Today, there are many browser plugins that promise to protect user privacy. In this article, we will look at the most popular browser plugins that protection from advertising on the Internet.
Block ads, scripts and pop-ups with AdBlock Plus
Ad blockers and script blockers give you control over your browsing experience. They allow you to block ads on the sites you visit and prevent the execution of scripts and widgets that send user data to no one knows where.
But if you don't know how to use these tools, they can interfere with your browsing experience, making them unusable until you figure out what to allow and what to block. In addition, by blocking ads, you can have a pretty big impact on the site and the people working on it.
AdBlock Plus ( Firefox/Chrome/Safari) blocks banner ads, pop-ups, video ads, and more. It prevents visits to domains hosting malware and disables third-party tracking cookies and scripts. We believe it combines ease of use and whitelisting with automated management to make it a tool anyone can use. Advanced users can get their hands on and experiment with the different subscription lists and active list settings they use.
Alternatives:
In our opinion Adblock Plus is the best choice, but there are several other plugins that do the same.
Consider other options internet ad protection:
- uBlock Origin for Chrome and Firefox is supported by the original developer. The plugin is just as powerful as AdBlock Plus. Perhaps even more powerful, because unlike ABP, it gives you more control over what to block and what to allow. It also takes up less system resources and does not cause problems like ABP . whose creators are paid by some large companies to ensure that their ads fall within the "acceptable advertising" policy. The only reason uBlock Origin isn't our favorite is that it's a bit difficult for beginners and blocks more than ABP. So first you need to understand it in order to customize it to your needs. And second, ABP has features like Facebook scraping, hiding YouTube comments, and a lot more that uBlock Origin doesn't... at least until you're an advanced enough user to do it yourself. If you consider yourself an advanced user, remove ABP and install uBlock Origin;
- NoScript ( Firefox) and ScriptSafe ( Chrome, formerly ScriptNo): both disable script execution on pages until the user whitelists them. Block the execution of Java, JavaScript, Flash and other components. They are powerful, but very aggressive and interfere with many sites. If you're going to use them, then be prepared to understand the scripts on every site you visit to figure out which ones make the site work. Other than that, AdBlock Plus already does this ( and less aggressive), you just need add correct filters.
If you don't use the extra features of AdBlock Plus to trim various YouTube junk or block certain elements, try uBlock Origin. It will do the magic - it will reduce the amount of memory consumed by the browser, and as a result you will get a more powerful and customizable online ad protection tool for free. Although you have to tinker with it to make it work exactly the way you want.
Blocking all tracking requests with Disconnect
Includes anti-tracking and anti-cookie extensions.
Disconnect Private Browsing ( Firefox/Chrome/IE/Safari) is our choice because it protects against tracking, malware, and malicious ads, provides secure Wi-Fi, and provides bandwidth optimization features that are simply not available in other tools. It blocks tracking cookies and gives you control over all scripts and site elements from an easy-to-use dashboard.
Disconnect can protect you even when malware embeds its ads on popular pages or the ad network is infected with embedded malware. The plugin also protects against social media tracking such as Facebook, Google+ and Twitter, which use the browser to collect data about you even outside of their social platforms. Finally, Disconnect protects you when an attacker can use stolen cookies to access personal data without the need to steal a password.
Alternatives:
Disconnect is our favorite of the bunch, but there are other browser extensions that do the same:
- privacy badger( Chrome/Firefox) - since he is new to this field, he tried to take the best from all previously created plugins. Acts too soft - blocks unwanted activities and creates a "black list" when bad behavior is observed, instead of blocking certain sites, cookies, and pop-ups. This makes it more lightweight, but it provides a bit less protection, at least as long as it learns from your behavior. You also get an easy-to-use button on the toolbar, which gives you a completely clear view of recording information about you. System " Green / yellow / red» shows whether you are tracked through sites or not;
- Do Not Track Me Firefox/Chrome/IE/Safari): offers a drop-down browser toolbar that shows which tracking cookies and scripts are being loaded on the site, and allows you to turn them off completely. Has a friendly interface. It also leaves plugins and scripts enabled until you turn them off. Disconnect is much more powerful and functional, Do Not Track Me is suitable for those people who want to download protection from ads on the Internet and disable elements selectively;
- (ghostery) Firefox/Chrome/Safari/IE): Just like other browser extensions, Ghostery blocks tracking cookies and scripts during download. Displays a list of blocked items so you can see if blocked items are harmless. Ghostery's database is huge and provides the ability to block everything or something specific. Unfortunately, Ghostery has trouble selling information to advertisers, so you might want to stay away from it.
One could argue that Disconnect, Do Not Track Me, and Ghostery do the same thing, but we still think Disconnect is the most reliable of the three. We love the Privacy Badger approach" learn as you go“, but we cannot argue that it will provide less protection when entering the tracking zone than any other plugin. Speaking of which, the new version of Disconnect is only available for Firefox and Chrome, so if you prefer Safari, IE, or Opera, we'd suggest Do Not Track Me.
It essentially comes down to personal preference: what doesn't get in the way of browsing, and what works best in the browser you use the most. So if one plugin doesn't work, don't be afraid to try another one.
Disconnect Desktop and Mobile Security
The Disconnect browser tool is worth downloading and we recommend it for those who want privacy or speed up their web browsing. If you want to go even further new desktop package Disconnect Private Browsing, which we mentioned above, with its own proxy and VPN, will ensure the security of your web surfing. It checks connections against a list of malware embedded in ad networks, monitors tracking tools for known malicious hosts and sites, and then simply blocks them.
The free version of the Disconnect desktop package includes the browser plugins we mentioned above with its own search service and a basic proxy that keeps web surfing secure. When you upgrade to Disconnect premium for $5/month or $50/year, you can get these features along with mobile apps for iOS and Android.
This is a great service Internet advertising protection and, frankly, there is no alternative to it. However, the premium price may be too high for some people. We think you should sign up for a VPN, especially when you're in a Wi-Fi zone or using untrusted networks, but Disconnect is designed to keep you private and secure. For many people, the Disconnect extension is all it takes to protect.
Additional privacy tools
HTTPS Everywhere ( Firefox/Chrome) is required no matter what security you choose to use. Once installed, the extension will check the connection using SSL and try to find secure versions of the sites you visit. This is a great way to protect your web surfing.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts all your internet traffic and offers the best possible protection from prying eyes. Look for a provider that keeps only the minimum required logs for troubleshooting, offers strong encryption, is well received by users, and provides many options. Don't rush to any offshore VPN just because your VPN provider is in a distant country. If you are just looking for a free service to keep yourself safe while you surf the internet and you are not ready to try a full paid VPN service ( or your own), try Hideman or Tunnelbear .
Antivirus utilities important for security protection. Try to avoid suspicious sites, follow the rules of hygiene on the Internet, and keep your antivirus tools up to date.
Other Security Tools You May Need
We've covered the most important and necessary privacy and security tools, but there's always one more step you can take to make sure your messages aren't intercepted and read by third parties. Here are some more tools for the best protection against advertising on the Internet.
Protection against surveillance of your computer via the Internet
Now, probably, no one will dispute the fact that numerous Internet services track user actions in order to then load it with a stream of targeted advertising. Consider the main tools with which you can get out from under the "hood" of advertisers.
Browser settings
Recently, the DNT (Do Not Track - do not track me) function has appeared in all popular browsers. Its purpose is to notify visited sites that the user does not want to be tracked. Unfortunately, enabling the DNT feature does not guarantee that sites that receive a request that users do not want to follow them will not stop spying. Let's figure out how to activate DNT.
Firefox
Open the main menu "Settings", then "Privacy". In the "Tracking" section, check the box for "Use tracking protection" and click "Change block list". In a new window, set the desired option.
Chrome
Open "Settings", click at the bottom of the "Advanced Settings" window. In the "Personal data" section, check the "Send tracking denial with outgoing traffic" item.
Opera
In the main menu, select "Settings", then go to "Security" and in the "Privacy" section, check the item "Send a Do Not Track header to sites."
Installing plugins
As you may have guessed, turning on DNT is not enough to stop advertisers from following you. Installing the Ghostery plugin will help block advertising cookies. There is a version for Chrome and Firefox.
After installation, the plugin icon will show the number of bugs found and blocked. By clicking on the icon, you can disable the services that installed the "bugs".
The Adblock Plus plugin does a very good job of blocking unnecessary ads.
Google services settings
Search
Don't forget that Google saves everything you've searched before. This setting can be disabled: on the main page of the search engine, select the menu, in it "Search Settings".
We pass to the corresponding section, where there is data on the history of surfing.
Each entry about the visited resource can be deleted.
Personalization
Do not want to receive personal data in search results? Go to search settings and disable this option.
Social networks
By liking or reposting publications on social networks, you thereby provide information about your interests to advertisers. Here, too, you can try to correct the situation.
Go to the main menu, select the "Settings" item in it and the "Advertising" section in it.
By clicking "Edit", set the desired settings for Facebook advertising.
Click on your profile icon, select "Settings". Go to the "Security and Privacy" section.
We make the necessary changes in the paragraphs "Individualization" and "Advertising".
If nothing helped
Do you want to be 100% sure that surfing the Web is anonymous and that your connections will not be visible to annoying advertisers? Install the free Tor browser, which works like a chain of proxy servers built between you and the site. Servers are randomly selected each time, intermediate data is encrypted - it is impossible to get information about the user.
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Recently, a scandal erupted: the data of 15 million users of the social network Facebook were stolen. Now, many people are deleting their Facebook profiles in the hope of protecting their information. Among those who have already abandoned their accounts are Elon Musk, Playboy magazine and WhatsApp messenger.
How to know if your data has been stolen
When you install the Facebook app, you will automatically allow it to download files without warning, get data about running applications, and much more unpleasant actions. Due to the stolen personal information scandal, many people have decided to delete their accounts.
If you too are determined to leave your profile, choose deletion rather than deactivation. There is a big difference in these actions. When deactivated, part of the data will be available to the system and you can subsequently restore your account without loss. When you delete a profile, all data and personal identifiers will be permanently erased.
Protecting your phone
Despite the cancellation of Snowden's first public speech in Russia, his advice on maintaining online privacy is more relevant day by day. Life has collected recommendations from the most famous former US intelligence officer on how to protect yourself on the Web.
1. Encryption of voice calls and text messages. Snowden is an absolute supporter of the encryption of all stored and transmitted content. Now there are many applications that have encryption functions. Moreover, among them there are common and well-known instant messengers, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, ICQ. By the way, the most popular - WhatsApp - introduced full end-to-end encryption in April 2016.
Snowden himself calls Signal the most favorite messenger for communication (available for iOS and Android), which, as he wrote on his Twitter, he uses every day. The application is being developed by Open Whisper Systems, which also offers call encryption.
2. Hard drive encryption. In addition to protecting mobile devices, the former CIA agent also advises you to secure your computer, in particular your hard drive. You can find instructions on the Internet on how to do this. Usually special software is used. For example, for Windows there is a program preinstalled in extended versions of the OS - BitLocker, for Mac - FileVault. Thus, if the computer is stolen, the attacker will not be able to read your data.
3. Password managers. A useful thing that most people don't even think about. Such programs allow you to keep your passwords in order - create unique keys and store them. According to Snowden, one of the most common online privacy problems is leaks: for example, the service on which the user registered in 2007 was attacked and data was leaked to the Web - just recall the recent reports of the sale of millions of passwords from Twitter accounts , VKontakte, MySpace, LinkedIn. There are different password managers on the market such as 1Password, KeePassX and LastPass.
4. Two-factor authentication. Control words, previously offered on large services and allowing you to recover a password using them, are becoming a thing of the past. Now all popular online platforms - Facebook, VKontakte, email clients, Twitter, Dropbox - have switched to two-step authentication. It allows you to link a phone number to your account, which will be used for additional authorization when logging into your account. It will also help you recover your lost password. True, you will have to “light up” your mobile phone, which makes it possible to identify you with the specified number (as, for example, Facebook does, allowing you to find a user by his phone number).
5. Tor. The anonymous Tor network (abbr. The Onion Router) is described by a former NSA official as “the most important privacy technology project currently in use.” He stated that he uses it on a daily basis. Tor allows you to "cover your tracks" on the Internet, that is, it provides anonymity, makes it difficult to determine the IP address and location of a person. This is done by connecting through a chain of intermediate computers belonging to various network users. The project is supported entirely by volunteers. The easiest way to use the system is through the browser of the same name (Tor Browser).
6. And once again about passwords. Snowden advises using as a key to an account not words like onetwothreefour (“onetwothreefour”) or even password (“password”), but something more intricate that even a computer cannot pick up, but at the same time memorable - margaretthatcheris110% SEXY (“margarettatcher is 110% SEXY ”).
For those who are paranoid
In the video below, a former NSA agent showed a journalist how to avoid total surveillance by special services that can remotely turn on a microphone or camera on a smartphone and start listening. The answer is simple - remove the microphone and camera modules from the device. Instead, it is proposed to use an external accessory and unlearn selfies.
Security on the Internet involves the use of programs, . In this article I will give a short overview of such programs (plugins).
The problem of total surveillance of a user on the Internet was discussed earlier. The last article was devoted to tools that allow you to manage and delete cookies that are used to track the user. However, deleting cookies is not enough, as they will reappear. Therefore, in addition to removal, software tools for blocking and other methods of tracking you on the network are important. I will list some of them.
An overview of anti-tracking plugins for your browser
Keep my opt-outs plugin (Chrome, IE, Firefox) is a Google product. Turns off the personalization of web ads based on cockies. The plugin works immediately after installation and does not require configuration (at least for Chrome).
Disconnect (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) - Prevents Twitter, Facebook, Goole and other web resources from following you online.
Do not track (Chrome, IE9, Firefox, Opera, Safari) - does not allow sending data about you
Ghostery (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari) is the most feature rich plugin. Provides an easy way to control websites that track a user. It makes it possible to identify and block any tracking carried out not only with cookies, but also with the help of scripts and other methods. Shows which companies are following you on a particular website and gives you the opportunity to learn more about them.
It is up to you to decide whether to use such plugins or not, but at least you should be aware of their existence.