Privacy Badger Extension for Chrome

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has created a free and open-source Google Chrome plugin called Privacy Badger, which helps protect your privacy by blocking invisible trackers. Unlike other ad-blockers that rely on pre-existing lists, Privacy Badger Extension automatically learns to block trackers based on their behavior.

Privacy Badger Extension: An automatically learned Chrome browser extension to block invisible trackers.

Privacy Badger Extension, a Google Chrome extension available on the Web Store platform, boasts a multitude of features. Developed by Electronic Frontier Foundation, this add-on, currently at version 2024.7.17, offers a versatile experience in 29 languages, with a modest size of 1.75MiB. The latest update to its CRX file was rolled out on 18 July 2024. Categorized under Privacy & Security, Privacy Badger Extension’s defining trait lies in its ability to block invisible trackers and protect privacy, allowing users to exert control over their online experiences. Its appeal is further heightened by its seamless integration with Chrome, presenting a user-friendly interface that garners widespread acclaim on the Google Web Store.

The continual evolution of Privacy Badger Extension stems from user reviews, guiding the developer’s efforts to refine and enhance both design and code, ensuring a top-notch experience. Remarkably, Privacy Badger Extension is entirely free, embodying accessibility and innovation within the realm of browser extensions.

Characteristics of Privacy Badger Extension:

Privacy Badger Extension identifies and blocks trackers automatically based on their activity. It sends Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control signals to businesses to protect your privacy. If a tracker ignores your request, Privacy Badger learns to block it in the future.

In addition to automatically blocking trackers, Privacy Badger Extension eliminates outgoing link click monitoring on Facebook and Google, replaces potentially helpful trackers (video players, comment widgets, etc.) with click-to-activate placeholders, and adds more privacy protections in the future. See our FAQ at https://privacybadger.org/#faq for additional information.

To get help or to report bugs, please email [email protected]. If you have a GitHub account, you can use our GitHub issue tracker at https://github.com/EFForg/privacybadger/issues 

Difference between Privacy Badger Extension and other ad-blockers:

Privacy Badger Extension is a free Google Chrome browser extension that blocks invisible trackers and protects your privacy while browsing the web. It is developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit organization that advocates for digital privacy, free speech, and consumer rights.

Privacy Badger Extension is an ad-blocker that learns to block trackers based on their behavior. It sends the “Do Not Track” signal to instruct businesses not to track you and the “Global Privacy Control” signal to let you opt-out of data sharing and sales.

Privacy Badger also replaces potentially useful trackers (video players, comments widgets, etc.) with click-to-activate placeholders, and removes outgoing link click tracking on Facebook and Google, with more privacy protections on the way.

Other ad-blockers like AdBlocker Ultimate and Adblock Plus use pre-existing lists to block ads and trackers. AdBlocker Ultimate can block more ads than Privacy Badger Extension, but it may not be as effective in blocking trackers. Adblock Plus could potentially break some websites because it removes ads and trackers using filter lists.

Why does Privacy Badger Extension need to read and change all your data on the websites you visit?

When you install Privacy Badger Extension in your browser, you may receive a notification that it can “read and change all your data on the websites you visit”. It’s important to be cautious and consider the source before installing any extensions. You should only install extensions from companies that you trust.

Privacy Badger requires these permissions to do its job of automatically detecting and blocking trackers on all websites you visit. This extension is not ironically (or unironically) spying on you. For more information, see the Privacy Badger extension permissions explainer: https://github.com/EFForg/privacybadger/blob/master/doc/permissions.md

Important Note:

The warnings regarding permissions of Privacy Badger Extension only refer to what the extension is capable of accessing. They do not address any potential misuse or unauthorized transfer of your browsing data by the extension. Privacy Badger, on the other hand, will never disclose your browsing history unless you specifically request it by reporting a problematic website. For more information, you can refer to EFF’s Privacy Policy for Software at https://www.eff.org/code/privacy/policy.

Add Privacy Badger Extension on your browser:

The Chrome Web Store, overseen by Google, is a vibrant marketplace tailored for Chrome Browser users, offering a vast array of extensions, plugins, themes, and apps to enhance browsing experiences globally. Chromewebstores.com aims to streamline users’ searches by delivering personalized recommendations, emphasizing innovation and personalization. Our commitment to user experience, security, and inclusivity makes it an indispensable asset, elevating the Chrome Browser experience worldwide while simplifying the quest for the most suitable solutions.

If you’re concerned about your online privacy and want an easy, effective way to protect yourself from trackers, consider using the Privacy Badger extension for Google Chrome. Developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Privacy Badger automatically blocks invisible trackers that monitor your browsing habits without your consent. By learning and adapting to the trackers it encounters, Privacy Badger ensures that your personal data remains private, enhancing your overall browsing experience. Install Privacy Badger today to take control of your online privacy with minimal effort.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Privacy Badger Extension:

Question: How to add the Privacy Badger extension on the Google Chrome browser?

Ans: If you are now in the Google Chrome browser, you may easily install Privacy Badger Extension by clicking our Add to Chrome button at the top of this page and following the ongoing instructions.

Or you may go through the following simple steps:

• Open Google Chrome on your computer.
• Go to the Chrome Web Store by clicking on this link: Chrome Web Store.
• In the search bar at the top left corner of the page, type Privacy Badger and press Enter.
• Click on the Add to Chrome button next to the Privacy Badger extension.
• A pop-up window will appear. Click on the Add Extension button to confirm the installation.

Once you have completed these steps, the Privacy Badger extension will be added to your Google Chrome browser. You can now use it to simplify your Privacy Badger experience.

Question: How does Privacy Badger Extension work?

Ans. Privacy Badger automatically discovers trackers based on their behavior and blocks them. It also replaces potentially useful trackers (video players, comments widgets, etc.) with click-to-activate placeholders, and removes outgoing link click tracking on Facebook and Google. Privacy Badger sends the Global Privacy Control signal to opt you out of data sharing and selling, and the Do Not Track signal to tell companies not to track you.

Question: What is a third-party tracker?

Ans. A third-party tracker is a tracker that is placed on a website by a domain other than the one you are visiting. For example, if you visit a news website and see an advertisement from a different website, that advertisement may contain a tracker that follows you around the web.

Question: Why does Privacy Badger Extension need to read and change all my data on the websites I visit?

Ans. Privacy Badger requires these permissions to do its job of automatically detecting and blocking trackers on all websites you visit. It does not spy on you or upload your browsing data to its servers.

Question: How can I get help or report bugs?

Ans. If you need help or want to report bugs, you can email [email protected] or use the GitHub issue tracker at

Question: Does Privacy Badger Extension work with other browsers besides Chrome?

Ans. Privacy Badger is available for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Opera web browsers 1. You can download the extension from the respective browser’s extension store. The installation process is similar to that of the Chrome browser. Once installed, Privacy Badger will automatically detect and block invisible trackers on websites you visit, regardless of the browser you are using.

Question: Is there any cost to use Privacy Badger Extension?

Ans. No, there is no cost to use Privacy Badger. It is a free and open-source browser extension developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). You can download Privacy Badger for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Opera web browsers from the respective browser’s extension store. Once installed, Privacy Badger will automatically detect and block invisible trackers on websites you visit, regardless of the browser you are using.

Question: How can I disable Privacy Badger Extension on a specific website?

Ans. To disable Privacy Badger on a specific website, you can follow these steps:

• Click on the Privacy Badger icon in your browser toolbar.
• Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the Privacy Badger pop-up window.
• Click on the “Site Settings” option.
• Find the website you want to disable Privacy Badger for and click on the “X” button next to it.
• Refresh the page to apply the changes.

Please note that disabling Privacy Badger Extension on a website may allow trackers to collect your data on that website. If you want to re-enable Privacy Badger on the website, you can follow the same steps and click on the “+” button next to the website name in the Site Settings menu.

Report a concern about this extension, if needed.

Support

For help with questions, suggestions, or problems, visit the developer’s support site.

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