ad blocker in safari ipad

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How to block ads on iPhone & iPad

Advertising appears to be a necessary nuisance on the internet. It remains the primary method for paying content creators, allowing sites (such as the one you’re reading) to avoid paywalls or subscriptions – but sometimes adverts go too far in terms of distraction and intrusiveness.

When you find the constant barrage of consumerism too much, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s pleasantly easy to block ads when using Safari on your iPhone or iPad. In this article, we show how.

How do I stop pop-up ads on my iPhone?

iOS has a built-in pop-up-blocker. Open Settings and go to Safari, then tap the toggle next to Block Pop-ups.

This is a good start, but for the full-fat ad-blocking experience we’ll need to install a third-party content blocker, which occupies the next step.

How to install an ad blocker on iPhone & iPad

Blocking ads on your iPhone or iPad is a three-step process:

• Install a third-party content blocker app (such as AdGuard).
• In iOS Settings, grant the app permission to block content.
• Fine-tune the app’s filters so it blocks adverts in the way you wish.

The way ad blockers work is through Safari extensions . This feature has been around since iOS 9 and isn’t solely restricted to removing pesky adverts – in fact, there’s a wide variety of useful add-ons.

To set up an ad blocker you’ll first need to acquire one from the App Store. You’ll find plenty of options, such as AdBlock Plus and AdGuard . For this tutorial we’ve opted for AdGuard, but the instructions will be virtually identical for any ad blocker.

Install AdGuard and open it. On the main page you’ll notice a message in red that states ‘Protection is disabled’. This is because it requires permission from iOS to do its thing.

Go back to the home screen and select Settings > Safari, then look in the General section for Content Blockers. (This option appears only when you have a relevant app installed.) Tap it and you’ll see a list of any ad blockers you have installed.

AdGuard has multiple toggles for the various kinds of content blocking (six, at time of writing, up from the five when the company made its demo video). Tap those related to the blocking you want AdGuard to do so they turn green; we’re going to enable them all.

Open AdGuard once more and the red warning should have been replaced by a placid green message (or an orange one if you’ve enabled only some of the permissions), meaning you’re able to start configuring the app. This isn’t as daunting as it sounds, because AdGuard has a set of defaults aimed at ensuring a speedy, ad-free online experience.

You can see what this default contains by tapping the cog icon (Settings) at the top right and then Filters. You can see which filters are enabled by checking for the green toggles next to their names. (Some are disabled on the free version of the app.)

Each blocker will have different methods for setting up filters, so check the help sections to discover the way it’s done on that particular app. One of the advantages of AdGuard is that it features a video to take you through the steps: open Settings, then tap About > How to use.

Exempt sites from blocking using whitelists

Consider using the whitelist feature. This instructs the blocker to exempt certain websites, meaning adverts will still appear when you’re visiting them. This is a good thing because it allows the sites to receive revenue and continue providing you with the content you enjoy. Use this feature on sites with unobtrusive advertising which you wish to support.

To exempt a website in AdGuard, you’ll need to open Safari and navigate to the site in question. When there, tap the share button (the one that looks like a square with an arrow pointing out of the top), scroll down, and tap AdGuard.

At the top of the pop-up menu that appears, you’ll get the option to enable or disable AdGuard’s blocking on this page. You can also fine-tune your blocking further by selecting an element on the page to block now and in future.

Remember ad blockers only work in Safari, so any articles you click on in Facebook, Twitter or other apps will not have the blocker activated.

An added benefit of a blocker is that you should end up using less data, as adverts are often visual and therefore larger to download than the text on any given web page. You may also see (very slightly) better battery life .

Are ad blockers safe?

For the most part ad blockers are as safe as any other app on the Store. There were some controversial ones a little while back which Apple removed, following reports that they were running man-in-the-middle attacks. But for the most part, they are safe to use.

Content Blockers do, by their nature, monitor your web traffic and interfere with your web browsing, and for this reason you should stick to the major apps, such as the ones mentioned above.

Is using an ad blocker a good thing?

Now, here’s the rub.

Everyone likes to enjoy the free content available on the web. Paywalls are generally frowned upon, and not many sites have made them work.

But – and this is important – the only way that sites are able to create such great content and provide it to you at no cost is through advertisers paying them for access to the readership.

It was a similar story when magazines and newspapers ruled the information highway, but back then you couldn’t have the publication automatically eviscerate its ads before you enjoyed the articles. Not unless you had a very dutiful butler with a sharp pair of scissors.

Therefore it’s important that publishers gain that ad revenue in order to pay their staff, continue to exist, and produce features such as the one you’re reading.

Ads can be unpleasant; that’s certainly true. So if you find a regular haunt whose content you enjoy, but uses intrusive ads, write to the editor and complain. This can be fed back to the advertisers and hopefully bring about a change on the site that benefits everyone.

If you do use an ad blocker generally, then consider opting for one with a whitelist, and put your favourite sites on that list. The non-intrusive settings available on apps such as Crystal also allow you to contribute to the financial wellbeing of a site by rewarding advertising that respects the reader.

In the end, it’s up to your own conscience. You can block all ads, take content, and no one will be knocking on your door with a warrant for your arrest.

Just be prepared to live in a world where the streets are littered with dishevelled ex-journalists, holding out their withered hands to you as they plaintively cry “50p for a how-to tutorial, guv’nor?”

And that’s it! We hope this tutorial has been helpful. For more advice on ways to tweak your iPhone experience, take a look at our guide to the Best Safari extensions .

Author: Martyn Casserly , Contributor

Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews.

Recent stories by Martyn Casserly:

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Best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad in 2024

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Ads are the most annoying part of accessing the internet from your iPhone. I get it! If you are tired of stumbling upon an ad every few seconds, I have curated a list of the best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad. They will not only enhance your surfing experience but also prevent tracking of your online activities. But before you get to the list, let’s learn more about these blockers.

Where can I block ads using ad blockers on iPhone?

You can block ads on iPhone and iPad for Safari browser only. The feature is supported for devices with 64-bit architecture. Here’s how you can block pop-up ads using Safari settings on iPhone and iPad.

• In the Settings app on your iPhone and iPad, locate and tap Safari .
• Now toggle on Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning .

Note : The setting, as it says, will only help you block pop-up windows and prevent fraudulent websites. This doesn’t completely block ads from your online journey.

Hence, if you want to block all forms of ads on iPhone and iPad completely, you’d need third-party apps to do so. To help you learn about the same and install them on your device, I have prepared a list of the 5 best iPhone adblocker apps. Let’s have a look.

What are the best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad?

• Ad Blocker: Safari Adblock
• Adblock Plus
• Avast Secure Browser

1. 1Blocker: Privacy & Ad Blocke‪r

The application has proven its expertise in blocking ads, trackers, and other annoying elements on sites you visit. Being a native app, 1Blocker serves you impeccably and getting rid of all of them, and offers a smooth experience while surfing the web. It also delivers a range of customization options to empower your security and privacy further.

While there’s a premium version, as part of its free services, you can use features like enabling anyone blocking category, allowlist sites through Safari extension, and sync devices using iCloud.

Price : Free (In-app purchases starting $1.99)

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 13.0 or later

2. AdGuard: adblock&privac‪y

The app allows you to remove all forms of ads from your Safari browser and eventually boost its performance by making it 4x faster. You’ll also experience a significant increase in battery life by blocking banners and ads from your Safari browser and reducing data consumption.

All of this and much more is attained using more than 50 subscriptions, including easylist, easyprivacy, etc., combined with AdGuards in-house robust ad-filters. The app also offers a premium version, which further adds features like custom filters, DNS privacy, security filters, etc.

Price : Free (In-app purchases starting $0.99)

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 11.2 or later

3. AdLock: Ads & Adware removal

AdLock is a comprehensive ad-blocker for your iPhone and iPad that prevents all kinds of ads on Safari while being resource-efficient. It’s a breeze to set up and use with minimal effort needed on your part.

You can enjoy a distraction-free reading experience on the web and get rid of annoying video and audio ads on services like Youtube, Twitch, Crunchyroll, etc.

It can even bypass ad-block walls that prevent you from viewing content if using a generic ad-blocking tool. Pretty nifty! 

Further, AdLock keeps you safe from third-party trackers, adware/malware attacks, all forms of online tracking scripts, and bugs run by advertisers like Google, Facebook, and others.

It stops you from visiting malicious websites and protects against viruses, phishing attacks, and scammers. 

What’s more? You can fully customize it to allow ads on specific sites and select which kind of ads to block. All this makes it well worth the small annual price. 

Price : Free (Yearly subscription for $4.99)

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 12.1 or later 

4. Ad Blocker: Safari Adblock

AdBlocker lets you enjoy browsing Safari and work efficiently without ads and pop-ups. Also, you can have peace of mind as all web trackers will be blocked, thereby ensuring protection for your data. You can also use the feature on websites in various languages, and not just English. Besides, it boosts web surfing by using minimal device resources and conserves battery life and Wi-Fi/cellular data.

Moreover, parents can use it to prevent teenagers from visiting restricted sites. If you don’t want to block ads on any particular site, you may add that to the white list. Other than blocking ads and trackers, the app bans malicious websites that may affect your device. If you want the advanced features, you may purchase the premium versions.

Price : Free (In-app purchases starts from $1.99)

Compatibility : iOS 13.0 or later

5. Adblock Plus for Safari (ABP‪)

The ad-blocking app for iPhone and iPad is free of cost and has no hidden price with it. However, this doesn’t let it compromise with features and user-privacy. It boasts more than 50 million users worldwide.

Perhaps this is why it offers a custom language setting to block region-specific ads. The app is easy to set up and helps you save battery life by blocking ads and other hindrances in your online experience. Also, you get to take the benefit of its in-built privacy protection using anti-tracking.

Price : Free

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 10.0 or later

The app is designed to block trackers, ads, GDPR notices, EU cookies, cryptocurrency miners, and everything else that may compromise your privacy and hinder your online experience. It utilizes an enhanced blocklist to prevent trackers from fetching your data and other activities.

The best part about the app is they allow nothing from anyone (even against money) and follow a strict ‘No ads’ policy. Not just this, the blocklist gets updated every quarter to enhanced protection and privacy in the consistently changing webspace.

Price : $1.99

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 12.0 or later

7. Avast Secure Browse‪r

Most of us have heard or used the app at least once. However, we’ve known it for its protection against viruses and malware. This Avast app offers all-around protection, including VPN , ad-blocker, and data encryption. It boasts more than 400 million users and offers features including automatic privacy, faster browsing without ads, robust encryption, built-in VPN, custom browsing modes, private video downloader, cross-platform sync, etc.

Price : Free (In-app purchases starting $1.49)

Most ad blocker apps offer the same features. However, the difference comes with some new features, price, and interface. If I have to name one, I’ll count Avast considering its additional features and vivid price range.

This is one misconception many people have. Ad blockers neither track you nor record your browsing history or fetch your data.

Ad-blockers don’t do it directly. However, they prevent you from viruses and malware that may attack your device through ads.

If you are accessing YouTube through your Safari browser and have an ad blocker installed, you can block the ads. However, for the YouTube app, ad blockers can’t help. To block ads in the YouTube app, you need to subscribe to YouTube Premium.

You can use third-party apps like adblocker to block ads on your iPhone apps. I would suggest you check the app description first, as not all ad-blocking apps offer mobile apps functionality. You may also have to pay an amount to unlock this feature.

Ready for an ad-free experience?

I have tried covering all possible ways you can block ads on iPhone and iPad. It’s important to acknowledge that the new iOS privacy policy refrains apps and websites to track your online activities. It does not stop them from showing ads. For an ultimate experience, you’ll have to install a third-party app. I hope one out of the listed five will match your expectations.

Let me know which worked out for you or if you have any questions in the comments below.

For additional insights:

• Best security apps for iPhone and iPad
• How to Enable Safari Popup Blocker on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

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How to Block Ads on Your iPad

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What to Know

• To enable ad blocking in Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Content Blockers , then choose the ad blocker you downloaded.
• The best app for the iPad is 1Blocker .
• A good alternative is AdGuard .

This article explains how to block ads on an iPad. Additional information covers some possible applications to use for ad blocking.

Download an Ad Blocker to Your iPad

Perhaps the hardest part of the equation is actually finding a good ad blocker to download. Many ad blockers are paid apps, which means you will be charged a dollar or two for the blocker. There are also blockers like AdBlock Plus, which claims that unobtrusive ads aren't blocked to "support websites" but actually charges a fee in the form of a cut of ad revenue from some of these websites.

The top of the list is 1Blocker . It is free to download and easy to configure. You can make a list of allowed sites (typically called a whitelist, but the modern term is safelist), which allows ads on the site. 1Blocker is also capable of blocking trackers, social media links, comment sections, and other areas of a website that might slow download speeds. However, you can only block one element at a time in the free version. An in-app purchase blocks several elements, such as both advertisements and tracking widgets.

Adguard is a solid alternative to 1Blocker. It is also free and includes the ability to allow ads from some sites. You can also block different trackers, social media buttons, and "annoying website features" like full page banners in addition to blocking ads.

And if you don't mind paying a couple of bucks, Purify Blocker is easily the best-paid ad blocker on the App Store. It blocks ads, trackers, social media links, and comment sections and can safe list your favorite sites. You can even use Purify to block images on the page, which can really speed up how fast pages load.

Enable the Ad Blocker in Settings

Now that you have downloaded your ad blocker, you will need to enable it. This isn't something you can do in the Safari web browser or in the app you just downloaded. You will need to launch the iPad's Settings app .

In Settings , tap Safari > Content Blockers to open a screen that lists all of the ad blockers and content blockers you have downloaded. Simply flip the switch next to the content blocker you have chosen and the blocker will begin working against ads in Safari.

How to Safe List a Website in Your Ad Blocker

For websites that display a normal amount of unobtrusive ads, especially if it is one of your favorite websites, it can be a good thing to "safelist" the website. This procedure allows the website to display ads as an exception to the rules set up in your ad blocker.

To safelist a website, enable the action within the Safari browser. First, click the Share button . This is the button that looks like a rectangle with an arrow pointing out of it. Scroll through the bottom list and choose the More button.

This new screen includes an action specific to your ad blocker. It may say "Whitelist in 1Blocker" or simply "Adguard"—the language varies based on the solution you installed. Tap the switch beside the action to enable it.

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How to Turn Off AdBlock in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Ankita enjoys exploring and writing about technology. Starting as a script and copywriter, her keen interest in the digital world pulled her towards technology. With GT, she has found her calling in writing about and simplifying the world of tech for others. On any given day, you can catch her chained to her laptop, meeting deadlines, writing scripts, and watching shows (any language!).

While ads are an excellent way to keep resources free, they can take up too much space or spoil the browsing experience. This is one of the reasons ad blockers are a welcome addition. However, some websites don’t work properly when ad blockers are used. In this case, you can turn off the AdBlock in Safari.

When you turn off ad block in Safari, you essentially disable anything that can stop the ads. This includes the built-in content blockers and any added extensions. But can you disable the ad blockers in Safari for a single website? Let’s find out.

Should You Disable AdBlock in Safari and What Happens When You Do

Before we go ahead and disable ad blockers in Safari, let us quickly look at what happens when the full force of ads is finally unleashed on your browser.

• Websites may load slowly: Ad blockers eliminate any extra ad content on the page, allowing sites to load faster. However, when they’re turned off, it might cause certain sites to load slowly as they load with the ads.
• Trackers enabled: Certain website ads and other page elements contain trackers that help websites track your activity. While most ad blockers usually disable them, they will be enabled again once you remove the ad blockers.
• Websites will load normally: Website elements might be picked up by ad blockers as ads, causing them to hide. This can cause websites to break or not load properly once the ad blockers are enabled.
• Lifting restrictions: Some websites actively check if you’re using ad blockers. Once detected, they keep asking you to support them or stop you from accessing the site content until you disable the ad blocker and reload the page.
• Support the Creators: While ads can be a nightmare, they can be extremely helpful in supporting the creator behind the website. Especially if they’re an independent entity. So, occasionally, it is good to turn off ad blockers to support your favorite websites.

While the reasons to enable or disable ad blockers can be many, it all comes down to your requirements. If the ad blockers are interfering with website content or are entirely blocked, you will have no option but to disable them.

How to Disable Safari AdBlocker on iPhone and iPad

The ease of using extensions in Safari on your iPhone and iPad to block ads helps make the online browsing experience easy. However, these extensions can also adversely affect and block important page elements. To prevent that, here’s how to disable ad blockers in Safari on your iPhone and iPad.

1. Using Individual Website Settings

Step 1: Open Safari on your iPhone. Then, tap on the aA icon in the address bar.

Step 2: Tap on Manage Extensions.

Step 3: Here, turn off the toggle for the relevant ad block extensions.

Step 4: Then, tap on Done.

This will disable the ad blocker in Safari and close the extension window. If you can’t see the option to manage extensions, turn off content blockers in Safari if they’re available. This will stop any ad blockers from running on the site.

2. Using the Settings Menu

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap on Safari.

Step 2: Then tap on Extensions.

Step 3: Here, tap on the relevant ad block extension.

Step 4: Turn off the toggle for Allow Extension.

If your browser still blocks ads or other page elements, try turning off content and privacy restrictions. This will ensure your device’s settings are not interfering with Safari. Here’s how.

3. Turn Off Content and Privacy Restrictions

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on Screen Time.

Step 2: Here, scroll down and tap on ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’.

Step 3: Turn off the toggle for ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’.

How to Remove Ad Blocker in Safari on Mac

Similar to your iPhone and iPad, you can also use extensions in Safari on your Mac to block ads. Additionally, you can also use native content blockers to achieve the same feat. In this case, you must first turn off the content blockers and uninstall the extensions. This will help do away with ad blockers in Safari on your Mac. Here’s how:

1. Using Website Settings

Step 1: Open Safari and go to the menu options. Here, click on Safari.

Step 2: Then click on Settings.

Step 3: From the menu options, select Websites.

Step 4: Then click on Content Blockers from the left-side menu.

Step 5: Here, use the currently opened website’s drop-down menu and change it to Off. This will help you disable ad block on many websites at once.

Step 6: Or, if you wish to disable it for all the websites, go down and click on the ‘When visiting other websites’ drop-down.

Step 7: Then, select Off.

This will disable the native content blockers for all websites, regardless of whether they’re currently open. If you have any external ad block extensions installed, they will continue to function accordingly. In this case, use the extensions settings to disable them separately. Here’s how.

2. Disabling Extensions

Step 1: Open Safari on your Mac. Then, from the menu options, click on Safari.

Step 2: Here, click on Settings.

Step 3: Click on Extensions to see the currently installed extensions.

Step 4: Here, click on the ad blocker extension you wish to remove.

Step 5: Click on Uninstall.

Repeat these steps to uninstall any other ad blocker in Safari on your Mac.

3. For a Single Site

Step 1: Open Safari on Mac and go to the relevant website.

Step 2: Then, click on Safari from the menu options and click on Settings for the website.

Step 3: Here, uncheck the Enable content blockers option.

This should immediately remove the ad blocker for the selected site. You can reload the page if you still can’t see any ads or the website content doesn’t load properly.

Also Read: How to fix Safari keeps crashing on Mac

Remove Safari Ad Blocker

While ad blockers help remove unwanted ads, they can cause issues loading websites. So, we hope this article helped you turn off the ad blocker in Safari on your Apple device. You can also check our explainer to learn how to enable or disable Safari pop-up blocker on Mac .

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 17 February, 2024

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

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Ankita Sharma

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Best ad-blockers for Safari

Whether it’s an autoplay video covering the button you’re about to click, or a banner ad obscuring the content you’re trying to read – everyone hates adverts. Happily, the best ad-blocker for Safari will stop adverts and other annoyances from ever bothering you again.

Sophisticated ad-blockers remove a whole host of stubborn adverts, as well as trackers and fingerprinting scripts. They’ll also help prevent you from connecting to malicious websites and will neutralize threatening adware code.

Choosing from one of the multitude of ad-blockers available for Safari on the App Store can be daunting, which is why we’ve done the work for you. If you’re in a rush, our findings are summarized below:

• Total Adblock : Our first choice for a Safari ad-blocker. Strong ad-blocking ability and can prevent social media trackers and access to malicious websites.
• AdLock : Best budget option for a Safari ad-blocker. Able to stop ads on video and audio streaming sites. Blocks all ads by default.
• AdGuard : Open-source ad-blocker able to stop all types of ads as well as trackers, malware and phishing websites.
• 1Blocker : Simple to use and great for quickly creating custom rules. Stops trackers, cookies and fingerprinting scripts as well as ads.
• Wipr : Easy installation and great at blocking ads, trackers, and cryptocurrency miners. Can also prevent EU cookie and GDPR notices.

We used the criteria below to help us narrow down the Safari ad-blocker options. If you’re interested, we have a comprehensive section on our testing process later in this article.

• Comprehensive and reliable ad-blocking
• Good value for money
• No acceptable ads
• Plenty of customization
• Security features

Here’s a list of the best ad-blockers for safari:

1. Total Adblock

Total Adblock is a powerful ad-blocker that removes banners, video ads and pop-ups by default from Safari – but only on iPhone and iPad. Mac users will need to use a different browser if they wish to employ Total Adblock.

The software can be configured to block websites known to distribute malware, and can also remove cookie and privacy warnings on trusted websites – thus speeding up page loading times. Alternatively, adding websites to a whitelist enables them to automatically display without any filters.

Using Total Adblock’s custom filters allows you to block any elements on a web page that you’d prefer not to see. A social media tracking blocking filter stops “like” and “share” buttons from appearing on websites.

The basic Total Adblock app is free, but will not block ads on the top 15,000 websites ranked on Alexa – thus making it fairly useless. You will also get access to TotalAV virus protection and PC Tune-Up software.

• Robust ad-blocking with subscription
• Stops ads on streaming sites
• Enables element blocking
• Subscription includes TotalAV antivirus
• Prevents social media tracking
• Annual subscription required for usable app

BEST AD-BLOCKER: Total Adblock is our top  ad-blocker for Safari. It offers rigorous blocking of ads and malware, and the subscription includes TotalAV antivirus.

AdLock for Safari is a free extension that blocks pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads; while also protecting you against trackers, bugs, analytical systems, and scammers.

The UI is immediately approachable, making it easy to get started. Toggle switches help you set preferences, and there’s a whitelist where you can add any sites that you’d rather see unfiltered. There are no acceptable ads, so you don’t need to dig around trying to turn them off. You also don’t need to worry about your data being sold to third parties.

There’s scope for more comprehensive tinkering via the ad filters – AdLock recommends using a maximum of five for peak performance. These filters are mostly drawn from EasyList, which is the most popular option for ad-blockers. You can create custom rules and AdLock also allows the removal of any element from a page, including non-ad-related callback forms and online chat boxes.

AdLock is great for streaming sites. It can remove all pre-rolls, mid-rolls, post-rolls, and otherwise unskippable video commercials. You just need to engage a special one-click script or use the AdLock player. AdLock also stops social media widgets following you from site to site.

• Rigorous blocking
• Good for streaming sites
• Protects privacy
• Extension is free
• Extension not as powerful as app

BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTION: AdLock’s free Safari browser  extension is a reliable ad-blocker that stops ads in streaming sites.

AdGuard for Safari is a free browser extension that stops all ads, trackers and widgets. You can create custom filtering rules and manually remove any web page element. The software helps with security by issuing warnings if you unintentionally visit malicious or phishing websites.

The AdGuard home screen allows you to set up the basics: notification preferences, update intervals, and which content blockers you’d like to use. Content blockers are thematic clusters of filters. For example, the AdGuard Security Blocker contains filters that stop browser-based cryptominers, domains known to spread malware and spyware, and sites associated with fraudsters.

Alternatively, you can add filters of your choosing in the custom area, or create custom rules that apply specific filtering criteria. For example, you might want a particular element removed when visiting such-and-such website. AdGuard provides instructions on how to master rule syntax.

AdGuard doesn’t collect any user data or allow “acceptable ads”. The software is open-source, with the repository on GitHub available via the AdGuard “About” page.

• Intercepts malicious website connections
• Allows custom rule creation
• Stops social media widgets
• Doesn’t block as much as its app

CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS: AdGuard is a powerful, open-source ad-blocker that encourages the creation of custom filters and rules.

4. 1Blocker

1Blocker uses filters to tell Safari what to stop in advance. It’s effective at removing a range of ads, trackers and fingerprinting scripts. Setup is simple and the app automatically receives cloud updates to the built-in filters.

There is plenty of scope for customization. For example, you can create rules for a defined URL or hide a particular element with a CSS selector. You can also block cookies, or allow ads for a particular site while still blocking trackers and social buttons.

1Blocker doesn’t have access to the pages you visit and doesn’t track you in any way. There are no “acceptable ads,” as funding for the app comes from subscriptions. These cost either $2.99 a month, or $14.99 for a year. There is a free version of the app, but it’s limited in what it can do. For example, you can only block either trackers or ads – not both.

1Blocker is compatible with iPhones running iOS 14.2 or later, iPads running iPadOS 14.2 or later, iPod Touches running iOS 14.2 or later, and Macbooks running macOS 10.15 or later. Any preferences and custom rules are kept in sync across all devices via iCloud.

• Easy to use
• Blocks fingerprinting scripts
• Easy to create custom rules
• Doesn’t block all types of ads
• Best features require subscription

GREAT FOR BEGINNERS: 1Blocker is simple  to set up, with a straightforward interface that makes creating custom rules easy.

Wipr is a relatively simple ad-blocker that can nevertheless block a wide range of trackers and ads, as well as cryptocurrency miners and EU cookie notices. Its blocklist is automatically updated twice a week, ensuring not much gets past it.

If you want to block ads from the likes of YouTube and other streaming sites , you can enable Wipr Extra. This requires full website access, so consider any privacy implications in leaving it turned on long-term.

Wipr is able to block ads in apps that display websites using the Safari View Controller. Note that it is not able to help with blocking scam, phishing or other malicious sites.

If purchased in the App Store, you’ll be able to install Wipr on all the iPhone and iPads with the same Apple ID. If purchased on a Mac, you’ll be able to install it on all the Macs with the same Apple ID. Wipr costs $1.99 in each store, so you’ll have to pay $3.98 if you wish to use it on both an iPhone and a Mac, for example.

The app is compatible with iPhones running iOS 12.0 or later, iPads running iPadOS 12.0 or later, and Macs running macOS 10.15 or later.

• Straightforward ad-blocker
• Doesn’t protect against malicious code
• One purchase won’t cover all devices
• No custom rules

EASY SETUP: Wipr is a straightforward  ad-blocker that keeps itself updated and blocks a decent number of ads and trackers.

Can I use a free ad-blocker for Safari?

You can, and there are many decent free ad-blockers available. However, as with most products that seem free, there’s often a hidden cost. Some ad-blockers make money by allowing some ads through – what are sometimes called “acceptable ads.” Other, less scrupulous, apps may even sell your data to third parties.

More commonly, ad-blocking developers create a free version of the subscription-only service – typically a browser extension. This has less features than the paid-for version, but allows people to become familiar with the service and pay out when they find that they can’t live without a particular feature.

How to install a Safari ad-blocker:

If you want to use a Safari browser extension ad-blocker, follow these instructions:

• Launch the Settings app.
• Scroll down and tap Safari .
• Under General , tap Content Blockers .
• Activate your chosen content blocker by toggling the switch next to it to the green ON position.

If you’ve downloaded an ad-blocker app for Safari, follow these instructions to enable it:

• Click on Safari in the top left-hand corner.
• Select Safari Extensions from the drop-down menu.
• Wait for the App Store to automatically open on the extensions page.
• Search for the ad-blocker you’d like to add.
• Click Get underneath the ad-blocker extension.
• Sign in with your Apple ID if required and start downloading.
• Click install to get the app up and running.
• Open the extension and follow the instructions.
• Click on Safari in the top right corner once more.
• Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
• Tick the checkbox next to the ad-blocker you downloaded.

Methodology: Finding the best Safari ad-blocker

Most Safari ad-blocking extensions are capable of preventing certain cookies, images, pop-ups and other unwanted content from being downloaded. So what makes one better than the other? The best Safari ad-blockers will perform notably well when tested against the criteria below:

• Comprehensive blocking: We expect ad-blockers to be able to block most types of advert that appears on a web page. This includes pop-ups , banners, and interstitial ads. We also require the removal of autoplay video and audio, as well as the option to stop chat boxes and pre-roll ads.
• Good value: An expensive ad-blocker doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth your money. We only include ad-blockers that can justify what they charge. This normally means they provide superior blocking ability with other privacy and security features.
• No acceptable ads: We know that developers need to make money, but allowing ads on an ad-blocker doesn’t seem like the right way to do it. For this reason, we don’t recommend ad-blockers that allow paid advertising to be displayed.
• Plenty of customization: Ruthless blocking seems great… until it isn’t. Being able to whitelist sites is a good starting point. However, a good ad-blocker allows you to create custom rules for everything from ads to trackers, cookies and notices. We also like to be able to customize blocking on an element-by-element basis.
• Security features: It’s not just ads we want to see blocked, it’s trackers, fingerprinting script and any malicious code whatsoever. Ad-blockers that intercept connections to untrusted sites score points too.
• Compatibility: Safari is available on all Apple devices, including Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Although all of the ad-blockers we looked at worked with Safari, they didn’t all work great across all devices. The mobile Safari app is different to the macOS Safari app, and so we only recommend ad-blockers that have been specifically designed to work across all Apple devices.

FAQs: Best ad-blocker for Safari

Does apple allow ad-blockers.

Apple began allowing ad-blockers on the iPhone and iPad versions of Safari in 2015. Devices running iOS 9 were – for the first time – permitted to add content blocking extensions to Safari. 

Prior to this, the only way to block adverts was to “jailbreak” the devices, which involved replacing – or modifying – key components of the operating system with custom applications. Where subsequent security measures weren’t instigated, this resulted in their becoming easier for attackers to infiltrate. 

Apple allowing ad-blocking Safari extensions negated the need to do this. At the same time, it ensured that the company could still make money from allowing advertising in apps.

Are ad-blockers legal?

Yes, though there were a slew of court cases when Apple first began allowing ad-blockers. These were brought by media companies that were heavily reliant on advertising money. None of them were successful, and the use of ad-blockers has been steadily increasing since – much to the chagrin of the ad industry. 

The problem is that ads are becoming ever more invasive. Many actively prevent us from enjoying a particular website’s content until we’ve interacted with the advert. Meanwhile, ad-blockers are getting more powerful and easier to install. 

Of course, the people who run that website might say that ad-blockers are morally questionable. After all, advertising revenue effectively pays for the website. There is ultimately no easy solution. Some sites try using a paywall to stay ad-free, while others incorporate adverts into their content. A short-term solution involves site owners asking users to whitelist their sites if they like them.  

How do ad-blockers work?

Ad-blockers detect scripts designed to make your browser load content from the servers of ad networks. By blocking these scripts, the adverts aren’t requested or displayed. Ad-blockers can also block scripts that monitor your online behavior or contain malicious code. Ad-blockers are able to detect scripts by comparing them with huge lists of offending domains – often created by the online community. 

Without these additional advertising requests playing out, pages tend to require less bandwidth and are quicker to download. Indeed, research suggests that the execution of third-party scripts can account for more than half of a page’s loading time.

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This information can be used to target ads and monitor your internet usage.

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Best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad in 2022

If you're tired of all the ads but don't want to use Reader View every time you surf the web, you can add content blockers to your iPhone or iPad, which will put them out of sight and help keep your activities private while you're online.

Ad blockers work in Safari and are only available on devices that support 64-bit architecture. In order to use an ad blocker after you've downloaded it, you'll need to enable it in Settings on your iPhone or iPad.

How to block ads on your iPhone and iPad

Here are the best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad.

• AdBlock Pro

1Blocker is really customizable. You can set different rules for blocking ads, trackers, cookies, website comments, Twitter and Facebook widgets, adult websites, and more. Plus, you can add your favorite sites to the Whitelist ( ahem , iMore) and block specific websites from access at all. You can also customize whether to block or allow cookies and page elements from specific sites.

1Blocker is free to download, but it's really more of a trial version. For a $4.99 in-app purchase, you'll be able to unlock the ability to use more than one feature at a time. If your ad-blocking needs are minimal, you'll have a great experience with the free download and just blocking ads or trackers. But if you're looking at 1Blocker, it's probably because you want the advanced features, like custom rules, a Whitelist extension for Safari, and iCloud syncing so your ad block settings are synced across all your iOS devices.

If you really want to customize your web browsing experience, and like the idea of being able to set up rules for different websites, the full, in-app purchase of 1Blocker is worth it.

Master your iPhone in minutes

iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!

Free with in-app purchases - Download now

AdGuard blocks dozens of different types of ads to speed up your Safari browsing on iPhone and iPad. You can set up rules for specific websites and manually block ads from sites as you visit them using the Share sheet in Safari. You can also use at least two dozen preset filter lists, like EasyList, Malware Domains, and EasyPrivacy, on top of the AdGuard filters. It blocks trackers from social media sites and basically cleans up Safari so your browsing experience is smoother.

With the pro version of AdGuard for $1.99, you can add the ability to use a local DNS proxy to block ads outside of Safari in other web browsers and apps.

Get AdGuard for a clean, fast web browsing experience in Safari.

Free - Download now

If you want a simple ad blocker for iOS Safari, then you should give Wipr a try. This lightweight blocker provides hassle-free blocking just by activating it. Wipr automatically updates itself to make sure that you don't see unwanted ads. However, due to the barebones simplicity that Wipr is known for, you won't find any customizable settings or whitelist options for the sites that you want to support. And best of all, Wipr does not take money in order to let certain ads show up, unlike some other ad blockers that have caused controversy in the past.

Wipr also has an active developer who is always available for support if you have issues.

$2 with in-app purchases - Download now

AdBlock Pro for Safari

If you're serious about blocking ads and want the best feature set, then AdBlock Pro for Safari is what you need. AdBlock will improve your overall Safari experience by blocking all ads, including normal ads and banners, autoplay ads, those pesky fake "x" button ads, scrolling banners, timed popups, redirects to "xxx" sites, YouTube ads in Safari, and no more online tracking. With all of these available ad-blocking options, you will get 2x faster browsing in Safari and over 50 percent lower data usage. AdBlock Pro can even bypass those anti-adblock detectors, sync your settings between devices via iCloud, and much more.

AdBlock Pro is a beefy ad-blocker that gives you a ton of options to improve your online experience. It may have a higher price tag than you would expect, but it's well worth the cost to have a little less annoyance in your online life.

$9 - Download now

Ka-Block! is an open-sourced content blocker for iOS that works with Safari through an extension. With Ka-Block!, you're going to find a fast and curated filter list that will eliminate pretty much all of those annoying ads you'll find on the Internet. The pesky trackers are also blocked with Ka-Block!, so you don't need to worry about those.

With Ka-Block!, you're getting a fast and lightweight content blocker that costs nothing and is constantly updated.

How do you block ads?

Do you have a favorite ad blocker for iPhone and iPad? Which one do you use and why does it stand out? Let us know in the comments.

November 2019: Added Wipr, AdBlock Pro, and Ka-Block! Removed Crystal and Purify due to lack of update.

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○ iOS 14 Review ○ What's new in iOS 14 ○ Updating your iPhone ultimate guide ○ iOS Help Guide ○ iOS Discussion

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed. When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.

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Block pop-up ads and windows in Safari

Learn how to block pop-up windows and handle persistent ads on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Pop-ups can be ads, notices, offers, or alerts that open in your current browser window, in a new window, or in another tab. Some pop-ups are third-party ads that use phishing tactics such as warnings or prizes to trick you into believing they’re from Apple or another trusted company, so that you’ll share personal or financial information. Or they might claim to offer free downloads, software updates, or plug-ins to try to trick you into installing unwanted software.

Use these tips to help manage pop-ups and other unwanted interruptions.

Avoid interacting with pop-ups

Unless you’re confident that they are a legitimate ad, avoid interacting with pop-ups or webpages that seem to take over your screen.

If you see an annoying pop-up ad in Safari, you can go to the Search field and enter a new URL or search term to browse to a new site. If you don’t see the Search field on your iPhone or iPad, tap the top of the screen to make it appear.

Some pop-ups and ads have fake buttons that resemble a close button, so use caution if you try to close a pop-up or ad. If you're not sure, avoid interacting with it and close the Safari window or tab.

On your Mac, you can quit Safari, then press and hold the Shift key while opening Safari. This prevents Safari from automatically reopening any windows or tabs that were open.

Update your software

Always install the latest software updates for all of your Apple products. Many software releases have important security updates and may include improvements that help control pop-ups.

The safest way to download apps for your Mac is from the App Store. If you need software that isn’t available from the App Store, get it directly from the developer or another reliable source, rather than through an ad or link.

Check Safari settings

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari.

Turn on Block Pop-ups.

Turn on Fraudulent Website Warning.

On your Mac, open Safari and choose Safari > Settings (or Preferences) from the menu bar.

In the Websites tab , you can configure options to allow or block some or all pop-ups .

In the Security tab , turn on the setting to warn when visiting a fraudulent website.

If adware or other unwanted software is installed on Mac

If you see pop-ups on your Mac that just won’t go away, you might have unintentionally downloaded and installed adware (advertising-supported software) or other unwanted software. Certain third-party download sites might include software that you don’t want along with the software that you do.

If you think that you might have malware or adware on your Mac:

Update to the latest version of macOS. If your Mac is already using the latest version, restart your Mac. macOS includes a built-in tool that removes known malware when restarting.

Check your Applications folder to see if you have any apps that you don't expect. You can uninstall those apps .

Check the Extensions tab in Safari settings to see if you installed any unnecessary extensions. You can turn extensions off .

If you continue to see advertising or other unwanted programs on your Mac, contact Apple.

How to safely open software on your Mac

How to recognize and avoid phishing and other scams

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

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AdBlock for Safari

Block annoying ads, including pop-ups, autoplay video ads, and advertisements on facebook, youtube, and across the web., adblock user reviews.

This is a must have for everyone. Browsing isn’t the same without it.

Roger Woods

The best. First app I install on any new computer.

This app is a godsend. The reduction in webpage loading times and processor demand is amazing!

A modern ad blocker for Safari

We created AdBlock for Safari as a powerful Mac ad blocker. It blocks ads on millions of websites immediately and it will speed up page load times and make browsing the web fun again.

Remove ads on Facebook, YouTube, and across the web.

Improve Privacy

Block trackers and stop advertisers from following you online.

Support Creators

Allow ads on your favorite sites or YouTube channels with one-click.

Acceptable Ads

Non-intrusive ads are allowed to support content creators.

Turn on Dark Mode to enjoy AdBlock after dark.

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8 Best Ad Blockers for Web Browsers

1. uBlock Origin

Bear in mind that Google is starting to enforce the new Manifest V3 extension platform for Chrome. It means that in the future, you will no longer be able to use uBlock Origin, which is based on Manifest V2. However, the good news is that the developer has developed a new extension called uBlock Origin Lite based on the Manifest V3 extension platform. So, you can easily move to the new extension to keep blocking ads on Chrome and other browsers.

3. Adblock Plus

4. Ghostery

Ghostery is one of the oldest ad blockers for web browsers, and it’s available on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge. It’s also open-source and completely free to use. It not only blocks ads but also stops third-party trackers from collecting your data and improves your privacy on the web.

6. Privacy Badger

Privacy Badger does send a signal denying consent to tracking through Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control. However, when websites still track you, the extension blocks them right away. So if you want more of a privacy tool rather than an ad blocker, Privacy Badger is for you.

7. Blockify

8. Adblock for YouTube

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Why Apple iOS 18’s ‘Distraction Control’ ad blocker is deeply controversial

T his week Apple quietly introduced a new feature coming to iOS 18 ’s Safari web browser called Distraction Control. The feature, which you can access now via the iOS 18 developer beta , is unusual because Apple made no mention of it when it first previewed the iPhone’s upcoming operating system this past June.

Distraction Control will allow users to selectively eliminate elements of a website they don’t want to see while browsing. But it’s a feature that is already causing controversy. Here’s what you need to know about iOS 18’s Distraction Control.

What is iOS 18’s “Distraction Control”?

Distraction Control is a new feature coming to the Safari web browser in iOS 18, the iPhone’s upcoming operating system. Distraction Control is also coming to Safari on the iPad with iPadOS 18 and to Safari on the Mac with macOS Sequoia.

The feature allows users to selectively erase elements of a web page they don’t want to see. When the user returns to the web page in the future, these elements will remain hidden (with some caveats, mentioned below).

Now, because of Distraction Control, users will be able to prevent certain web page elements from appearing. These may include things like pop-ups asking you to sign up for a site’s newsletter, banners alerting you to cookie or GDPR policies, sign-in windows (such as those from Google), and, yes, ads.

It is this latter element that is making Distraction Control so controversial.

Publishers fear Apple will make it too easy for users to block ads

We’ve all been annoyed by online ads. But the fact of the matter is that online advertising is what allows for so much of the web to be free. Without online ads, all publishers would need to resort to paywalls, charging you a subscription fee if you want to view their content. But given how few readers are actually willing to pay a recurring fee for content, an ad-free internet would mean that most websites would eventually need to close their doors and lay off their staff.

Online publishers have long held grievances over the harm ad-blocking services inflict on their bottom lines, but what worries them most is the possibility that platform giants like Apple will make it even easier for users to block ads. If ad blocking is easy, free, and baked into an operating system’s default browser, many more people are likely to do it—hurting the ability of publishers to generate revenue.

That’s why, when AppleInsider broke the news in April that Apple was working on an AI-powered tool dubbed “Web Eraser” that would allow users to easily block website ads, major publishing bodies were up in arms, including the News Media Association and a number of French trade associations that represent publishers, advertisers, and ad tech companies.

As noted by AppleInsider , the News Media Association told Apple in a letter that the Web Eraser feature could make journalism unsustainable and that “ad-blocking is a blunt instrument, which frustrates the ability of content creators to sustainably fund their work.”

It’s unknown whether these concerns are the reason Apple didn’t announce the “Web Eraser” tool just over a month later at its Worldwide Developers Conference. But nevertheless, as of this week, the feature is alive and kicking in the latest iOS 18 beta and will roll out to users globally next month.

Of course, the feature now has a less threatening name (“Distraction Control” sounds a lot more palatable than “Web Eraser”). Apple also seems to have at least considered the concerns of publishers. That’s because Distraction Control will not permanently block ads from a website, as MacRumors notes . Users can still use the tool to block ads, but since ads are non-static, they will reappear when the ad refreshes on the website. Also, if the user leaves the website and then returns to it, any blocked ads will reappear (most other hidden elements will remain hidden).

However, despite these concessions (if that is what the reduced ad-blocking functionality is), Distraction Control is still likely to give publishers anxiety considering that ads can still be blocked for a while.

Distraction Control can be a boon to specific groups of users

Distraction Control will likely appeal to a large number of everyday users. The feature could also make web browsing a less frustrating experience for specific groups, particularly the elderly and those with visual impairments.

While age is never a reliable indicator of online prowess, some elderly users find browsing the web confusing—especially when websites throw pop-up after pop-up at them. Many times, these pop-ups obscure the entire screen on a mobile device and the buttons to dismiss them can be small and hard to see. This can lead to frustration and confusion for the user who can’t easily find the content they expected to see.

The ability to permanently hide these pop-ups with Distraction Control will make it easier for users who already face these challenges.

A second group of users for whom Distraction Control could be a potential boon is those who are visually impaired and need to use screen readers to hear what’s on a web page (read by a digital voice). iOS’s built-in screen reader is called VoiceOver . A sudden pop-up can disrupt the screen reader’s narration, making for a frustrating browsing experience.

Now that Distraction Control can eliminate these unneeded elements, iOS’s VoiceOver accessibility feature should work better than ever for the users who need it.

Distraction Control is expected to ship as a built-in feature in Safari in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia when the operating systems launch to the public next month.

This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com

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Adblock Plus for Safari (ABP‪)‬ 4+

Block bad, disruptive ads.

• 4.3 • 2.3K Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

The easy way to block ads on your iPhone and iPad. Annoying ads like pop-ups, video ads, banners and ads disguised as content are things of the past thanks to Adblock Plus (ABP)! Safari users enjoy a peaceful and delightful web experience when using Adblock Plus, the world’s number 1 ad blocker. No disruptive ads. No tracking. No nasty viruses. REPUTABLE Adblock Plus has been the most downloaded, free ad blocker on the market since 2006. Its unique Acceptable Ads feature, turned on by default, shows occasional ads that aren’t disruptive in order to help support great content creators. You can choose to block these ads by simply turning off the Acceptable Ads feature in the ABP settings. SAFE AND PRIVATE Browse more safely and securely. Adblock Plus for Safari: - Prevents nasty stuff like malware and tracking that can hide behind ads - Reduces the risk of malware infection - Enhances your privacy CONSCIOUS BROWSING Ads can cause pages to load slower, thus eating up your data plan and consuming your battery. By using Adblock Plus for Safari you: - Save data - Save battery life Download Adblock Plus for Safari on iOS - it’s FREE! By downloading and installing the application, you agree to our Terms of Use. https://adblockplus.org/terms ------ About the people behind Adblock Plus for Safari on iOS We are a globally distributed, yet tight-knit group of developers, designers, writers, researchers, and testers. By supporting a fair and profitable Internet, we remain optimistic about the future of the web. Our mission is to create a sustainable product that makes your everyday life a little easier. ------ Enjoying the app? Please leave us a 5-star review! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adblockplus Twitter: https://twitter.com/adblockplus YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AdblockPlusOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adblockplus

Version 2.2.16

**Please open ABP after updating so that the new filter lists are immediately synced!** What's New? - Improved ad blocking quality

Ratings and Reviews

2.3K Ratings

Works great!

The only improvement I would want, would be to block all the pop-ups for “open in our app” and “sign up to our email list” as well… but technically they’re not adverts as such, so no complaints, and I thoroughly recommend this app.

Safari Adblocker

Works as intended, ignore the negative reviews. This app works by blocking ads in Safari, which is what it’s built for, if you need to block ads on other apps then you need to look else where like DNS or VPN apps.

Don’t waste your time on searching for AdBlockers! This is the only AdBlocker you’ll need; you can block privacy-intrusive ads and just regular ads in general! Amazing app overall!

App Privacy

The developer, Eyeo GmbH , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

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I guess I have a virus on my ipad

Hello everyone. Today I looked at my screentime and was shocked because there were two random sites on my screentime. Internet writes that these two are the pop-up viruses, or a malware in general.

What should I do? Anyone can recommend me a great antivirus?

Actually scared.

iPad Pro, iPadOS 17

Posted on Aug 19, 2024 8:19 AM

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Aug 19, 2024 8:22 AM in response to MarDeks

There are no true Antivirus Products available for iOS/iPadOS. Those that claim to provide AV protection are little more than “snake oil” - and should generally be avoided.

Providing that your iPad has been kept up-to-date with system software updates, you should not be overly concerned for your iPad being directly compromised by malware. Due to the system architecture of iOS/iPadOS, unless jailbroken, your iPad is not susceptible to traditional malware infection per-se. However, as with all computer systems, there are still vulnerabilities and exploits to which you remain vulnerable.

For older devices, no longer benefiting from regular security updates, the risk of an unpatched vulnerability being exploited increases. Regardless of the installed version of iPadOS, there are useful mitigations that can be used to significantly reduce your exposure to risk.

If you have given your personal details to a malicious website, this may be the cause of attempted fraud. If necessary, change account passwords (including your AppleID Password) if you suspect that they may have been compromised. If you have cause to believe that your AppleID has been compromised, follow the advice outlined here:

If you think your Apple ID has been compromised - Apple Support

If you have exposed your Credit Card details, you may wish to contact the Card Issuer - who may cancel and reissue your Card as a precaution.

Threat Mitigation

Other than malicious websites that will attempt to capture information that you willingly enter, the majority of threats to which you will be invariably exposed will surface via web pages or embedded links within email or other messaging platforms. Browser-based attacks can be largely and successfully mitigated by installing a good Content and Ad-blocking product. One of the most respected within the Apple App Store - designed for iPad, iPhone and Mac - is  1Blocker for Safari .

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/1blocker-for-safari/id1365531024

1Blocker  is highly configurable - and crucially does not rely upon an external proxy-service of dubious provenance, often utilised by so-called AntiVirus products intended for iOS/iPadOS. Instead, all processing by  1Blocker  takes place on your device - and contrary to expectations, Safari will run faster and more efficiently.

Unwanted content is not simply filtered after download (a technique used by basic/inferior products), but instead undesirable embedded content is blocked from download. The  1Blocker  product has also recently introduced its new “Firewall” functions - that are explicitly designed to block “trackers”. Being implemented at the network-layer, this additional protection works across all Apps. Recent updates to  1Blocker  has introduced additional network extensions, extending protection to other Apps.

A further to improve protection from exploits is to use a security focussed DNS Service in preference to automatic DNS settings. This can either be set on a per-device basis in Settings, or can be set-up on your home Router - and in so doing extends the benefit of this specific protection to other devices on your local network. I suggest using one of the following DNS services - for which IPv4 and IPv6 server addresses are listed:

Quad9 (recommended)

149.112.112.112

2620:fe::fe

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

2620:119:35::35

2620:119:53::53

2606:4700:4700::1111

2606:4700:4700::1001

Security focused DNS providers intentionally "sink hole" known bad or malicious websites and resources - this providing an additional layer of protection beyond that provided by your device and its Operating System. These DNS services will, when used alongside  1Blocker  or other reputable Content Blocker, provide defence in depth.