Blocking Ads, Trackers, and Malware in Browsers, Devices, and Networks

This post was originally published on 18 MAY 2022; it has since been updated and revised.

You may hear a lot that you should block ads and trackers. But how can you block ads? Which adblockers should you use? Which adblocking method is best?

This guide aims to provide information on different adblocking solutions that can hopefully help you in eliminating privacy-invasive ads and trackers.

Why you should block ads (and trackers)

The main benefits of block ads and trackers basically boils down to 1) limiting the amount of data collected about you and 2) improving your security. Some users may also find ads annoying and unsightly.

Keep better control of your data

Ads are typically packed with all kinds of different trackers, which in turn come in different forms. The differing forms of tracking tend to collect different pieces of your data, ranging from identifying you, your devices, and network(s) to tracking the various things you may do on your devices.

Trackers buried within targeted advertisements can collect:

Personal Identifiable Information (PII); which can include but not limited to age, gender, age
IP addresses
Specific location data
Click-through rate of other ads (especially if the ad is served by the same ad network)
Screen resolution
Device type (device, operating system, version numbers)
Browser settings
Browser’s referrer header
Browsing habits
Set language prefs
Timezone settings

* Not an all-inclusive list; please refer to the Tracker Blocking page for a more comprehensive list

Targeted advertisements also engage in varying degrees of fingerprinting practices, which all frequently serve as an intrusive way to identify you and your device.

Different tracking methods are often deployed simultaneously in order to collect more data points. The more data points collected, the better the picture of you as a user/consumer painted is. Likewise, the more data points targeted ads collect, then the more of an adverse affect it tends to have on your privacy:

Location data reveals the places you tend to go
Browsing data tells advertisers a wealth of information from the type of websites you visit to your visit frequency and duration
Tracked and logged searches
tell advertisers what you’re looking for
Invasive analytics show anywhere from how often you use an app/service to details on how you interact with the app/service
Fingerprinting identifies you and your device and enables further tracking methods

Improve your security

Some ad networks have served malware to users and visitors of a website. In fact, this way of spreading malware even has a name: Malvertising.

It’s a common misconception that malware can only be installed on a system through direct user action such as downloading and executing (read: running) a suspicious file. While this is the case for some forms of malware, there are many others that can be silently installed by visiting/connecting to an infected website, web service, or web app.

Additionally others (ex: Facebook) have allowed blatant misinformation and scams be advertised on their platforms. In 2020, Facebook reportedly allowed advertisements spreading fake coronavirus information on its platform. As a result, Facebook’s ad screening process has since come under hot scrutiny.

In other words, would you rather deal with the burglar’s actions after he’s ransacked your living space or prevent him from entering in the first place?

If you’re like most people, then you most likely spend a lot – if not most – of your time on your device’s web browser as you surf the web.

Because of the time people such as you and I spend in our browsers, it becomes crucial to utilize browser-level adblockers as a front line defense for disposing of ads and trackers and all the negatives that tend to come with them.

uBlock Origin