Yes it's the first thing I do when I get a new phone. disable or uninstall stock YT and install Vanced, it gives you all the options stock YT removed, along with removing ads, end cards, sponsor segments and other annoying cr4p, YT is getting worse, apps like Vanced are a life saver EDIT - I also kill ads systemwide using this app (Samsung Only I think as it uses KNOX) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jy7_pmTZeZ1hDl-l5VMzcaHx6aKPKCnN/view?usp=sharing Although there are plenty that work on other models using a local VPN to block them without root too
Thank you! I've installed Vanced yesterday, and I am very pleased so far! The options it gives are just right up my alley.
Youtube/google actually show me unrelevant videos and suggestions often, I don't know if they do change subscriptions but they do display content you don't want or have not been previously looking for. I am not sure but it might have to do something with ISPs that use carrier-grade NAT or VPNs where many various users are connected via same IP, that is still logged and used to identify you. So maybe someone on same VPN server was watching the news and YT sent them to you too.
Maybe you ran around stingray somewhere and it hijacked your traffic. It really takes just one packet to subscribe to some service as long as you are logged in. And today, we are always logged into services on cellphones. (Especially to google services while running android.)
Stingray? What an creepy coincidence, I was at a conference a while ago given by the Dean of the University of computer science about cybersecurity and cybercrimes. And half and hour Stingray was discussed.
I just found out today I had been subscribed with all notification enabled to channel I didn't even see before, like ever, some kind of business stuff - it flooded my notification/alert section on top of the page with new videos. Just to take note I am paying for youtube premium and they are still doing this, it's not that big of a problem, but I hope it will not be a widespread issue. Channel seems to run hundred of thousands of subs but new videos get like 500 views per day, so youtube is definitely increasing its sub count.
maybe ring0 was gained on your poorly secured linux network running lunix mandrake you got free off linux format magazine.
That's a nice alternative. Switched to SailfishOS and NewPipe allows me watch videos without any tracking or ads. Thanks!