AdBlock for Firefox

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

• How do I install AdBlock for Firefox? arrow_forward_ios

  In most cases, installing AdBlock is as simple as visiting our website from your preferred browser and clicking Get AdBlock Now. Visit our Help Center for more detailed browser-specific installation instructions.

• Is AdBlock for Firefox safe? arrow_forward_ios

  Yes. AdBlock is safe to install and free from any form of malware. But keep in mind that the official browser extension stores and our website are the only safe places to get AdBlock. If you install “AdBlock” from anywhere else, it may contain malware that can infect your computer. AdBlock is open source software, which means that anyone can access our code and use it for their own purposes. Unfortunately that means there are a lot of copycat ad blockers out there, so it's important to be extra cautious when installing an extension like AdBlock. No one wants to end up with adware when installing an ad blocker!

• Why does AdBlock for Firefox need permissions? arrow_forward_ios

  When you install AdBlock for the first time, AdBlock will request some permissions to operate within your browser. It will look something like this: "AdBlock can read, modify, and transmit content from all web pages. This could include sensitive information like passwords, phone numbers, and credit cards." Although the exact wording depends on which browser you use, the warnings all sound a little scary. That's because it's important to be careful with your browser permissions! You should be aware of what your browser extensions can do.

  Ad blockers work by 1) blocking a web page's requests to download ads from the servers that host them and, 2) hiding any ads that can't be blocked. To do that, the extension needs to:

  • See every page you open so that AdBlock can run on every page you visit. This also means that AdBlock knows the URL of every page you visit.
  • See all the data on the page to find any unblocked ads among the other content. This also means that AdBlock can see any forms you submit and your browsing history on that tab.
  • Change the data on the page by adding some HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code to the page to hide unblocked ads.

  It's important to know that just because AdBlock can see everything on a web page, it doesn't mean it actually does anything with it. The extension does not record your browsing history, capture your passwords or bank account numbers, or secretly collect or change data you submit on a web form.

• What does AdBlock do with my information? arrow_forward_ios

  We regularly obfuscate all personally identifiable information in our logs, making all the data we have completely anonymous. Most importantly, we do not target or sell any of the data we collect, personally identifiable or not. Tracking and selling user data goes against everything we stand for as a company. For more information, we encourage you to review our privacy policy.

• What are "filter lists" and which ones should I use? arrow_forward_ios

  AdBlock uses lists of rules called filter lists to know what things it should block and hide on the web pages you visit. While AdBlock starts blocking ads from the moment you install it, filter lists allow you to further customize what you see (and don't see) online. For instance, you can use filter lists to block things like newsletter pop-ups, social media widgets, and cookie warnings. If you're highly technical, you can even create your own custom filters.

  If you'd prefer to “set it and forget it,” you can do that, too! Upon installing AdBlock, you'll be subscribed to the filter lists you need to block annoying ads and help improve your browsing experience without any additional work required.