Don't Get Tracked: Download uBlock Origin for Chrome

You may have heard of online tracking, and probably know that it’s undesirable. But most users don’t realize the extent to which their activities online are being monitored and collected by third parties, often without their knowledge or consent. This can have a range of negative effects on your privacy, your browsing experience, and even your computer’s performance and security. If you want to take control of your browsing habits, one step you can take to do so is to download uBlock Origin for Chrome and install it as an extension in Google Chrome.

The Danger of Cookies

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your computer to track what you’re doing on their sites. For example, a tracking cookie can be used to know when you first visit a site, how often you visit and if you have opened any other web pages while on that site. Online advertisers use cookies to serve ads specifically targeted to your interests and behaviors. And since cookies track every click made by every visitor, they can build up an extensive profile of your browsing habits and behaviors over time.

Add-ons Aren’t Enough

The developers of browsers and websites are usually racing to stay ahead of each other. In a case like this, privacy-conscious users need to turn to more robust options—like a browser extension that blocks cookies and other trackers from collecting your data. We especially recommend checking out options such as HTTPS Everywhere, Disconnect, Privacy Badger, and uBlock Origin. All of these can help guard against digital snooping.

Install uBlock Origin on Chrome Now

Despite being available on multiple browsers, ad-blocking browser extensions are fairly new to Chrome. But there is a great solution—uBlock Origin is a powerful open source ad-blocker with fast performance and plenty of extra features that you can use to your advantage. And while it's possible to install uBlock on other browsers, including Firefox and Safari, it's currently not possible (as of January 2016) to use more than one ad-blocker at once in most browsers (including Firefox). To get around that limitation, you can simply run two browsers side by side—one with uBlock installed and one without. You're going to want to do that anyway because...

...only certain Google Chrome tabs will see any improvements from using uBlock. That's because Chrome uses its own prerendering technology to improve load times; prerendering loads content based on where you’re headed so pages appear instantly when you reach them. It’s a handy feature, but it also lets websites know which pages you've visited before so they can target ads toward what they assume are your interests.

Type uBlock origin chrome into the search bar. 2) Click Add to Chrome. 3) After installing, click Continue. 4) Click Done. 5) Restart your browser. 6) Navigate back to this page and read on!

In order to protect your privacy from a variety of threats, including corporate and government surveillance, hackers, and more, we urge you to download and install uBlock Origin. The software's ability to block ads and third-party trackers is essential in keeping your personal information safe. The app allows you to customize which sites use higher levels of protection. Simply go into Settings > Mode > Customize, then toggle on or off whichever filter(s) are right for you. 7) Enjoy! 8) Read more about how to stay anonymous online here! 9) Check out our exclusive interviews with Edward Snowden (with video!) 10) Check out our other Privacy Guides here!