Privacy Badger
A browser extension that learns to block third-party web trackers.
Privacy Badger is a free browser extension from the Electronic Frontier Foundation that detects third-party tracking behavior and blocks or restricts those domains in the browser. It also sends privacy preference signals such as Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track, while offering controls for cookies, widgets, and link-tracking cleanup on supported sites.
Why it stands out
- Uses observed tracking behavior rather than relying only on hand-maintained blocklists.
- Built by EFF, a nonprofit digital rights organization rather than an ad-tech company.
- Designed to work with minimal setup for users who do not want to manage privacy rules manually.
- Blocks ads only when they act as trackers, making its goal narrower than general ad blocking.
- Includes GPC signaling alongside blocking, so it both states a privacy preference and enforces it when ignored.
Good to know
- It is focused on third-party tracking, not all tracking by sites you intentionally visit.
- It does not aim to block every advertisement, so users wanting a full ad blocker may need another tool.
- Browser support is limited to supported extension platforms; unsupported browsers cannot install it directly.
- Some embedded media or widgets may need click-to-activate or manual slider adjustments if blocking affects page behavior.
Under the radar: If a useful embedded widget is blocked, try the extension’s yellow setting for that domain: it can block tracking cookies while still allowing the content to load.
Photos
Privacy-conscious web users who want tracker blocking without maintaining filter lists or tuning lots of settings. Reduce cross-site tracking while browsing news, shopping, and social media sites. Block tracking-heavy embedded ads while leaving non-tracking ads alone. Use click-to-activate placeholders for social widgets, comments, and embedded media. Deploy a nonprofit-backed privacy extension across managed browsers.
Algorithmic third-party tracker detection; automatic blocking or cookie restriction; Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track signals; red/yellow/green per-domain controls; click-to-activate placeholders for some embedded widgets; removal of certain outgoing link trackers on Facebook and Google; support for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Brave, and Android variants where available.
Alternative listings
An open-source blocker for ads, trackers, and cookie pop-ups.
Privacy & security tools / big-tech alternativesGhostery provides privacy-focused browser tools that block ads, limit tracking scripts, and automate rejection of many tracking cookies. Its broader site also includes WhoTracks.Me tracker reports and a privacy-news digest, giving users more visibility into the companies collecting data across the web.
0 votesVisit siteA free desktop browser built to reduce tracking and fingerprinting.
Privacy & security tools / big-tech alternativesMullvad Browser is a privacy-oriented web browser created by Mullvad VPN with the Tor Project. It is designed to make users look more alike online by limiting third-party tracking, browser fingerprinting, saved cookies, and telemetry.
0 votesVisit site
Similar sites elsewhere
- uBlock Origin — github.com/gorhill/uBlock
- Ghostery — ghostery.com
- AdGuard — adguard.com
- DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials — duckduckgo.com/app
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