Because it’s an extension, it doesn’t require any software to be downloaded, which saves you time and storage. However, if you want to use it on your mobile device, it’s only compatible Mozilla Firefox on Android. While the strength of the ad filter is not adjustable, it is compatible across browsers (Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari), allowing you to filter all types of content, including ads. Completely open source, uBlock Origin gives you the ability to hide block placeholders and offers personal and third-party filtering. Released in 2014, uBlock Origin is an effective browser extension tool for blocking ads, including pop-ups.

Top 5 Best Free Ad Blockers & Pop-Up Blockers 1. In these cases, many people who use ad blockers will choose to disable the blocker if they’re on a website they know, like, and trust.

Not only does you not seeing ads cost the website money, but in some cases, it dramatically changes the look and feel of a website, which can also lose the website money if it impacts the way you navigate or experience the pages. Because of this, it’s not uncommon to land on a website that “strongly encourages” you to turn off your ad blocker before browsing their site. This is mainly because it eliminates the ability to monetize ads, which is how many website owners afford to make a living online. Unfortunately, some pop-up advertisements are getting more and more intelligent, which means that the wide net cast by generic ad blockers doesn’t always catch them.Īs great as ad blockers sound at first, not everyone loves the idea of ad blockers. From banners to videos, ad blockers are capable of keeping most at bay, which means your chances of being infected by dangerous adware is dramatically reduced (if not completely erased). Because of this larger net, ad blockers have some other benefits, such as helping your pages load faster, maintaining longer battery life, and keeping the content you want to see front-and-center. Of course, pop-ups created and utilized by the party that owns and operates the website can be useful, giving you information you want and need.Īd blockers, on the other hand, target all types of online advertisements – not just those that pop-up (or under) your browser. There are also the notorious “pop-unders”, which open a new window behind your browser so that you’re unaware what’s happening initially. Whether a box, tab, or window that opens automatically, these pop-ups can be distracting, downright offensive, or implanted with malicious adware that can put you and your devices at risk. In the case of pop-up blockers, you’ll be eliminating the most annoying types of ads, the ones that show up and get in your way until you find a way to close them. But, because they do different things, it’s important to understand what you’re wanting to achieve before selecting the blocker you want to use. Both types of blockers are typically extensions, which means they’re easy to install and use. While some ad blockers can stop pop-ups, most pop-up blockers will not stop on-page ads or other types of advertisements that show up online. And while most people have heard of ad blocking or pop-up blocking, not that many people understand the difference between the two, and which are really the best at keeping you safe from attacks.Īd blocking and pop-up blocking are not the same.

For this reason, it’s not uncommon to have experienced the headaches that come along with dealing with “virus aftermath”. Hackers have become true professionals at implanting viruses into advertisements and pop-ups on pages that are unsecured.

That’s why one of the biggest benefits to having a great ad block or pop-up blocker on your device is that they can actually prevent this type of malware from being installed altogether, especially when you’re browsing unsecured sites. But, as much as they are annoying, today’s ads and pop-ups also have the potential to be dangerous, installing various types of malicious adware on your device that can put your security and privacy at risk. Why Are Ad Blockers & Pop-Up Blockers Important?įew things are more irritating than pop-up ads that demand to make their presence known. Of course, while there are plenty of bad actors out there online (and there always have been), there are also plenty of new and innovative ways to protect yourself.įrom viruses in ads to malware in pop-ups, knowing how to keep yourself and your technology safe online is an essential part to making sure that the time you spend online is anything but dangerous. And, unfortunately, being taken advantage of online has become more and more common, especially as technology advances. While it’s capable of bringing people together and putting everything right at your fingertips, it’s also just as powerful at using all of those things against you.īeing online means that you are simultaneously powerful and vulnerable. The internet has always been a double-edged sword.

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