Rebel Tech AllianceAd & Tracker Blockers
Alternatives to: being defenceless!
Ad blockers are free browser extensions (aka plugins) that you add to your browser to protect you from creepy ad and site tracking.
They are generally only available in desktop browsers, not mobile versions. However, some mobile browsers contain ad blocking features. We've listed one in particular below, because it is so good: DuckDuckGo's App Tracking Protection (Android only).
The following are for desktop browsers (not mobile):
| Product name | Open Source | Made By | Privacy Features | Business Model | Country of Origin | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy Badger | Yes | EFF | Stops tracking from ads; Learns ad behaviour and blocks only if tracking you | Free | USA | PrivacyBadger.org |
| uBlock Origin | Yes | Raymond Hill | Blocks ads; blocks trackers | Free | Canada | uBlockOrigin.com |
| Disconnect | Yes | Disconnect | Blocks ads; blocks trackers; Used by Firefox | Free, Freemium & Paid versions | USA | Disconnect.me |
| Ghostery | Yes | Ghostery | Blocks ads; blocks trackers | Free | Germany | Ghostery.com |
The following are for mobile:
| Product name | Open Source | Made By | Privacy Features | Business Model | Country of Origin | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DDG App Tracking Protection | Yes | DuckDuckGo browser | Blocks trackers that are in the apps on your phone | Free | USA | DDG App Tracking Protection info |
| Exodus app privacy audit | Yes | Exodus Privacy | Shows you which trackers are in the apps on your phone | Free | France | Exodus app audit site |
RTA recommends:
Desktop:
Privacy Badger
Free and easy to install on any browser, this extension will analyse sites you visit, intercept any ads that appear to be tracking you, and block them. It is not a traditional ad blocker, like uBlock Origin, in that it does not block all ads. Instead it learns which ads are maliciously tracking you across sites, and blocks them.
It is a 'set and forget' extension with no techy knowledge required. You can toggle it on and off easily.
uBlock Origin
Starting in 2014, this is the granddaddy of ad blockers. It is free and easy to install on all browsers (with limited success on Chrome, but you shouldn't use Chrome anyway as it's owned by Google). It uses the two most popular ad lists to block ads.
It is a 'set and forget' extension with no techy knowledge required. You can toggle it on and off easily.
Mobile:
DDG App Tracking Protection
This is amazing for showing you, in real time, the tracking attacks that come from within the apps on your Android phone. It's super creepy to watch, and it will encourage you to uninstall the worst offenders. Scroll down for install instructions.
Exodus app privacy audit
This is not an ad or tracker blocker per se (it's a website) but it is a fantastic way to know what trackers are in your apps. Then you'll know to avoid the worst ones. If an app has creepy e.g. Facebook or Google trackers in it, then consider installing that service as a web app. This is when you visit the website version of the service in your browser and then click the 'Add to Homepage' option from the browser's settings.
How to install ad blockers in your browser
In your browser go to the settings menu and click on the 'extensions' or 'plugins' part. There you can go to the extensions store that your browser uses, search for the extension and install it. In some browsers you then have to make it visible on the menu bar and enable it.
You can use more than one ad blocker extension at once. For example Privacy Badger and uBlockOrigin can be used together.
How to install DDG App Tracking Protection on your Android phone
You have to install the DDG browser - and the app tracking protection is a feature within the settings of that browser: Settings ">" App Tracking Protection ">" toggle to 'ON'.
You don't have to use the browser for browsing, you can just have it on your phone for the app tracking protection. Note that the app tracking protection uses the VPN slot on your phone so you cannot have it active at the same time as a VPN - it's one or the other. You can have both only if you install your VPN on your router, leaving the VPN slot on your phone free for DDG's app tracking protection.