How to Block Ads in Chrome for Free

Blocking Ads in Google Chrome

If you're tired of seeing annoying ads, popups, and trackers on every website you visit, you might want to consider using an ad blocker.

Ad blockers are browser extensions that block unwanted and intrusive ads, giving you a faster, safer, and more enjoyable browsing experience.

But not all ad blockers are created equal. Some ad blockers may have issues with compatibility or use bad privacy practices.

That's why we'll show you how to block ads in Chrome for free with Ghostery, the most user-friendly ad blocker on the market.

Ghostery is a privacy-focused browser extension that blocks ads, trackers, and pop-ups, while also giving you information and control over the trackers and ad businesses on any website you visit.

By the end of this post, you'll be able to enjoy an ad-free browsing experience with Ghostery in Chrome.

How to Block Ads in Chrome: Windows or MacOS

Using Ghostery is remarkably simple and only takes a few minutes.

How to Install Ghostery on Chrome

The first step is to install Ghostery on your Chrome browser. Here's how to do it:

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Ghostery

Step 1

Go to the Ghostery website and click on the Get Ghostery Extension button.

Step 2

You will be redirected to the Chrome Web Store page for Ghostery. Click on the Add to Chrome button.

Step 3

A pop-up window will appear asking for your permission to add Ghostery. Click on the Add extension button.

Step 4

Wait for a few seconds until Ghostery is installed on your browser. You will see a confirmation message and a Ghostery icon on your toolbar.

Step 5

Follow the instructions on the screen and pin the extension icon in your toolbar.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Ghostery as an ad block extension for Chrome.

The Importance of Ad Blocking

You might be wondering why you need to block ads on Chrome in the first place. After all, ads are just a part of the internet, right?

Well, not exactly.

Ads are not only annoying and distracting, but they can also pose serious threats to your online privacy and security.

Ads can contain malicious code or links that can infect your device with malware or viruses. Ads can also track your online behavior and collect your personal data, such as your browsing history, location, device information, and more. This data can then be used to target you with more ads or sold to third parties without your consent.

Ad blocking can help you prevent these risks and protect your online privacy and security.

By blocking ads, you can also improve your browsing speed and performance, as ads can slow down your page load time and consume your bandwidth. Ad blocking can also save you money on your data plan, as loading ads can use up a lot of data.

Blocking YouTube Ads

Some users report ad blockers not working on YouTube. Some claim Google wants to make users unable to block ads and pop ups. Chrome has had much criticism since Manifest v3.

Manifest V3 is a new set of Chrome extension rules introduced by Google in 2019 to purportedly improve security, performance, and user control. However, it also restricts how extensions can modify web requests, and significantly limits ad blockers.

Specifically, Manifest V3 reduces the number and complexity of rules ad blockers can implement to filter ads and trackers, hampering their effectiveness, including on sites like YouTube and sites with pop ups.

While Google claims Manifest V3 benefits users, many see it as hindering ad blockers to exert more control over the web experience and monetization.

Why Use Google Chrome

Google Chrome is one of the most popular and widely used web browsers in the world. It offers fast, secure, and personalized browsing experience for its users.

Chrome also supports various extensions and features that enhance its functionality.

Ghostery ad blocker for Chrome makes your browsing faster and more private.

Understanding Ads and Trackers

Before we show you how to block ads in Chrome using Ghostery, let's take a moment to understand how ads and trackers work on the web.

How Ads and Trackers Impact Your Browsing Experience

Ads are usually displayed on websites by third-party ad networks or businesses that pay the website owners for ad space.

These companies use various methods to track you online and collect your personal data, including:

• Cookies: Small files that are stored on your device by websites or advertisers. Cookies can store information such as your preferences, settings, login details, browsing history, and more.
• Pixels: Small images that are embedded on web pages or emails by advertisers. Pixels can send information such as your IP address, device information, location, browser type, and more to the advertisers' servers.
• Scripts: Small pieces of code that are executed on web pages or emails by advertisers. Scripts can perform various functions such as loading ads, tracking clicks, measuring conversions, and more.

These tracking methods allow advertisers to create a profile of you based on your online behavior and personal data.

This profile can then be used to target you with more relevant and personalized ads. This is called behavioral advertising or interest-based advertising. (Read here for a deep dive into how ads work.)

While some people may find behavioral advertising useful or convenient, others may find it intrusive or creepy.

Behavioral advertising can also raise privacy concerns, as advertisers may share or sell your data to third parties without your consent or knowledge.

Crunching The Numbers

The Interactive Advertising Bureau reports that new types and locations of online ads, such as podcasts, virtual and augmented reality, contributed to a 35.4 percent increase in online advertising revenue in the United States in 2021, a total of 189.3 billion U.S. dollars.

By 2028, the market will grow 10.71% from 2023 and reach a value of $389.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Ads and Privacy Concerns

Ads can pose serious threats to your online privacy and security. Ads can contain malicious code or links that can infect your device with malware or viruses.

Ads can also track your online behavior and collect your personal data, such as your browsing history, location, device information, and more. This data can then be used to target you with more ads, or sold to third parties without your consent.

Ad blocking can help you prevent these risks and protect your online privacy and security.

By blocking ads, you can also improve your browsing speed and performance, as ads can slow down your page load time and consume your bandwidth. Ad blocking can also save you money on your data plan, as ads can use up a lot of data.

The Effect of Ads on Page Load Speed

Ads can also affect your browsing experience by slowing down your page load speed. Page load speed is the time it takes for a web page to load completely on your browser.

Page load speed is important for several reasons. For instance, it affects:

• User experience and satisfaction. A slow page load speed can frustrate you and make you leave the website.
• A website’s SEO ranking and visibility. A slow page load speed can lower your website's ranking on search engines, making it harder for people to find you.
• A website’s conversion rate and revenue. A slow page load speed can reduce your website's ability to convert visitors into customers, leading to lower sales and revenue.

Ads can slow down your page load speed by adding extra requests, files, and code to your web page. Ads can also block or delay the loading of other elements on your web page, such as images, videos, or text.

Ads also interfere with the performance of your browser or device, making them consume more memory and processing power.

Ad blocking can help you improve your page load speed by eliminating ads and their associated requests, files, and code from your web page. Ad blocking can also free up memory and processing resources for your browser or device, making them run faster and smoother.

Introduction to Ghostery

Now that you understand why ad blocking is important and why you use Chrome as your browser, let's introduce you to Ghostery, one of the best ways to block pop ups.

What is Ghostery?

Ghostery is a privacy-focused ad block extension for Chrome that blocks ads, trackers, and pop-ups on any website you visit.

Ghostery also gives you information and control over the trackers and ad businesses on any website you visit. You can see who is tracking you, what they are doing, and why they are doing it.

This extension is more than just an ad blocker. It is also a privacy tool that helps you protect your online privacy and security.

Ghostery lets you choose which trackers and ads to block or allow, depending on your preferences and needs. You can also manage exceptions for certain websites that you trust or support.

Ghostery’s core features are free to use for everyone. You can download Ghostery for various browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, and more. You can also become a Contributor and help Ghostery fund the development of its privacy suite and WhoTracks.Me, the largest database of trackers in the world.

Key Features of Ghostery

Ghostery has many features that make it stand out from other ad block extensions for chrome. Some of these features are:

• Ad Blocking: Ghostery removes all types of ads from websites, including banners, popups, video ads, social media ads, and more.
• Anti-Tracking: Ghostery anonymizes your personal data and replaces it with random values to prevent trackers from identifying you.
• Never-Consent: Ghostery automatically removes intrusive cookie pop-ups and expresses dissent to online tracking.
• Tracker Information: Ghostery shows you detailed information about the trackers and ad businesses on any website you visit, including their type, category, purpose, and source.
• Tracker Preview: Ghostery shows you tracker information even before you visit a web page from a non-private search engine result page.

Why Choose Ghostery for Ad Blocking

Ghostery is one of the best ad blockers on the market for several reasons. It is:

• Privacy-focused and does not collect or sell your personal data
• Open source and supported by thousands of contributors worldwide
• Compatible with various browsers and devices
• Easy to use and requires minimal customization and maintenance
• More than just an ad blocker and offers various privacy and security features

If you want to block ads in Chrome for free and enjoy a faster, safer, and more transparent browsing experience, Ghostery is the perfect choice for you.

How to Use Ghostery to Block Ads

The next step is to use Ghostery to block ads on Chrome. Here's how to do it.

Customizing Ghostery Settings for Optimal Ad Blocking

By default, Ghostery will block the most harmful trackers that slow down your browsing or compromise your privacy, including to block pop ups. No customization needed!

Managing Exceptions for Certain Websites

Sometimes, you may want to allow ads or trackers on certain websites that you trust or support. For example, if you want to support The Verge by allowing ads on it, you can do so by managing exceptions for it.

You can allow ads by clicking the first icon in the Ghostery panel. To allow potential trackers and ads, click Trust Site in the Ghostery panel.

Final Thoughts

You can block ads in Chrome for free with Ghostery, a great ad blocker. We have explained why ad blocking is important and introduced you to Ghostery and its features, and how to customize its settings and manage exceptions for optimal ad blocking and privacy protection.

You can block ads on Google Chrome for free with Ghostery, a great ad block extension. Ghostery also shows you the trackers and ad businesses on any website you visit, and lets you manage them according to your preferences.