Are you that one person in a million who enjoys seeing ads splattered all over the web pages you visit? One of those rare internet users who likes sitting through one or more ads every time you watch a video on YouTube?
Didn’t think so.
While we understand that many people make money from ads on their websites or in their videos, online advertising can be really annoying. We certainly don’t like ads, which is why you won’t see any ads anywhere on our website.
When we link you to someone else’s website, or to a YouTube video, you might be subjected to ads, but those are out of our control.
Ads can mess up your online experience in oh so many ways. One of the annoying things about ads is simply how much space they take up. Assuming your goal in visiting a website is to see the unique content there, ads can make that simple task harder by cluttering up the display.
Here’s an example from a real website, the UK’s Daily Mail. The first image is the site as it appears without an ad blocker. You can see it is cluttered with ads on both sides and above the title.
Now let’s turn on the ad blocker.
Here is the exact same page, all ads are gone.
Realize too that avoiding ads isn’t just an aesthetic thing.
The ads that appear on your screen often slow down your web browsing. Ads can also seriously undermine your privacy and security. Pop-ups and those annoying multi-minute video ads get right in your face, breaking your concentration and adversely affect your web browsing experience.
Regular display ads are not only a distraction. They use up valuable screen real estate, break the flow of the page, and suck up bandwidth loading your device with all sorts of cookies and trackers that let strangers spy on what you do online. Sometimes they even load adware or other malware that hijacks your browser to inject even crappier ads into your life.
Three reasons why you don’t want ads
Still not convinced you need to nuke those ads? Let’s go into a little more detail on the problems ads can cause:
1. Privacy
Online ads are horrible for privacy. Most ads are served by advertising networks through third-party domains. They usually contain sophisticated tracking software (trackers). As you do your thing online, the trackers allow the advertising networks to gradually build a detailed profile on you.
In the best case (for them), the profile will eventually contain personal information like your age, where you live, the identities of your family and friends, what you like to look at online, and who knows what else. Any bit of info that they can glean that might be useful will end up in that profile.
Why go to all the trouble to learn so much about you? So they can stick ads in front of you that they think will persuade you to buy their stuff. Or so they can sell the information to someone else who wants to do the same.
Online ads aren’t simply ads. They’re actually surveillance tools that strangers use to abuse your privacy. This description sums it up nicely:
Nothing is so creepy as ads for a product you looked into earlier following you from site to site, then from app to app, as you are tracked and retargeted by a desperate vendor’s algorithm.
–Cory Doctorow, July 2019
2. Security
Did you know that it is possible for your device to be infected with malware simply by visiting a website with ads?
Malvertising is the term for spreading malware through infected ads. It works like this: you visit the website. The website loads the infected ads. The infected ads silently, automatically, load the malware onto your device while you are wondering why this page is showing you all these ads for “get rich quick” schemes or whatever.
You don’t have to click on the ad, or a button on the page, nothing like that. It just happens. This stuff really is evil. Even worse, malvertising affects major sites that are presumably secure, such as the New York Times and BBC.
What kinds of junk gets distributed by malvertising? It might be something that exploits security flaws on your browser or device to steal personal data. It might be ransomware, which encrypts your data and holds it hostage until you pay some creep to maybe restore the ransomed data.
3. Performance
As you might imagine, all those ads downloading all that crap onto your device can hurt its performance. Mobile devices are particularly affected. Remember that on your mobile phone, ads appear in the browser, but also in many mobile apps. Unwanted ads can have an impact even when you aren’t using a web browser.
A study from 2016 found that mobile ads can use up more than 3/4 of mobile bandwidth and almost half of your mobile data. Mobile networks have gotten faster since then, but surely ads are sucking up more resources too. This will also hurt battery life as your phone is forced to download more resources.
Philosophically, it doesn’t matter how much of your bandwidth and data ads suck up, you are paying for those resources. In effect, a significant percentage of the money you pay for your data plan goes to pay strangers to put junk on your phone you don’t even want.
No thank you. It is definitely time for an ad blocker.
Ad blockers to the rescue
Now that we agree you need some privacy tools to block ads from contaminating your online life, the question becomes what you can do about it. The answer is that you can use an ad blocker.
In this guide we’re going to examine different ad blocker options – from browser extensions to dedicated apps and hardware solutions. Within each category, we’ll tell you which we solution we think is best, and why.
And just in case you have some specific questions that don’t get answered as we go along, we’ll close out today’s guide with an FAQ section where we answer the most common questions about the best ad blockers.
First, we are going to examine five different ways to block ads:
- Browser ad blocker extensions
- Ad-blocking browser (Brave)
- Ad blocker apps
- Ad blocking on your device or router
- VPN with ad blocking
Now let’s examine each solution in more detail.
1. Browser ad blocker extensions
It should come as no surprise that free browser extensions are one of the most common types of ad blockers. And if you have been around the internet for a while, you also know that “free” is a squishy term in the online world. While some people do create free software out of the goodness of their heart, many people want to make money from their work – and off of you the user.
But they know they probably can’t sell their little browser extension. As a result, many of the publishers of free ad blocker browser extensions out there come up with ingenious ways to make money from your use of their product.
Making money by selling data
Unfortunately, there is more than one way to skin the cat (or at least make money off your “free” ad blocker).
Ghostery is another popular free ad blocker. They too make money off their product, but their approach is different than that of the “we block most ads” crowd. According to a 2016 report by Wired magazine, Ghostery users,
…don’t see ads and aren’t tracked by pesky data trackers. The company, however, makes money by collecting anonymized data on what those trackers pick up. It repackages that data and resells it to publishers, websites, and other companies it says can use the information to help improve the speed, privacy, and performance of their sites.
And for all we know, there may be other such approaches out there we haven’t discovered yet. As Robert Heinlein said, TANSTAAFL (There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch), and many of the “free” ad blockers out there are poor choices for privacy-conscious users like us.
Are there any privacy-friendly ad blocker browser extensions?
Yes, there are a few. We like two in particular: Privacy Badger and uBlock Origin. Interestingly, neither product considers itself a traditional ad blocker.
Privacy Badger
Privacy Badger is a product of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a major international privacy advocate and non-profit organization. The Privacy Badger website has a long explanation of what this extension does and doesn’t do and how it compares to traditional ad blockers. In the interest of saving you some time, we would summarize all of that like this:
Privacy Badger watches the behavior of content that appears in your web browser. It looks for things that seem to be tracking you as you move around the internet, and blocks those that seem suspicious. It just so happens that the majority of things that seem to track you turn out to be ads.
In effect, Privacy Badger “learns” what things seem to be tracking you and deals with them for you. It doesn’t rely on any of the myriad filter lists that tell traditional ad blockers what to block and what to let through.
To do its job, Privacy Badger keeps track of third-party domains that embed images, scripts, and advertising in the pages you visit. It looks for telltale tracking techniques and if it sees one of those domains tracking you on three separate sites, it starts blocking content from that domain. This approach has the following benefits and drawbacks:
- Privacy Badger can learn as it goes along, and doesn’t have to wait for some external filter list to be updated before it can start protecting you
- One drawback is that anyone that is tracking you will get to do so across three websites before being blocked
- The other drawback is that ads that aren’t tracking you are still displayed
The Privacy Badger browser extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera browsers. It works both in normal browsing mode and in incognito mode.
You can learn more about Privacy Badger here.
uBlock Origin (not to be confused with “uBlock”)
uBlock Origin explicitly states that it is not an “ad blocker.” It bills itself as, “…an efficient wide-spectrum content blocker. Easy on CPU and memory.”
uBlock Origin does use filter lists to know which ads and trackers to block.
Free and open source, uBlock Origin can be customized in various ways, including by selecting the filter lists that it will use when checking content.
This approach has the following benefits and drawbacks:
- uBlock Origin doesn’t have to learn if something seems to be tracking you before blocking it. If it appears in one of the lists the extension uses, it can start protecting you immediately
- By default, uBlock Origin loads two ad blocking lists, meaning that it will block virtually all ads, whether they are tracking you or not
The uBlock Origin extension is available for Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome. Like Privacy Badger, it works both in normal browsing mode and in incognito mode.
Important Note: “uBlock Origin” is not the same product as “uBlock”, which is a similarly-named ad blocker that allows “acceptable ads” in exchange for payment. The result of a soap opera-like split between the developers of the original uBlock extension a few years ago, uBlock Origin is the version that is truest to the original vision and is maintained by the original developer. To avoid installing the “wrong” version, you need to go to your browser’s web store and make sure you download the extension that has the full “uBlock Origin” name.
What is the best ad blocker browser extension?
We really like the idea behind Privacy Badger, and the organization that backs them (the EFF). However, when the goal is to block all ads, whether they are spying on you or not, one of the best options is uBlock Origin.
While uBlock Origin offers a lot of customization options, you don’t have to touch them if you don’t want to. Simply download and install the extension from your browser’s web store and get back to browsing. uBlock Origin will start working immediately, greatly improving your browsing experience.
If you are up for a little bit of customization, there are three privacy-related optional settings you might want to be sure are set. Here’s how to do it:
- Click the Open the Dashboard icon (circled in red in the preceding image).
- On the Settings tab, scroll down to the Privacy section and make sure that the options circled in the following image are all selected.
- If you are unsure why you might want any of those settings turned on, you can click the information button (the letter ‘i’ in a grey circle) after any option you are curious about.
2. Ad-blocking browser (Brave)
While it isn’t hard to install a browser extension that will block ads for you, another option is to use a browser with ad blocking, privacy, and security features built right in. We’re talking about the Brave browser, which has ad and tracker blocking activated by default.
Brave is based on open-source Chromium and is well-configured for privacy and security out of the box. It is also featured in our guide on private and secure browsers.
It’s also worth noting, however, that Brave has its own ad program. Yes, that’s right, the browser that blocks ads will also show you ads, if enabled. This has generated some controversy because the browser essentially blocks websites and creators from earning advertising revenue, while also showing ads of their own, for Brave’s own profits. (Note that the user can enable or disable these Brave ads, and it’s also tied in with a cryptocurrency program for “rewards”.)
Leaving the whole ads and “rewards” program aside, Brave still offers a good ad-blocking browser that is simple and easy for anyone to use.
3. Ad blocker apps
While ad blocker browser extensions are fast and easy to install as well as usually free, they do have drawbacks. Specifically, they depend on the good will of the browser companies to do their jobs. Considering that many of the most popular browsers come from giant corporations like Google that make money from selling ads, that is a precarious position to be in. Indeed, for a while in 2019, Google banned uBlock Origin from the Chrome web store. User pressure eventually caused Google to allow uBlock Origin again, but the incident illustrates the problem.
Standalone adblocker apps (ad blocking software) attack this problem directly by doing all the ad blocking outside of your browser. This not only prevents a browser company from disabling your ad blocker, it allows one app to protect everything. If you are like us and use multiple browsers on each device, this will definitely appeal. Potentially even more interesting is that this kind of app can block ads that appear elsewhere than in your browser.
For example, various Microsoft apps and even Windows 10 can display ads. Browser extension ad blockers can do nothing against that kind of annoyance, but ad blocker apps can. (See also our Windows 10 privacy guide, while you’re at it.)
AdGuard – The best stand-alone ad blocker app
AdGuard is one of our favorite standalone ad-blocking apps with support for many devices. You can use AdGuard on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. They also offer browser extensions and other privacy-oriented products.
Beyond ad blocking, AdGuard offers capabilities like parental controls, phishing protection, and anonymity protection. The Windows app is the AdGuard flagship product.
As you can see below, the app has a clean user interface, and although it works fine right out of the box, there are a ton of options you can customize as needed.
If you don’t need the full power of the standalone app, their browser extensions might serve your web browsing needs. According to the website, “Despite having several intrinsic limitations compared to the standalone apps, they still do a decent job at blocking ads and trackers and are completely free.” Instead of describing all the variations between the versions for different operating systems and browsers, we suggest you visit the AdGuard website and check out the exact features of the version that is right for your devices and use cases.
Pricing on AdGuard is somewhat confusing. Several variants of their products offer a free version, while the standalone app requires yearly subscriptions (priced monthly but billed yearly) as well as lifetime prices. The price also varies with the number of devices you plan to protect, as well as any discount coupons you might encounter. Figure on starting at $30 per year to protect three devices.
One thing to keep in mind if you do decide to go with a standalone ad blocker like AdGuard is that it will be consuming memory and CPU cycles at all times, as opposed to a browser-based solution that is only active when you are using the protected browser.
4. Ad blocking on your device or router
Another great product from AdGuard is their free ad blocking DNS. You can use this on anything that allows you to specify the DNS manually. This includes many routers as well as individual devices. As described on the AdGuard DNS page,
AdGuard DNS is a foolproof way to block Internet ads that does not require installing any applications. It is easy to use, absolutely free, easily set up on any device, and provides you with minimal necessary functions to block ads, counters, malicious websites, and adult content.
Because AdGuard DNS is blocking ads and trackers at the DNS, it lacks the more advanced capabilities that the AdGuard apps offer. That said, it will block ads everywhere in your system, and the company’s privacy policy promises that they do not store any DNS query logs. In addition, AdGuard DNS supports the DNSCrypt, DoH, and DoT protocols that protect your DNS queries from being spied on by your ISP (or anyone else).
Note: Even when using a third-party DNS service, your internet provider can still see every website you visit. If you want true privacy and encryption, you’ll need to be using a VPN service.
The AdGuard setup page gives you instructions for using AdGuard DNS with a range of devices. Select the operating system or device you use and follow the directions to get instant free (basic) ad blocking. Instructions are included for: Windows, macOS, Android and iOS mobile devices, Ubuntu, and routers. These instructions are clear and if you are at all comfortable adjusting your operating system’s network settings, you should have no problem making the changes.
Other router-based solutions
Some router firmware such as DD-WRT and Tomato firmware may support ad-blocking. Since the blocking is done at the router, you automatically get protection for all devices that connect to the router.
If you have an Asus router that runs Merlin firmware and don’t mind mucking around with settings, you might want to give Diversion a try. Diversion, formerly known as AB-Solution, “is a shell script application to manage ad-blocking, Dnsmasq logging, Entware and pixelserv-tls installations and more on supported routers running Asuswrt-Merlin firmware, including its forks.”
Pi-hole
Another powerful ad blocker worth considering is Pi-hole, and it’s also free.
Pi-hole is an open source ad blocker that will run on anything from a Docker container to a Raspberry Pi. Configure your router to use Pi-hole as your DNS server and it can act as the ad blocker for your entire network. Pi-hole has a huge range of capabilities that should please anyone who is willing to tinker with their network.
5. VPN with ad blocking
The last ad blocking solution we will examine is blocking ads through your VPN (Virtual Private Network).
If you are new to VPNs, see our What is a VPN guide.
There are a handful of VPNs I have tested that offer good ad-blocking solutions, directly in the VPN apps. I really like this solution (if you are always using a VPN, as recommended) because it is light weight and efficient. Simply enable the ad blocking feature in your VPN app and it will block all ads on your operating system.
Example: Below is NordVPN with the CyberSec feature enabled. CyberSec blocks ads, trackers, and known malware domains.
Deal: You can test drive NordVPN and the CyberSec ad blocker with this 70% discounted price.
Here are some of the best ad blocker VPNs we have tested. Click the VPN name below for the full review:
Note: These VPN ad blockers will only be active when you are connected through a VPN server.
Now that we’ve covered five different ways to block ads, let’s review some of the basics and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Best Ad Blockers – FAQ
Before we wrap this up, here are some of the most common questions (and their answers) we’ve run into on the subject of Ad Blockers:
What is an Ad Blocker?
An ad blocker is a tool that prevents advertisements from appearing somewhere and/or tracking you. Most commonly, people use them to block ads from appearing on web pages. Over the last several years, ad blockers have become quite popular, with tens (or hundreds) of millions of people using them worldwide.
Why are ad blockers so popular?
Ad blockers can make a huge difference in the readability and usability of a page. Pages without ads are a lot less cluttered, and they can display a lot more of the actual content you are interested in on a single screen. Then there are those incredibly annoying ads, you know, the ones that block the whole screen until you opt in to their newsletter, or that display video and sound automatically.
There are also many privacy and security reasons to block ads, which we covered above.
If you think about your own experiences with sites filled with online ads, it is easy to see why ad blockers are so popular.
Where do all those ads come from?
Most of the ads you see on a webpage don’t originate there. Webpages are typically made up of content from many websites: an image loaded from here, a font from there, an icon from someplace else. All this content is automatically loaded from third-party websites when your browser loads the page you selected.
Similarly, most ads you see also come from third-party websites belonging to advertising networks. In the fraction of a second between when you click a link for a new page and when that page appears on your screen, the page notifies the ad network, which decides what ad, if any, to display on the page.
There are various ways that the ad network can decide what ad to display. One of them is to know the context in which the ad is going to be displayed. For example, if you are visiting a webpage dedicated to fishing poles, the ad network will likely send the webpage an ad related to fishing, rather than one related to basketball.
But context isn’t the only way to make the decision.
Have you ever had the experience of visiting a website on a particular topic, only to start seeing ads related to that topic, even if they aren’t related to the context of the page you are visiting? If it seems like you are being tracked by advertisers as you move across the internet, that’s because you are. Advertisers put tremendous effort into tracking you across the internet and building a detailed (creepy) profile of your habits.
How do advertisers track you across the internet?
Just as third-party websites can put an interesting image or display an ad on a webpage, they can also insert various types of trackers on your computer.
These trackers are used by advertising companies to see where you go online and what you do there. Even though trackers don’t appear on your screen, they are a huge threat to your online privacy. The information gathered using trackers goes into databases that record whatever information can be gleaned about you and your online activities. This information is then used to serve you with “better” ads in the future, or is sold to other advertisers who want to track you, or both.
How do ad blockers protect your privacy?
Having everything you do online tracked by unknown parties, and used for unknown purposes feels like a violation of privacy to most people. Ad blockers can help protect your privacy because they can disrupt and block tracking.
Many ad blockers could more accurately be called, “ad and tracker blockers.” That’s because they can not only block ads, they can block trackers too. If advertisers can’t put trackers on your computer or other devices, it becomes much harder for them to track you and create their databases.
Is it wrong to block ads?
While blocking ads offers immediate benefits to users, there are some that argue it is wrong to do so.
One argument is that blocking ads is not in the best interests of users. Without revenue from ads appearing on their sites, publishers might stop making their content available for free, or even be driven out of business.
You might say that you hate ads and wouldn’t click on them anyway, so what’s the harm? It turns out that many websites earn money from ads using the PPV model. PPV (Pay Per View) is a model where the site earns a (usually tiny) amount of money every time an ad is displayed. Critically, the user doesn’t have to click on the ad; its mere appearance on the screen earns the website money.
In cases like this, blocking ads does cost the website money.
Another argument is that blocking ads is denying advertisers the ability to market their wares. If ads for their widgets don’t appear, they will sell fewer widgets. This is true, but is it relevant?
Is someone required to look at your ads just because you paid to put them on some webpage? As far as we know, there is no requirement that I watch TV commercials or listen to radio ads. So why would we be required to look at an ad on a webpage?
What are the best ad blockers?
This is not a, “One Answer Fits All,” type of question. If it was, there would have been no point in spilling so many words on the screen. The right answer depends on your type of device, your operating system, your use case, and your budget.
What is the best ad blocker for Google Chrome?
Assuming you are looking for a free ad blocker browser extension, rather than a standalone app, we recommend uBlock Origin. It does a great job of blocking ads and other sketchy content, without getting paid by ad companies, selling user data to ad companies, or otherwise doing anything that might violate your privacy.
And if you are using a VPN for Chrome, you can combine ad blocking and VPN into one simple solution with NordVPN and the CyberSec feature.
What is the best ad blocker for YouTube in 2020?
The answer to this question depends on how much you value your privacy. AdGuard for Windows has a good reputation for blocking YouTube ads, and doesn’t do anything that might compromise your privacy. However, it is not free beyond a 14-day trial.
There’s also the YouTube Premium version, which provides you with several benefits beyond ad-free videos. However, the price is a steep $11.99 per month, and you are giving money to YouTube, which we are fundamentally against.
AdGuard for Windows costs far less and blocks ads across your entire device, not just on YouTube. And it costs a fraction of what YouTube Premium would cost you.
YouTube Proxy – You can also the YouTube proxy www.invidio.us. Simply take the entire YouTube URL and replace the [www.youtube.com] with [www.invidio.us] to see your video without ads.
How to install an ad blocker in Google Chrome? In Firefox? In Microsoft Edge?
Installing an ad blocker in Google Chrome or any other browser is basically the same. If the ad blocker is available in the browser’s app store, simply go there to download and install it as you would any other app. If the ad blocker is not included in the relevant app store (some browser companies make their money from selling ads, so can get twitchy about ad blockers), you will need to go to the publisher’s website and follow the directions there.
Conclusion: Best ad blockers
And since you made it this far, there is no one “best ad blocker” out there. Instead, there are different “best ad blocker” solutions depending on your circumstances.
Your best bet for finding the “best ad blocker for you” is to think carefully about your circumstances, then choose from the recommended solutions for the scenario that most closely matches your own circumstances.
If you have no idea where to start, check out the standalone version of AdGuard for your operating system. While the exact capabilities vary depending on the operating system, AdGuard products don’t do anything that could violate your privacy, and frequently include additional capabilities like phishing protection and parental controls that could come in handy.
Do you have any feedback or tips for blocking ads? Drop a comment below.
Fully updated and revised on June 21, 2020.
Dear Sven,
Thank you for the overview!
It might already be mentioned in the comments (there are just too many…), but what would you recommend on iOS?
I could not find uBlock Origin in the App Store. I have Adblock Plus installed, and I deactivated the “Acceptable Ads” option of course. I use Firefox on macOS and Win10, but it is less than satisfactory on iOS (e.g. Adblock Plus not working, some useful functions not available), so I use Safari on iOS. Do you have more specific recommendations?
Most of these options also apps to mobile devices, iOS or Android, so whatever works best for you from the available options:
– Brave browser on iOS with built-in ad blocking
– Firefox browser on iOS with ad blocking extensions
– VPN app that blocks ads on iOS
– AdGuard app on iOS
…
As I said, it is not possible to install add-ons for Firefox on iOS, uBlock Origin is not available from the app store, and AbBlock Plus works only with Safari. This left me with Adblock Plus on Safari, which I don’t find ideal. In any case, I will probably get Surfshark VPN soon, so that should solve the problem.
Still, I think it might be worth mentioning in the article that not everything is possible on iOS.
I don’t spend much time on mobile devices, bad for privacy 🙂
– Safari (WebKit) on iOS and macOS handles ad blocking differently than Firefox (Gecko) and Chrome (Blink). Ad blockers or content blockers for Safari don’t handle internet traffic, they just provide instruction on what to block. The upcoming iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur may bring some changes.
– Firefox, Chrome and Brave on iOS are all based on WebKit so no extension like desktop ones.
– AdBlock Plus is not a good content blocker for Safari. The good ones are AdGuard, Better, Roadblock and 1Blocker.
– Although less intuitive, SnowHaze is a very good, secure and private browser alternative to Safari. So far it’s the only browser on the App Store that can block ads, trackers, social media buttons, HTTP referer as well as protect from browser fingerprinting. It passes the test on https://nothingprivate.ml
– SurfShark VPN will provide a DNS-based ad blocker. It might not be as strong as browser ad blocker (not sure, never use it). To be safe, uninstall ABP content blocker and use either one of the content blockers mentioned above. Content blocker can be used on VPN.
Can you use the AdGuard app together with Express VPN on Android? I’m hoping the former can block the annoying YouTube ads that keep playing. I’m already using the latter every time I go online.
According to this forum, it may not be possible to run two VPNs on Android out of the box https://forum.adguard.com/index.php?threads/how-to-use-ag-another-apps-vpn-at-the-same-time.21836/
I don’t use Express VPN but I think VPN or DNS ad blocker is limited compared to browser ad blocker. Where do you watch YouTube? For ad free experience, watch on browsers with ad blocker like Firefox, Brave, Samsung Internet, or replace YouTube app with NewPipe.
What about CSP reposrts in ublock origin config? Should i enable it?
Not necessary.
I have been using adblockers ever since they were invented and never looked back. Sure, it hurts the websites and I actually whitelisted some because I wanted to support them. But not for long. I just couldnt stand anything moving on the page when I dont initiate it. I also hate autoplaying videos and cant understand why browsers cant stop autoplay. Is that a business decision not to block them or is it just impossible?
But fact is that the majority of people doesnt give a damn about annoying ads, so I happily let them pay for my visits. There is enough of them 🙂
As far as the adblockers is concerned, I don’t see the point of using any of them (VPNs are great but they are much more than simple adblockers). I mean there are browsers (like Firefox, Brave, Vivaldi…) that include an adblocker or block adtrackers (and blocking these trackers you get most of the ads blocked). So if you use one of them you don’ need to use a third party adblocker.
This page is focused on privacy, right?… Well,which one of the next two options is more “private friendly”?
a) Your browser and your ISP/VPN know what pages you visit.
b) Your browser, your ISP/VPN and the adblocker know what pages you visit (if you have a look at these adblockers on Chrome Store or Mozilla add-ons page, you will see that all of them ask for permits to see everything you do online and access to all your data).
In my opiniom the best option is a)… You may say that the the adblockers mentioned in the article are open source, and/or have a very nice privacy policy, and you’re likely to be right, but why should I run the risk if the browser blocks most of / all the ads?-
Ad blocker in browsers (built-in like Brave, Vivaldi or extensions like uBlock Origin) MUST know your browsing data or else it won’t work. It needs to filter connections and block them based on blacklist / block list like EasyList, EasyPrivacy etc.
On the other hand, ad blocker on Safari for iOS and macOS is designed so that it only loads instructions to Safari on what to block, making it more private and more efficient than ad blockers for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Vivaldi etc.
Is it necessary to install uBlock Origin on Firefox, Brave, Vivaldi and Cliqz given that ad blocker is already built-in?
YES if you find there are some ads and trackers the browser miss or if you want to widen the net on ad, tracker and annoyance blocking.
NO if the browsers do a sufficient job and/or you don’t mind a few ads or trackers slipping through.
Hi Sven
Thank you for the answer! It seems very compelling or tempting to invest in the adguard standalone app. 1 hour into trial period 75 adds blocked and 377 blocked tracking – again if it can be trusted. What paid version would you recommend for IOS and OS? If the aim is to have the best possible privacy protection?
Would you know if it is working across different browsers or if it is only dedicated to the safari browser?
The way the app works would you know whether it has access to very sensitive data on my devices?
Apologice for the extended questions, but I am so tired of downloading bad quality apps and wants to make sure it is true quality and with respect to security and privacy!
Thank you beforehand for your answer and thank you for having this website running and being one of the few presenting with a clear vision!
AdGuard can be trusted. In addition, iOS and macOS content blocker (other name for adblocker) works differently than Android and Windows—content blocking apps only provide instruction to Safari on what to block, the apps themselves don’t know what is accessed by Safari. This is a huge privacy advantage over regular extension where extensions can read what the browser accesses. Nonetheless, Safari now lacks advanced extension like Decentraleyes, uMatrix, NoScript etc. which requires accessing browsing data in real time to work.
Free AdGuard app only works with Safari, not Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Vivaldi etc. Paid AdGuard works on all apps on the operating system by incorporating DNS adblocking.
AdGuard lifetime would be the best investment than subscription. The company regularly offers discount now and then, sometimes on their homepage, sometimes on third party vendors like Cult of Mac.
P.S. If you’re only interested in blocking content in Safari, there are also other good content blockers such as Better and Roadblock.
Hi Sven
Can Adguard standalone app be trusted when it comes to privacy on OS and IOS? What are your insights on this?
I haven’t seen anything to indicate that it cannot be trusted.
@Sven,
I see the filter list on Ublock Origin and I always see the warning about blocking too many lists.
Does this actually have an adverse affect on websites or is it just there? Thanks.
Too many lists will affect the performance of browser.
two questions!
Ublock-Origin advanced settings – if I already disabled webrtc on firefox with media.peerconnection.enabled == FALSE – does “Prevent WebRTC from leaking local IP addresses” on the Ublock-Origin advanced settings do anything? Or is that just a general suggestion for people on less configurable browsers? seems like a tautology / redundancy 😉
second question: VPN blockers like CyberSec from NordVPN
are there any privacy risks inherent in those or are they actually safer than using an adblocker?
here are my ten cents: if you go to a Browser Fingerprinting leaks site you’ll see that sites can already tell which AdBlocker (as well as which BLOCKING list you USE!!!!!)
https://browserleaks.com/proxy
A VPN blocker wouldn’t show up on this list of browser leaks… but at the same time I’m not sure a VPN blocker can block anything useful if you already have the RestorePrivacy browser + adblock recommendations enabled and are using a VPN. It seems like something nice to have / extra. I guess i’m asking if you would use a VPN thing like CyberSec in addition to all the other nifty stuff or if it’s probably a redundancy (it probably can’t hurt but I never enabled this sort of stuff- it seems like marketing bs).
I like using ad blockers through VPNs for three main reasons:
It is more efficient than browser extensions.
It will apply to everything on your operating system and is not limited to a browser extension.
I always use a VPN anyway, and this simplifies two tools into one.
1. It should produce the same result I think. Just that one is browser based, the other extension based. Either one is fine.
2. That browser leaks proxy test doesn’t seem accurate. It shows filters I don’t use. I think VPN based adblocker works on DNS level. I don’t think VPN or DNS based adblocker has lists as extensive as that of app or extension based ones like uBlock Origin and AdGuard. But if VPN or DNS ad blocking is sufficient for your needs, then no need to add extension.
…Past victims – – Over 20,000,000 of Chrome Users were Victims of Fake Ad Blockers [https://adguard.com/en/blog/over-20-000-000-of-chrome-users-are-victims-of-fake-ad-blockers.html]
AdGuard, a company that offers ad blocking products, revealed a list of five malicious Chrome extensions that in all had compromised over 20 million users.
Here’s the list of the malicious extensions:
AdRemover for Google Chrome™ (10M+ users)
uBlock Plus (8M+ users)
Adblock Pro (2M+ users)
HD for YouTube™ (400K+ users)
Webutation (30K+ users)
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Now have a look at the following list of legitimate extensions:
AdBlock (10M+ users)
Adblock Plus (10M+ users)
AdBlocker Ultimate(750K+ users)
uBlock (500K+ users)
uBlock Origin (10M+ users)
uBlock Plus Adblocker (800K+ users)
You can see it’s really important to make sure you install the extension that you intended to install. It is really difficult to tell the first malicious list from the second legitimate list.
Related: approval stage – hope it posts ; )
https://restoreprivacy.com/private-search-engine/#comment-77523
From my AdGuard app experience, it DOES NOT consume that much resources with the couple of the last software versions. It really did soaked battery before, but it seems OK now.
Battery and traffic consumption issues – It’s not Adguard…
Sometimes you may notice that, according to Android built-in statistics, AdGuard consumes a lot of traffic and/or battery resource.
https://kb.adguard.com/en/android/solving-problems/battery
Both these problems are two sides of the same coin. Since in the process of filtering all the mobile traffic goes through AdGuard, Android decides that it is AdGuard that consumes it all. In reality, of course, it is not true.
Battery and traffic consumption shown in devices statistics do not represent the facts. The thing is, Android attributes all of the WiFi and Mobile traffic to AdGuard, which was in fact consumed by other apps.
Due to this, AdGuards real share of total consumed traffic and battery resource increases, and the share of other apps, on the contrary, decreases.
Adguard now has it’s Own battery usage stats screen…
To mitigate this misconception, we added a new screen called ‘Battery usage’. You can access it by tapping on the battery icon in the top right corner of the main screen.
How much battery resourse does AdGuard really consume?
First, let us lay down a little bit of theory and links with necessary data.
Android derives traffic consumption judging on so-called Power Profile, which is given by every manufacturer: [https://source.android.com/devices/tech/power/values.html]
Main part of Power Profile is a set of values in mAh which define battery consumption for every component of the device: [https://source.android.com/devices/tech/power/values.html]
Hello
I want to know your opinion if Ublock origin is still safe, is it trustworty?
As they now want your IP adress, also host name etc.
I have done a lot of research but i have”t found suitable answer.
Some sources say that the new permissions are required to block new kind of ads/trackers.
Also the thread in reddit is closed by ublock origin moderators. Sounds sketch, doesen”t it ?
Thanks
It’s safe. To quote, “ it does not access your ip. It needs access to the website’s ip/dns records to uncloak the cnames, which some sites’ are using to hide ads/trackers.”
https://www.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/f8p2cx/new_permissions_request_ip_address_and_hostname/
Good news!
as from now Safari is blocking all third party cookies
https://webkit.org/blog/10218/full-third-party-cookie-blocking-and-more/
… but I read somewhere that fourth and fifth party cookies exists…
I used Better Blocker but seems that they have some new priorities…
Now using Wipr on iOS and macOS. It is very effective in blocking adds, but no idea how the app is blocking trackers as no verification is possible. Maybe someone found a way how to verify this?
I don’t use Better, would you mind explaining what their new priorities are?
I don’t use Wipr as well but the lists of ad and tracker blocker can be found here https://giorgiocalderolla.com/wipr-acknowledgements.html .
Both Better and Wipr are designed as simple content blocker with zero configuration needed. Unlike AdGuard, these two set the lists for you which should be good enough for the general public. The only difference between these two is Better makes their own lists from scratch while Wipr imports popular ad blocking lists like EasyList and EasyPrivacy.
Hi Restorer,
I’ll try to repeat my initial question.
“Maybe someone found a way how to verify this?” meaning real effectivity to block trackers.
Thank you!
Well trackers aren’t as obvious as ads where their absence can be detected visually and directly. One way to see trackers is to open developer or network console and identify foreign/third-party or even first party tracker connections made while connecting to websites. For example, if you use AdGuard Pro, you can identify trackers based on DNS requests made to domains such as graph.facebook.com and various domains containing the words ‘ad’ or ‘analytics’.
Rest assured, if your content blocker is based on popular tracker lists such as EasyPrivacy, AdGuard Tracking Protection or Fanboy’s Enhanced Tracking, you’re mostly covered. If you’re using Better, you’re mostly covered as well. The advantage Better has over other lists is it provides an encyclopedia of trackers for easy reference, not just a bunch of lines with no description about the trackers.
@ Restorer
Thank you, I found the blocked adds and trackers in Web Inspector > Console
For this page (https://restoreprivacy.com/ad-blocker/) I got:
“Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 ()” and that
the content blocker blocked the request from “https://cdn-resprivacy.pressidium.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-review-pro/public/js/js.cookie.min.js.map”.
My host Pressidium offers their own CDN and records site visits, like nearly all web hosts, because the more site visits you have, the more they charge.
P.S.
You mention that Better has a lists which provides an encyclopedia of trackers for easy reference.
Where can I find this list please? Searched, but probably they made some changes on ind.ie..
Thanx
Better’s encyclopedia of trackers can be found here https://better.fyi/trackers/ .
Better is now under https://small-tech.org , no longer under https://ind.ie
I am using “ad nauseam”, which uses unlock origin behind the scenes.
It is designed to waste advertiser’s money and, with enough users, this could help new ways to monetize content to develop
That is an interesting way to block ads as well as confuse the trackers—same goes to ad blockers which replaces ads with cat pictures and website automation such as Noiszy. Noiszy (not sure if still in development) automates/simulates website surfing in order to mask your browsing activities.
Some say this approach is unnecessary because the noise can be filtered.
2020 UPDATE on how to choose adblocker / content blocker filter list in uBlock origin or other ad blockers:
**To block ads, choose:**
– Easylist, or
– AdGuard Base, and
– AdGuard Mobile (for mobile)
**To block trackers, choose:**
– EasyPrivacy, and/or
– AdGuard Tracking Protection, and/or
– Fanboy’s Enhanced Tracking (more stringent so may block sites)
**To block social widgets, choose:**
– AdGuard Social Media, or
– Fanboy’s Social Blocking
**To block annoyances e.g. cookie notice, pop up, 3rd party widgets, choose:**
– AdGuard Annoyances (doesn’t include social widgets), or
– Fanboy’s Annoyances (includes social widgets so no need social blocking)
For Safari, **no longer needed** to add:
– AdGuard safari
**To unblock search ads and website self promotion, choose:**
– filter unblocking search ads and self promotion
**To block malware domains, choose:**
– Malware Domains, and/or
– Spam 404, and/or
– NoCoin (crypto miners)
**Alternative adblocker / content blocker filters, not based on popular filters above:**
– Better (Safari on iOS and macOS, also Linux’s Gnome Web)
https://better.fyi provides clear and informative description on unethical ads and trackers that they block. However, Better does not block social widgets for the time being.
**System-wide adblocking / content blocking e.g. block ads, trackers in all apps except YouTube and Facebook official apps:**
iOS and macOS, use:
– AdGuard Pro or subscription (lifetime is available at discount on select sites), or
– Lockdown Apps, or
– Little Snitch (macOS only; need to import or create own adblock/ content block list)
Android, use:
– AdGuard subscription (lifetime is available at discount too), or
– Blokada, or
– DNS66
Windows, use:
– AdGuard subscription (lifetime is available at discount too)
NOTE: There are more adblock filters / options out there but this list should be good enough for the general public.
Good info, thanks for sharing.
Your welcome, Sven. Feel free to improve, expand and include in your articles as I’m afraid comments can get buried and lose visbility.
Hey Sven – love the site.
You might want to reconsider Ghostery. They were sold back in 2017 and have taken a number of steps to be more privacy-centered, including going open-source.
Thanks for the tip.
G5? You mean 5GHz WiFi? 5GHz is just WiFi speed, faster than 2.4Ghz. Since you mention iPad and AdGuard DNS, I take it you’re using AdGuard Pro? For DNS settings, you may choose regular or encrypted AdGuard DNS over ipv4 or ipv6. Then go to advanced settings > tunnel mode and choose appropriately in order to set a local VPN.
AdGuard VPN works well at blocking ads in apps e.g. YouTube, games, non-Safari browser, free apps etc but recently it’s a bit spotty every time I reconnect to WiFi. When this happens, I need to turn off WiFi/AdGuard VPN and on again and restart the app (eg App Store, Mariokart) if it needs internet to function.
AdGuard VPN or DNS will block ads and trackers in Safari too but I recommend turning on Safari content blocker to set up stronger / more effective blocking rules when browsing the internet via Safari. AdGuard DNS has limits in ad and tracker blocking .
I wanted an adblocker for my new iPad and tried to apply the AdGuardDNS settings as recommended; however, there is no option to add new DNS settings for G5. I can revert back to IPv4 and make the settings, but that’s taking a step backward in my router’s communication. Is the information on that web page slightly out of date or am I missing a step? This iPad id the 7th generation and has just been updated to iOS 13….. and my router is an ASUS RT-AC68U Dual Band that I keep updated.
Hello Don Buelke,
I’m interested to help out but, limited as I don’t have apples or run the DNS of AdGuard.
I’m not clear also as to following your internets setup – maybe like, internet > router > iPad 7th gen.
AdGuard DNS set on the router and iPad wi-fi pulling in the internet signal to where the web’s ad’s are blocked on your iPad – yes?
The Setup guide(s) are found here (click on your platform)-
https://adguard.com/en/adguard-dns/overview.html
AdGuard DNS | AdGuard Knowledgebase
https://kb.adguard.com/en/dns
As for your mention of “my new iPad, tried to apply the AdGuardDNS settings as recommended; however, there is no option to add new DNS settings for G5”.
G5 – you must mean the 5G network cellular providers work to roll out. Which is data over mobile towers as I hear. That’s so new only the AdGuard team would have knowledge to guild you in what to do, or have to submit a ticket for the community’s help.
I’d say someone using your platform in the AdGuard Forums could help you, and even vasily_bagirov ‘administrator’ or avatar ‘Developer’ may contribute their help – booberry is another helpful contributor I’ve seen there.
Discussion (AdGuard for iOS)
https://forum.adguard.com/index.php?forums/discussion-adguard-for-ios.86/
AdGuard DNS has a number of spots in the topics on page 1.
or
App and adguard DNS question
https://forum.adguard.com/index.php?threads/app-and-adguard-dns-question.23859/
Hope it gets you answered and it’s solved favorably as well.
You forgot to write how to choose filter list in uBlock Origin or other ad blocker:
To block ads, choose:
– EasyList, or
– AdGuard base, and
– AdGuard mobile (for mobile)
To block trackers, choose:
– EasyPrivacy, or
– AdGuard spyware, or
– Fanboy’s Enhanced Tracking
To block social widgets, choose:
– AdGuard social media
– Fanboy’s Social Blocking
To block annoyances e.g. cookie notice, pop up, 3rd party widgets, choose:
– AdGuard annoyances (doesn’t include social widgets), or
– Fanboy’s Annoyances (includes social widgets)
For Safari, add:
– AdGuard Safari
To unblock search ads and website self promotion, choose:
– Filter unblocking search ads and self promotion
To block malware domains, choose:
– Malware domains
A lot of websites will not function if they detect if you are using an adblocker. Adguard solved this problem in three different ways. First, you can report the website to them. Second, you can block their blocking with Adguard’s tools. And finally, and you use their annoyance filter. I’ve never seen any website stop me using adblocking. One website would ask you to disable your adblock every five webpage loads. I reported the website to Adguard, and the annoyance was gone in 24 hours. The website eventually found a way around this, so I reported them again. Within 24 hours, the annoyance was gone. Internet, we hate ads. Find another way to make your money. There is this one website I visited often that had harmful ads that would cause tons of popups and redirects, even with the the best adblockers. Adguard was the only one that prevented the attack. I use the paid version.
Agreed. It’s probably the best solution. You get what you pay for.
Hi James Slayton,
Great points of why buying an AdGuard licence to it’s installed versions is beneficial . The features of (adguard’s tools) is of many directions but, I think of one specifically in your meanings to it’s AdGuard Assistant extension, that adds additional features to the installed AdGuard version(s).
AdGuard Assistant – The name of this extension is quite deliberate: it actually assists the user in changing basic AdGuard settings right in the browser, without the need to open the app itself.
https://kb.adguard.com/en/windows/features/extensions
https://kb.adguard.com/en/windows/features
.
– [I’m on an older version yet – with this AG version in my AdGuard Assistant, I’m able to highlight/box the ad and AdGuard reloads the page without that ad / or element I’d just marked and executed on – instantly.
(Any unwanted element – maybe not just ads – rendered on a webpage and boxed by your AA ext. seems to disappear too).
This holds for your future visits to the same site(s)…
I’m able to report that ad directly to the AdGuard’s team as well from my AdGuard’s Assistant ext. for a permanent fix for all it’s users – visiting this same site.]
.
I’m seeing with this older version (in researching again), I’m missing the (newer ?) extension offered now.
AdGuard Extra – This is a custom extension designed to fight the technique of re-inserting blocked ads – the so-called ad blocker circumvention/ad reinjection. Both are advanced anti-ad blocker methods that continue to rise in popularity among advertisers.
– – Which doesn’t seem possible to add the AdGuard Extra extension to this version I’m on yet.
I’ll need to update AG as it’s baked in to the newer versions install, and in that action can only be turned on or off not installed/uninstalled.
–
***MY ADVICE – disable your Web of Trust extension if it’s active –
– because of it’s scandal some years back – check the web “WOT scandal” or in the AG forums for WOT comments.
AG claimed it’s version of WOT was not the same available to everyone else – thus from it’s community concerns they went ahead and made this WOT extension turned off by default on AG installs going forward.
NOTE: AdGuard Assistant, AdGuard Extra, PopupBlocker extensions all come directly from the AdGuard developers and they HAVE given their guarantee that they will be effective and safe.
Thanks and Greetings
Further help @James Slayton,
Websites detecting ad blockers limit their websites functions:
Are you on the latest version of AG?
Development claims of Handling adblock circumvention scripts – via it’s browser extension with already using a full-fledged desktop program (AdGuard for Windows or macOS), then the extension will undertake the features of Assistant and become a very useful support tool.
https://adguard.com/en/adguard-browser-extension/overview.html
Directly as I understand then, the AdGuard browser extension in tandem use with the installed app can handle adblock circumvention scripts. You won’t have to turn off the ad blocker anymore to be able to visit the websites that are using such scripts.
–
I’m not on the latest version… myself
– I have filters running in my AG older version. I don’t see being listed now on the AdGuard filter editor interface (window) that opens to add filters right in the application.
These two filters have helped me not see the ad blocker WARNING anywhere.
*You’d be able to add these filters yourself by starting (below in #2) and using the URL of a filter in #3 A. as ticking on the Greenbox ‘Import filter’ – if your seeing any like ad blocker warning on sites you’d visit.
Adblock Warning Removal List:
https://easylistdownloads.adblockplus.org/antiadblockfilters.txt
Oops – this next one’s needing a maintainer down the line (clicking the links) and deemed obsolete so I’d not recommend (though I run it) – but it’s
Anti-Adblock Killer | Reek or related by subscription list to AK-Cont:
https://github.com/reek/anti-adblock-killer/
https://xuhaiyang1234.gitlab.io/AAK-Cont/
https://gitlab.com/xuhaiyang1234/AAK-Cont/tree/master/FINAL_BUILD
IF any are added they’d should show up under the Annoyances heading in your AG filters in the opened Filter editor.
–
Wow – even in this older AG version the last interface mentioned (below in #3 A.) to understand by hoovering the ? in picking your filters to add of the listed is different.
This (has changed it’s layout look and filter offerings as I remember of it – wondering now if it’s a web interface of sorts).
Like is used in settings of hotspot’s and routers.
*(Could maybe AG have baked in more-or-less the same functions or (lists) in it’s own filters abilities now as times move forward and has reduced some outside dependence or user interaction that was required for best coverage.)
–
Start:::
In your AdGuard settings: Ad Blocker > Filters > Open filter editor {Greenbox} > (new window opens)
1. under the left side column of ‘Installed filters’ go to bottom left of the field in this box
2. find the + symbol next to the (gear symbol) at bottom left and hit it
3. (another window opens) hoovering the ? of filters listed to understanding it’s function to add any if wanted.
@@ Outside of the listed filters your able to add your own found and wanted filters or subscriptions being maintained.
3 A. Ticking on the Greenbox ‘Import filter’ you need to enter the valid URL or a file path of the filter into the input box, to be subscribed to that filter.
Hope it’s helpful : )
There is a way to use Pi-hole with privacy – using this technique:
https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-block-advertisements-at-the-dns-level-using-pi-hole-and-openvpn-on-ubuntu-16-04
I connected up pi-hole with my VPN and then configured pi-hole to use my VPN’s private DNS servers as its ‘upstream DNS servers’ – this way I get no DNS leaks when connecting to the internet and all my DNS traffic is encrypted in the VPN tunnel.
Hello Sven!
Adguard for Mac is not open source. ¿Should I trust him?
Hi bifeconpapas,
AdGuard is good at what it does and there’s a reason for this, as they charge ! It’s code (most platforms) as I think is not open to users inspection and change. Think of if ‘s model compared as to any pay for anti-virus co’s same ownership roll of their software on your PC. Trust would be gained by security-privacy audit(s). I don’t see any right now.
TOS and PP spell out some trust if is stated as in what/where/when and how/whom have access to users data or device generated data. Then users reviews or you can place this Question on it forum for other AG users to answers.
https://forum.adguard.com/index.php?categories/adguard-for-mac.79/
–
They are pretty good on and about your privacy s cause some time ago when WOT (Web Of Trust) was in the news about not concealing uses data properly – they made it a users choice to uninstall or leave it in that WOT extension of the installed adguard versions.
–
“AdGuard is a line of ad blocking and privacy protection software which comprises open-source and shareware products that protect Microsoft Windows, Linux, OS X, Android and iOS users from unwanted ads, pop-ups, banners, as well as from tracking, obscene content, malware and phishing. A cross-platform utility, AdGuard is also available as an extension for the most widely used browsers, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari, Yandex.Browser, and Microsoft Edge. Over 5 million people are reported to be using the software in 2018.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdGuard
Greetings – Black Friday for their sites best sale of the year to get a lifetime license or upgrade to it / even add devices to one…
On installed version of Windows and I won’t go online without it.
It’s that good : )
uBlock Origin is a nice Adblocker but, it asks for a lot!
uBlock Origin has access to your data:
1. Access your data for all websites
2. Read and modify privacy settings
3. Access browser tabs
4. Store unlimited amount of client-side data
5. Access browser activity during navigation
How can this Ad Blocker guarantee my privacy?
So I can’t trust it.
Tracking blocker Better with the KA-Block add blocker is the best solution for Safari both in iOS and macOS. https://better.fyi/
Hello,
Is it possible to use VPN service along with ad-blocker from the other company (i.e. adguard or blokada) on android phones? I ask because system ad-blockers act like “vpn” on phones, therefore you can’t use both, can you?
Yes, in general it is possible, but with some mobile ad blockers it is not possible, such as DNS66 and Blokada.
Hi Bronco
AdGuard has explained how this works with their app. https://kb.adguard.com/en/android/overview
or
https://kb.adguard.com/en/android/faq
Hi Sven. First at all thank you for give us a lot of information about privacy and security.
Second one: have you any information or experience about hostname blockers for android like DNS66 and blokada
Hey Tom, both look interesting – I haven’t tested them yet, but hopefully soon.
I am new to this… with uBlock origin i can see all trackers, but can i figure out which company hides behind it? or where the tracker is coming from?
Dear Sir;
Thanks for your excellent article. However, I still don’t understand your statement about Drawbacks of ad blocker extensions that “Ads may still be getting loaded and consuming your bandwidth and resources, even if they are not being shown.”
Could you please elaborate? (To me, it’s logical that some ads may be able to pass through the filtering rules of an ad blocker extension, but then such ads should be shown)
Thanks
Hi sithichai
Might be with installed adblockers kind – blocks all ad elements in the network stream before it gets to the device.
– Ads then being blocked as the results, have barren real estate areas in the final representation of the site on your device. The installed adblock then works to fill in these areas for your better page viewing. Besides a page loading faster it requires less drawn from your devices resources to get the finial viewed results seen. Understand : )
–
Adblocker extensions only work in the strength boundaries of the browser. Better is to say limited by the browser’s compartment or function on the OS.
As opposed to the strength of an opperating systems ability for installed programs geared to deal with network flow.
– Extensions can’t block network ad whatever (term) calls/elements the same – to not come to the device and has a sidestep effort to get the no ad’s page to you.
Possibly cloaking of the ad’s taken page real estate areas to other page content, but I know not able in shifting/stopping ad web page contents to the device. Nor a stop to the draw of phone resource power/data the cloaked hidden ad elements maintains to be on the page your device opened and only concealed ads.
Not fully eliminated as drain to a devices resource value as is the better install adblockers software and strength.
What I butchered up trying to explain in a vague memory reading something of it to answer you – I’ve found.
The link is an answer to your original question of Drawbacks when ads are taxing devices resources while not being shown.
https://kb.adguard.com/en/android/faq#what-is-the-difference-between-adguard-filtering-methods.
Cosmetic filtering rules which are used not for blocking ad requests, but for changing the page appearance. Basically used to hide, mask unwanted ads – elements remains after blocking, such as empty fields. By adding special CSS-rules.
Ex empty fields
Sven, Windscribe has updated its domain-based ads/trackers blocker:
https://windscribe.com/features/robert
Now, it provides some addition functionality like blocking/whitelisting certain domains by the users in addition to the already existing blocked ads and trackers domain lists. In my view, now Windscribe is running smooth and faster compared to the last year. I hope, if you have time and possibility, you would be able to update the review of Windscribe. I would be thankful if you could compare the ads/trackers blocking results to the other VPN providers (like Nord, Perfect Privacy, PIA) because it would be informative for the community. Thank you anyway!
Hi Vector, thanks for the info. Yes, I definitely plan to re-test Windscribe in the coming months.
Hello Sven,
Maybe the mention of AdGuard above should be updated, for the paid installed version.
The part of – ‘Drawback: A dedicated ad blocker app will consume resources.’ I take this to be related to the installed versions.
– This seems irreverent to desktops in webpage loading time because it’s snappy. Though, if someone is running multiple applications. It may, but, then where’s your focus at anyway with a browser opened? So it’s more than AdGuard running that’s causing a tax on system resources – yes…
–
AdGuard’s (installed version) advantages are largely due to the limitations that are imposed on browser-based extensions. AdGuard processes a page even before it is loaded into the browser, removing all advertising elements.
Extensions for browsers work on a different principle based on ad blocking capabilities of the browser. That is why an additional page post-processing step is required for hiding the blocked elements.
*If you’ve ever used browser-based extensions, then you surely noticed how the hiding banners “blink”.
– AdGuard’s (installed version) consumption of resources is not any greater than two well known browser-based extensions (with their most simple settings and one single filter enabled), as noted here-
https://kb.adguard.com/en/general/why-is-adguard-better
–
You mentioned that AdGuard offers dedicated ad blocker apps for Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS devices.
– AdGuard for iOS Pro, or AdGuard Pro has much to offer on top of the excellent iOS ad blocking in Safari already known to the users of the regular version. By providing access to custom DNS settings, the app allows you to block ads, protect your kids from adult content online, and safeguard your personal data from theft.
– – Besides, AdGuard is the world’s first standalone ad blocker for Mac.
The Windows version counterpart for Mac. It shows the same excellent ad blocking quality, but lacks some of the secondary functions like Parental control. AdGuard for Mac offers a 2-week trial period but requires a license to keep using it afterwards.
–
It heavily depends on the platform, the capabilities provided by the browsers that all free ad blockers by way of browser-based extensions fail users. That’s why AdGuard flagship products are standalone programs, which allows blocking ads and trackers system-wide.
To sum up installed AdGuard:
1. AdGuard blocks ads up before they are loaded into the browser.
2. AdGuard really saves traffic used by you.
3. AdGuard works in any browser.
4. AdGuard can remove ads from Skype, uTorrent and other applications.
5. In addition to blocking ads, AdGuard gives you a lot of additional tools.
6. AdGuard helps to protect you from viruses and scams, offers a Phishing Filter.
–
I have no association to AdGuard other than a satisfied user, who has seen this method of blocking ads grow into what’s offered today.
I only want other people to have this advantage in a clean surfing habit.
Cheers : )
Thanks for the info!
https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/releases
From the Reddit post:
The unlimitedStorage permission has been added in Firefox, to bring uBO inline with the Chromium version. As a result, when uBO updates, Firefox will notify you about the new permission.
Note that the Chromium version of uBO has declared the unlimitedStorage permission since it was first published in 2014.
Firefox is not yet enforcing this permission, but I decided to add it anyways since Firefox states:
“Only ask for ‘unlimitedStorage’ permission if you expect your extension’s local data storage to exceed 5MB if it’s not going to exceed that amount, don’t ask for it.”
uBO is already using more than 5MB of storage in its basic configuration.
Firefox can still evict uBO’s data even with this permission. To make it persistent, I need to use navigator.storage.persist(), but I found negative side effect when I used this, so for now there is no change in behavior.
The negative side effect of using navigator.storage.persist() was that navigator.storage.estimate() stopped returning a useful value. I think there is something to fix Firefox-side.
uBlock origin just had an update that requires permission to Store unlimited amount of client-side data. What does that mean?
Interesting, do you have a source for this?
“The unlimitedStorage permission has been added in Firefox, to bring uBO inline with the Chromium version. As a result, when uBO updates, Firefox will notify you about the new permission”
uBlock changelog
https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/releases
Why uBlock Origin requests to store unlimited data in Firefox
https://www.ghacks.net/2019/03/27/why-ublock-origin-requests-to-store-unlimited-data-in-firefox/
Sources:
https://www.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/b60hzh/new_update_need_new_permissions_store_unlimited/
Happened just yesterday so.
Also, I saw it ask for permissions myself, otherwise it wouldnt let me update the addon to the latest version.
Now, what is client side data and does it invade our privacy?
And what about [https://adlock.com] and [https://adblockplus.org?]
I uses [https://adlock.com] – cool soft.
I don’t believe in paying for an adblocker. Most adblockers including VPN such as those included with the popular Windscribe VPN do not block many ads. Most slow down your browsing experience.
Depending where I go and how I feel, I might just use a scriptblocker, Adblock, and Tampermonkey with Reek’s Anti-Adblock Killer. Some sites, despite using an anti-Adblocker won’t allow you to view their content unless you disable the adblocker. So, I always keep two active and disable one (at random) if I run into issues.
For my iPhone, I use Kill Ads VPN. It does a decent (albeit not perfect) job of blocking most ads including ads within apps.
Oolongmen,
Depends on the device, OS system and users experience – so to each user in their own preference here.
I, on the other hand can’t justify using anything free now-a-days where by the web / internet it’s connected in some way.
Includes the known free email services or where you get offerings like free VPN’s and browser extensions – anything bundled on top or in something else is bad anyways. Dedicated to a sole purpose ranks highly with me.
–
It takes work and a team to develop, update, maintain, and in future development of good offerings and paying my money for it helps ensure this.
So with free your paying for it – you just don’t know how much?
Email we know that story of our personal data is mined. So with free VPN’s and browser extensions can we expect any less of these that see where we go on the web – doesn’t mine our data as well ?
–
You’ve surely never tried AdGuard on a device with it’s standalone programs that allows the blocking of ads and trackers system-wide.
Besides a team to answer your questions and present you with solutions, you can report missed ads there too.
As the advertising industry is always at the top of it’s game in a muti-billion dollar business, free offerings will not be in that league!
–
AdGuard out of the box is usable and your free to add your choice of filters, which as I understand part of the ‘Annoyances filter’ does contains the anti-adblocker defuser that you refereed to as “disable the adblocker” seen on some sites when using an adblocker.
– adblockwall+paywall is totally a different situation for adblockers and has it’s own legal ramifications > https://forum.adguard.com/index.php?threads/policy-on-adblock-walls.26022/
Get Around Paywalls > https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/how-to-deprive-mainstream-media-of-revenue-and-get-around-their-paywalls-fb515deb4fb8
– USEFUL TO KNOW
AdGuard isn’t prefect but, it’s the best and has the most going for it of any adblocker – it’s not just an adblocker.
Importantly, besides not having to rely on multiple methods in different approaches, AdGuard covers the most in your benefit of one solution.
AdGuard Ad Filters > https://kb.adguard.com/en/general/adguard-ad-filters
If you want advance settings only look to is ‘Stealth Mode’ > https://kb.adguard.com/en/windows/features/stealth-mode
AdGuard for Windows can work as a userscript manager >
https://kb.adguard.com/en/general/userscripts
How to create your own ad filters >
https://kb.adguard.com/en/general/how-to-create-your-own-ad-filters
AdGuard Assistant works with all Microsoft Windows compatible browsers > https://kb.adguard.com/en/windows/features/extensions
Try it free in a 14 day trial period with a 60-day money back guarantee : )
I hate ads, everywhere, the re-naming of sports stadiums for big corporations has me rather furious. I am older, and I would be glad to pay to have no ads on my computer. I am starting to get confused with so many choices. Yet, I love the details you have provided here. I am a retired woman using the computer for fun, basically. (hobbies, photos, you tube, WordPress, internet searches) Which ad blocker would be best for me? ( I understand if you cannot exactly say.) I sure appreciate everything you wrote here and I will re-read it.
Hi Carol, perhaps AdGuard may be a good fit for you. It is simple, user-friendly, and very effective.
If you want a free solution that will start working right away, you can install uBlock Origin in your browser.
Hi Carol,
I second Sven’s suggestion of AdGuard and it offers a 14 days trial period with a 60-day money back guarantee. It’s one still to offer a Lifetime license of a software for the computer.
You can cover your PC only (Standard license), PC & Smartphone or multiples of each from a monthly subscription billed annually or elect for a one time payment to a Lifetime coverage of device(s) in the (Premium license).
You will get a Personal License account which your able to login to see assigned or unbind your license from your device(s) to assign it to another device – registered to the email you used for purchase.
https://auth.adguard.com/login.html
https://kb.adguard.com/en/general/license-key#account-functions
–
You can attack Ad’s by two methods basically, a browser add-on (see Sven’s reply to Tom below) – browser extensions are not technically able to remove all types of ads though…
Or using an installed software program such as AdGuard, which can block ads in any browser(s) and apps – besides, apart from ad blocking AdGuard gives you a lot of additional tools.
–
I choose the installed Adguard program to start with the PC, update in the background of filter lists (tracking – malicious, fake websites), and/or the AG program if needed. Out of the box it’s ready, but there are settings that you can set to do more from the tools end of it.
It’s really the best in it’s class and I hope all will agree.
[See below of comment of mine on AG for links to get help or to
go for understanding something] : )
What do you think about the disconnect.me browser add-on?
They claim not to track or sell your data?
As a general rule, browser add-ons can be dangerous for privacy, collecting and intercepting data through the browser, but there are definitely some good ones, such as uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, etc… I haven’t looked at disconnect.me, but I’d say tread carefully.
I used it several years ago, but as time went by what it allowed you to block for free became more and more restricted. Last time I checked it would only block 256MB of ads before turning off.
Before that, it was OK.
I have noticed that many ad blockers and other privacy or security apps, OS or add-ons are open source. Pardon my paranoia but can’t an open source be a risk factor as well? Being an open source means that it can actually get compromised by anyone relevant out there isn’t it? Why should I trust it? Jeez, becoming more security and privacy conscious made me even more suspicious. Especially after researching and see how many supposedly security and privacy factors were not that private or secure after all.
Hi BeBee – I’ll try to answer you and draw a difference of the alternative(s), or bring up points to help you learn in your quest to understanding the open source alternative(s).
– The actors, malicious as your reference (compromised by anyone), versus the non-malicious – – that I’ll only focus on here.
Modern sites like GitHub and other open-source online communities, means that even more people can contribute to the open source projects today.
This improves on applications maintainability, discoverability, the reach, and underlying quality of the open-source code(s) projects.
– – A (good) hacker culture or subculture of individuals who enjoy the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming limitations of software systems to achieve novel and clever outcomes.
(Take for example: students studying the computer fields in a college and/or university.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_culture
–
Q- “Pardon my paranoia but can’t an open source be a risk factor as well?”
A- Anything you choose to add on to your device can be a risk and factor into your privacy and security model – than the devices own hardware and software sold with it.
Even then, a device being bare as sold has it’s own consequences to your privacy and security model usually from an OS stance – looking at you Micro$oft.
But, drivers are software too and needed for both software and hardware to run your device – telemetry privacy issues then arise, as with updates to your system at large of it’s whole operational purposes.
@ – Open-Source code software’s are more than likely having been worked on and vetted by a well established community, unless it’s recognition or support channel is small and/or it’s (code) is newly released.
Taking – WireGuard, for an example as being newly released-
https://restoreprivacy.com/wireguard/
– It’s not uncommon for an open-source applications code(s) to have thousands of people working on it. With that many eyes looking through the code(s) base, and then any serious problems, flaws, and bugs are usually flagged and fixed quickly.
–
Q- “Being an open source means that it can actually get compromised by anyone relevant out there isn’t it?”
A- Yes -BUT- More than likely NO, as stated in the above answer – as many people are involved in the open-source codes base of the popular projects.
– A malicious actor will likely pursue a path of least resistance.
@ Were as – ‘Proprietary’ software also known as “closed-source software” is non-free computer software for which the software’s publisher or another person retains ownership, covered by copyright which, along with contract law, patents, and trade secrets, provides a legal basis for its owner to establish their exclusive rights to it.
– – When bugs, flaws even small ones—are found in Proprietary software, it can take weeks or even months for them to be fixed with a patch issued. That means any critical security issues could take a while to be addressed or even known to it’s users.
In addition, no one outside the publisher/developer really knows what problems actually exists in a proprietary software, so people have to rely on blind faith when using any proprietary applications, as opposed to open-source applications.
BECAUSE of these facts, this I believe is where a malicious actor will likely strike or undertake a path in their attentions to crack a software’s security weaknesses or other vulnerabilities.
–
Q- “Why should I trust it?”
A- For the reasons in the two above answers, and more I can’t add here for limited comment space reasons.
–
BeBee in your quest to become a more security and privacy conscious user don’t become the suspicious type but, a knowledgeable cautious type of knowing where and what to look for understanding in anything you’d add to your devices system.
1. Look to the community (behind – following) the open-source project, find helpful beneficial reviews of it. Ask your questions there within the dev’s or community users.
2. Check out any of their TOS and it’s Privacy Policy statements.
3. Run the downloaded item through VirusTotal for any flags.
4. Then understanding the ‘EULA’ license agreement as the software installs.
Note: A commercial software product that sell’s to generate money, may very well use some open-source software’s within it base product or of it’s development faze.
Helpful Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_model
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source-software_movement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Source_Initiative
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprietary_software
Hi, Sven,
I use Steve Black’s host file, in Gentoo, Slackware, Archlinux and Windows 10. Having an Asus router with Merlin AB Solution firmware that has now become Diversion, in addition to Skynet Asus Firewall. thank you for everything and sorry for my English.
Ciao Marco
In regard to the Windscribe extension – it works in a way you said but they also added R.O.B.E.R.T — Malware and Ad Blocker which blocks malware, ad and tracking domains at the server (DNS) level. Please check here:
[https://blog.windscribe.com/meet-r-o-b-e-r-t-malware-and-ad-blocker-a228c9225395]
Any thoughts on Privacy Possum? It is supposedly more powerful than Privacy Badger.
Hi David, I’ll check it out.
https://github.com/cowlicks/privacypossum#related-projects
One up vote for AdGuard !
@AdGuard is an institution against ads, something like going to a hospital or college as being the core institutions of the branched out specialized fields under their roof.
If you are already using the full-fledged desktop AdGuard program for Windows or macOS, then the browser extensions will undertake the features of Assistant and become a very useful support tool.
–
Free offerings from Adguard:
AdGuard browser extensions – Chromium, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Yandex.Browser, Microsoft Edge, Palemoon.
https://adguard.com/en/adguard-browser-extension/overview.html
AdGuard DNS – is a foolproof way to block Internet ads that does not require installing any applications. Provides you with minimal necessary functions to block ads, counters, malicious websites, and adult content.
https://adguard.com/en/adguard-dns/overview.html
AdGuard Content Blocker – will eliminate all kinds of ads in mobile browsers that support content blocker technology . Being more limited than AdGuard for Android, easy to install and still provides high ad blocking quality and does not require root access.
https://adguard.com/en/adguard-content-blocker/overview.html
–
Not only those are free but Adguard offers support by many different ways.
Knowledgebase – which has evolved since it’s inception, as before this central hub existed, every branch was spread out across the web and often outdated. As Adguard’s growth didn’t spare the personnel for it’s info to be kept updated.
https://kb.adguard.com/en/browser-extensions/integration-mode
Adguard Forums – https://forum.adguard.com/index.php
Report an issue – https://reports.adguard.com/en/new_issue.html
Discuss – https://adguard.com/en/discuss.html
Github – https://github.com/AdguardTeam
–
Important –
https://kb.adguard.com/en/general/search-ads-and-self-promotion
https://adguard.com/en/get-adguard-for-free.html
Interesting – https://translate.google.com/translate?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://blog.adguard.com/ru/istoriya-adguard-s-drevneyshih-vremen-do-nashih-dney/
(Above link is viewable in IE11 I know for sure)
Sven, I hope if you give a dedicated review of Adguard that some of this will be helpful to you.
Thanks Sir : )
Excellent feedback, Hard Sell, thank you!
Sorry for the repeat question, but this seems a more logical place to ask it and the answer likely to be more helpful to more people here.
What is your opinion of adNauseam (https://adnauseam.io)?
It seems that the same people are behind as were responsible for the TrackMeNot Firefox addon (don’t know if that’s relevant).
Thanks.
AdNauseum looks like an interesting way to screw with Google and advertisers, but I see some drawbacks:
1) May slow down performance
2) Ads are dangerous (read malicious) and I think it’d be safer just to block them, although I understand AdNauseum is supposedly not executing the ads…
3) Makes you stand out from the crowd by generating lots of noise
Dear Sven Taylor,
I am using using ASUS ( RT-AC68U) and it is running on AdvancedTomato firmware (https://advancedtomato.com/). I use the built-in adblocker which is very effective. You can add filters from this website : https://filterlists.com/
I found it very effective, Now my entire house is Ad/Tracker/Malware free. The filters I use on the router include Adguard, Disconnect and so on.
What do you think of this 🙂 Thanks
Hi FerdinCrypto – that sounds like a great solution. I have very little experience with AdvancedTomato – something I should look into more. Thanks
It’s basically an /etc/hosts file. You can do the same on individual desktop operating systems (at least you can for Linux, BSD and MacOS… not sure about Windows). Probably the solution that’s easiest on resources.
Another solution is to deploy your own personal VPN server with DNS adblocking running on a VPS. I’ve done it with DigitalOcean – Running CoreOS, StrongSwan (for IPSec/IKEv2 tunnel), and Pi-Hole. Obviously not the ideal solution for anonymity or torrenting (VPS provider has your details), but if it’s security and speed you’re after, it’s probably among the best solutions.
Yep, that’s also a good option, but like you said, it has privacy tradeoffs.
On the subject of using the Tor Browser in place of vanilla Firefox with extensions, how would you suggest managing browsing when the Tor network is what I want to use on Linux? Should I run two installations of the Tor browser, separately configured?
Hi Devon, if I understand the intent of your question, you intend to use the Tor browser with both the Tor network, and also as your standard browser with a VPN service. If that’s the case, it may just be easier to keep the standard Tor bundle and modify the settings to not use the Tor network when you instead go through your VPN. But depending on your setup, two separately configured installations may be easier. See what’s the least hassle I guess.
Sven! Thanks for the article!
Just want to ask – did you use StopAd adblocker (stopad.io)
It blocks ads on all major browsers, applications (like YouTube, Skype), and social media. It’s free and without acceptable ads BS. Maybe, it can get a place in your list)
Hi Kris, thanks for the heads up, I’ll check it out.
How good is VPNArea ad blocking? Should I be looking to get another solution?
I haven’t tested their ad blocking DNS yet, but it should be good. If you don’t find it blocking all the ads you want, another option is AdGuard which costs money, but seems to do well on all devices (I need to update this post to include it):
AdGuard Website
You can try chrome extension “7 Times Faster”. It speed up your internet in 2 times by blocking ads and tracking. It’s fastest ad blocker
What about Adguard? can you review it please?
Hi Jack, Adguard looks like an excellent option – I will be reviewing it soon.
Hey Sven! Did you ever get a chance to do a review on Adguard? If so, where could I find it on your site? Cheers from Canada!!!
Hi George, sorry, I haven’t had much time to look at ad blockers and do a review, but Adguard still looks like a good option from everything I see.
I use Adguard installed program on Windows machine.
Very good in terms of being an Ad blocker besides the added benefits of the many other options it has.
See their site for it all as I don’t want to sound like an advertisement to it.
I recommend it and look to it’s BF sale or other sites that handle sales for like programs – you can find a lifetime license 2+2 devices for very modest price.
Two PC’s + Two smartphones.
There is also proxy server based ad blocking where the server runs on one or more PC/MAc. These can either be:
1) a web proxy like eBlocker (Privoxy is the pioneer, but only for the geek) or
2) a transparent proxy which inserts itself into the network stack allowing it to reused for multiple applications (Adguard).
These proxies can run on each PC/Mac and/or be located on just one computer on the home LAN. Much cheaper than eBlocker.
Hi John, thanks for your feedback. As you point out, there are some great alternative ad blocking options, but these are often quite complex and “only for the geek” as you say. I’ve found that eBlocker works well because it is a simple plug-and-play solution, which appeals to most people who want to block ads and tracking, but don’t have time for overly-complex solutions. Nonetheless, it all depends on the user and how “geeky” they are 🙂 I intend to update this article with more ad blocking alternatives – thanks for this info!
The eBlocker guys might be a victim of their own success. Sending e-mails to them seem to end up in a black hole.
I deployed an open source alternative to their subscription service. PiHole (https://pi-hole.net) is running on many platforms. I have chosen a Raspberry Pi 3 and it is now jugging along nicely for almost a week. Maybe worth of a review? So far I like it.
Hi Matt, interesting. When I tested the eBlocker out last month I sent support lots of different questions and always got a reply within 24 hours. Never heard of PiHole, but looks good!