Frequently Asked Questions

Ghostery offers a range of privacy focused products known as the Ghostery Privacy Suite. How Ghostery works specifically is dependent on which product is being used.

The Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker browser extension is our original product. It is a piece of software that extends the functionality of a web browser on a desktop computer or mobile devices. Ghostery monitors all the different web servers that are being called from a particular web page and matches them with a library of data collection tools (trackers). If it finds a match, Ghostery shows that tracker in the list in panel. If you’ve configured Ghostery to block communication with one or more of these companies, it interrupts the call from leaving the browser.

This is different than opting-out or blocking cookies within the browser because those strategies still allow the browser to communicate with the web server (they just try to alter the communication or the response). When blocking is enabled, Ghostery never allows the communication in the first place.

No. Ghostery does not share collected data of any kind with third parties.

Transparency and integrity are important to us. For in-depth information, please consult our Privacy Policy. Additionally we're open source and you may view the Ghostery source code on Github.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at privacy@ghostery.com.

From within the Ghostery control panel, you can click any tracker listed to reveal a short description of who provides it. You can then view more details about this tracker and what it collects by clicking the “Continue to full tracker profile” link.
This link leads you to in-depth information about the specific tracker or company on WhoTracks.Me, world’s largest database of trackers owned and operated by Ghostery.

Ghostery receives monthly, yearly and one-time donations from users enrolled in the Contributor program. Read here how you can Become a Contributor.

Many enterprises already back Ghostery financially because they rely on our tools in their daily operations. If your company benefits from Ghostery, we encourage you to join them in supporting us, your contribution helps ensure that we can keep delivering privacy-first innovation for everyone.

Ghostery differs from simply “blocking cookies” because that still allows the browser (with your IP address) to communicate with the web server — it just prevents cookies from being placed on your machine. The requests are still happening, and data about you is still being transmitted. Ghostery completely intercepts those requests and never allows the communication to happen in the first place.

Ghostery has a proprietary library of over 5000 trackers from over 3000 companies that we update continually. You can find the monthly updated database at WhoTracks.Me, an entity owned and operated by Ghostery.

Additionally, Ghostery’s Ad-Blocking module uses popular open-source filter lists which include thousands more trackers.

** Ghostery will remove user accounts effective October 1, 2025

No. Data shared with Ghostery is strictly non-personal and not connected with user accounts in any way.
To see exactly what non-personal data is shared, please consult our Privacy Policy.

Furthermore no account needs to be created to use the Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker Browser Extension; it is simply an option to make things more convenient for the user as for example the ability to sync settings between devices.

Yes, Ghostery is totally free. You can become a Contributor to Ghostery and support our mission and the development of the Privacy Suite.

** Ghostery will remove user accounts effective October 1, 2025

Your password must be between 8 and 50 characters and only contain letters, numbers and/or the following symbols: ! @ # $ % ^ & * = + ( ) <> { } [ \ ] ; : , . / ?

** Ghostery will remove user accounts effective October 1, 2025

If you choose to create a user account, we will collect your name, if provided and email address. Usage of this data is limited to: (i) syncing your settings across our products, (ii) serving as your login credentials to access certain features of the Ghostery Privacy Suite, (iii) communicating directly to you through your email address to give you information about our products, updates and helping spread awareness on privacy within the community through our biweekly Privacy Digest.

Note that an account not required for using the Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker Browser Extension; it is simply an option to make things more convenient for the user.

For more information please consult our Privacy Policy.

WhoTracks.Me is uncovering who is tracking you online.

Operated by Ghostery, it's an integral part of Ghostery’s AI anti-tracking technology and a comprehensive global resource on trackers, bringing transparency to web tracking.

Feel free to check out the source code in our open-source Github repository if you'd like to learn more about this project.

Now owned by and named after Crownpeak, Evidon, Inc. was a New York City-based tech company that provides Digital Governance solutions for Business. The Ghostery brand and products were owned by Evidon, Inc. from 2009 to 2017 (during which time it was called Ghostery, Inc.) before they were acquired by Cliqz GmbH in 2017 and operates as Ghostery GmbH since then.

Ghostery does not sell or otherwise share data of any kind with Crownpeak.

Ghostery is supported in Chrome, Safari, Opera, Firefox, Edge and Brave. Each browser extension must be downloaded and installed separately.

The Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker Browser Extension is available for Tor Browser and Yandex. However because we do not officially support these browsers, you may encounter specific issues relating to these browsers.

To manage trackers, tap on Ghosty in the toolbar, opening the Ghostery panel. In the detailed view of "Observed activities" your are able to make changes to individual trackers. The default setting is to "block all".

To change the status of a tacker on your current site, access the appropriate icon. You can find further options in your Ghostery settings.

You can sync your Ghostery settings across multiple browsers or devices easily. No account required.

Please follow these steps:

1. Open your browser and click the Ghostery icon to open the Ghostery panel.

2. Click the burger menu (three stacked lines) to open the main menu.

3. Select My Ghostery from the list.

4. In the Settings Backup section, choose Export to file to save your Ghostery settings to a file.

5. Share this file across your other devices or browsers where Ghostery is installed.

6. To sync your settings, open the My Ghostery tab in the other browser and choose Import from file.

This method gives you full control over your preferences. The sync is secure, private, and no login required.

The Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker includes 3 features designed to strengthen privacy, block ads, and remove intrusive cookie consent pop-ups.

Ad-Blocking: The ad blocking feature uses community managed ad blocking lists to eliminate ads as you browse the web. This complements Ghostery's tracker blocking and anti-tracking.  It catches and eliminates ads from a filter list and does not require any user-generated data.

Anti-Tracking: The Anti-Tracking feature is a heuristic approach to real-time, algorithmic tracking protection. Like Ghostery's Ad-blocking, it monitors all third-party requests. However, instead of simply blocking those requests, it analyzes them for personally identifiable information and then strips out that information before the request is sent. Anti-Tracking supplements Ghostery's block-list approach by catching anything that might have been missed. Therefore, even if trackers are allowed to execute, you can feel safe knowing that all personal information has been anonymized in the request.

Never-Consent:  Ghostery’s new feature ‘Never-Consent’ selects optimal privacy settings automatically which stops websites from asking you to accept cookies via intrusive cookie consent pop-ups. It also sends important messages to website owners telling them that you don’t want to be tracked.‍

The Anti-Tracking feature is a heuristic approach to real-time, algorithmic tracking protection. Like Ghostery's Ad-blocking, it monitors all third-party requests. However, instead of simply blocking those requests, it analyzes them for personally identifiable information and then strips out that information before the request is sent. Anti-Tracking supplements Ghostery's block-list approach by catching anything that might have been missed. Therefore, even if trackers are allowed to execute, you can feel safe knowing that all personal information has been anonymized in the request.

Tracker Cloaking Protection is an advanced privacy setting offered in Ghostery Private Browser. Some trackers use a technique called CNAME cloaking where they pretend to be first-party code by mimicking legitimate subdomains of the websites they are present on, thereby avoiding detection as a third-party technology. The Ghostery Private Browser has a technology to unmask and block these cloaked trackers.

This technology works in Gecko based browsers only like Firefox and Ghostery Private Browser.

Yes. We have built extensions for Chrome and Firefox that will let users set Ghostery Private Search as their default.

This one-of-a-kind private search engine does NOT log your search history, which means you get served objective results, not results that are filtered by the likelihood you’ll click on them. It is available as an extension in both Firefox and Chrome.

To cancel an active subscription without a Ghostery account, follow these steps:

1. Go to paddle.com

2. Click “Support” in the main navigation

3. Choose “Cancel Subscription” and Paddle will guide you through the steps. You just need your email address used for the initial payment.

4. Paddle will send you a unique authentication link for you to enter customer portal

5. Here is where you can easily cancel your subscription.

To update or change the payment method for an active subscription without a Ghostery account, follow these steps:

1. Go to paddle.com

2. Click “Support” in the main navigation

3. Choose “Update details” and Paddle will guide you through the steps. You just need your email address used for the initial payment.

4. Paddle will send you a unique authentication link for you to enter their customer portal

5. Here is where you can easily change the payment method

All communication runs through paddle.com

You can support Ghostery financially without creating a user account. All offered platforms support both one-time and recurring contributions, and none of them require you to sign in to Ghostery.

Here are your options:

• Ghostery.com (via Paddle): Choose a recurring Contribution. Paddle securely handles the transaction, no Ghostery account required.
• OpenCollective: Make transparent one-time or recurring donations, with the option to display your name or remain anonymous.
• GitHub Sponsors: Ideal if you're part of the developer community. GitHub allows monthly support at tiers you choose.
• App Store: If you're using Ghostery on an Apple device, you can make one-time donations directly via the App Store.

Every contribution helps us stay free, independent, and privacy-focused. Thank you for your support!

You can support Ghostery financially by making a one-time contribution through several secure platforms, no account needed. Choose the option that suits you best:

• Start at Ghostery.com. Paddle, our payment processor, securely handles the transaction.
• OpenCollective: Donate transparently and see how your contribution is used.
• GitHub Sponsors: Support us through GitHub if you’re part of the open-source community.
• App Store (iPhone/iPad/Mac): Apple users can make one-time donations directly through the App Store.

Your support helps us keep Ghostery free, independent, and fully committed to privacy-first innovation. Thank you!

To make changes to your active subscription without a Ghostery account cancel the current subscription and start a new one, choosing the amount and cadence you’d like.

• See here (add link to appropriate FAQ)NEEDS LINK how to cancel the current active subscription without a Ghostery account.
• See here NEEDS LINK how to start a new subscription with Ghostery without a Ghostery account.

To receive your Ghostery subscription invoice without a Ghostery account, follow these steps:

1. Go to paddle.com

2. Click “Support” in the main navigation

3. Choose “Request receipt” and Paddle will guide you through the steps. You just need your email address used for the initial payment.

4. Paddle will send you a unique authentication link for you to enter their customer portal

5. Here is where you can easily request any receipt

6. All communication runs through paddle.com

To request a refund for an active subscription without a Ghostery account, follow these steps:

1. Go to paddle.com

2. Click “Support” in the main navigation

3. Choose “Request refund” and Paddle will guide you through the steps. You just need your email address used for the initial payment.

4. Paddle will send you a unique authentication link for you to enter their customer portal

5. Here is where you can easily request a refund

All communication runs through paddle.com

If you have just started a monthly or yearly subscription to Ghostery, you will automatically receive an invoice from paddle.com, our secure payment management service.

On your bank or credit card statement you will be able to identify the payment by “PADDLE.NET* GHOSTERY”

As a Ghostery Contributor you take pride in supporting our mission for digital privacy as a basic human right and help us keep it free for all.