Alt+A to run AI detection on the page

Core Advantages

• No backend and no collection or upload of browsing data; blocking is done by the browser declarativeNetRequest engine
• A large set of built-in rules covering many domestic and international sites
• AI detection sends only structured element descriptions, not page text, screenshots, or cookies
• Free to use, with originally curated rule packs

System Requirements

• OS: Windows, macOS, Linux (Chrome 105+, Firefox 128+, Safari needs macOS 13+)
• Architecture: depends on the browser
• Additional dependencies: building and Safari packaging require Node.js; AI detection requires your own OpenAI-compatible API key

Notes

• Fast scanning cannot see ads inserted dynamically by JS, and the YouTube in-video ad strategy may briefly show a frame in rare cases
• Downloading has limits: m3u8 supports only AES-128, not SAMPLE-AES or DRM, and multi-threaded segments are capped at 2GB
• AI detection is off by default and needs your own API key
• The Chrome Web Store version is still under review