Hi Wanda,
We can’t say we blame you for being worried about your privacy on the web. There are plenty of horror stories out there about data brokers, ad tracking, and malware. Thankfully, you’re right — there are plenty of tools to help you stay safer on the web, including ad blockers and VPNs.
By default, VPNs do notblock ads. Rather, VPNs (also called virtual private networks) allow you to connect to the internet privately. They create an encrypted connection, often referred to as a ‘tunnel,’ between your devices and the VPN servers. All of your internet traffic is routed through that secure tunnel, keeping your data encrypted and your personal information secure.
VPN’s are great if you want to hide your online identity because your web traffic is routed through VPN servers. This means that your IP address is replaced with a new address from the VPN’s network of virtual locations each time you connect, allowing you to browse anonymously.
Many people also use a VPN for public Wi-Fi, especially while traveling. While most public Wi-Fi networks are harmless, they’re often not secure. If you log into an unencrypted site while on an unsecure connection, it’s relatively easy for other users on the network to see what websites and online services you are accessing.
If you’re really serious about your privacy, you’ll want to use a no-log VPN like AdBlock VPN. This means we don’t keep a record of the websites you visit or anything you do while browsing the web. Some VPNs, especially free ones, may be tracking your browsing activity and selling them to third parties.
Ad blockers like AdBlock help your privacy in a different way. One of those ways is by protecting you from adware. Adware is a type of malicious software (malware) that forces you to see ads or exposes your personal data to criminals. It’s sneaky software that can change your browser settings and manipulate your browser into visiting sites that you don’t want to.
While AdBlock isn’t specifically designed to remove adware, it does block annoying pop-ups and ads. This means it also blocks the malicious files contained in the ads that spread adware. AdBlock can also act as an alert system to the potential for adware on your computer. If you’re inundated with pop-ups even with AdBlock turned on, it’s a good idea to check your computer for adware.
With AdBlock, you can disable third-party tracking to make it more difficult for advertisers to track your behavior as you browse. Simply subscribe to the EasyPrivacy filter list. Easy Privacy is an optional filter list that blocks most trackers on the web. (Please note that using this filter list may cause issues on sites that rely on third-party trackers, like many banking sites do. You can typically work around that by adding sites to your allowlist, though this will unblock ads on those sites, too.) For instructions on how to subscribe to EasyPrivacy, click here.
To sum it up, we suggest using both a VPN and an ad blocker to increase your safety on the internet. And we’ve made it easy to do both without breaking the bank. AdBlock is a free ad blocker, and AdBlock VPN is a cheap VPN. So, we ask you Worried Wanda — why not use both?
