We also considered the design of each ad blocker, giving preference to well-designed, pleasant looking options. On the subjective side, we browsed PCMag's homepage and a review page to see which elements were blocked and whether the site functioned as intended. To evaluate each service, we wanted both an objective measurement and subjective impressions. Note, however, that most of the ad blockers we tested are available for multiple browsers. We only tested Chrome extensions, as it remains the world's most popular browser. We tested each ad blocker in Chrome version 100. Other browsers, including Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi, include ad blockers as well.Īll our testing was done on a macBook Pro running macOS 11.6.4. Firefox blocks many trackers in its default mode.
Many modern browsers have tracker blocking built in. Ad blockers not only keep you from seeing some ads, but the best ad blockers also block the trackers and other tools advertisers use to spy on you. Ever wonder why you see the same ads follow you across different sites? How is Instagram able to show you extremely targeted ads? It's because gathering information about you and your activities is big business. The practice is called malvertising, and it's perhaps the most compelling reason to try and keep web ads out of your life.įinally, nearly all advertising in this modern age is built on the privacy-eroding practices of surveillance capitalism. The bad guys submit ads carrying malicious code or pointing to malicious sites, which are accepted and displayed on trusted websites. Some online ads pretend to be from antivirus scanners, proclaiming you've been infected and need to download their malware protection solution, which might itself be malicious or simply a way to scare you into buying a subscription you don't need.Īlthough it’s rare, we've seen cases where legitimate sites and ad networks were hijacked by attackers. Some take over your screen, claiming to be from law enforcement and demanding you pay a hefty (and spurious) fine. While legitimate ads can be annoying enough, some ads are deceptive or even dangerous. We look through some of the best-known names in the ad-blocking business to help you find the right one for your needs.
Ad blockers seek to rein in those problems and make the web a little bit better.
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