Do you know any tricks to disenshittify a work computer? (slrpnk.net)

submitted 4 weeks ago by Murse@slrpnk.net to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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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!

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[-] Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip 1 points 4 weeks ago

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.

[-] Murse@slrpnk.net 1 points 4 weeks ago

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.

[-] Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip 1 points 4 weeks ago

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.

[-] Murse@slrpnk.net 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

most suggestions on here involve running unauthorized software or visiting sketchy websites

Agreed, which I won't be touching. That's why I opened with the example of the Bing trick to scrub ads off of YouTube: fully compliant with company policy. HR, IT, and Legal could be watching over my shoulder, and I'd be inclined to show off that trick just so they could go back to their own workstations and use it. Zero risk to my career, zero risk to my patients, and zero risk to the company. Win win win. Looking for more tricks like that.

[-] Mountainaire@lemmy.world 0 points 4 weeks ago

True, @Murse@slrpnk.net could pay for it using the mental health fund their company provides! Wait...

[-] Murse@slrpnk.net 1 points 4 weeks ago

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

this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2026

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