Block ads, trackers and malware

The blocker works through the VPN connection, so there’s nothing to install in your browser. It’s included with paid plans; see Plans.

Turn it on

1. In the desktop app, select Ad & Tracker Blocker on the map, next to Digital Identity. In a small window, it’s the shield icon marked On or Off.
2. Under Level, choose what to block.
3. If you’re connected, disconnect and connect again. Changes apply the next time you connect, and until then the app shows Reconnect to apply your changes.

Levels

• Off: nothing is blocked.
• Block malware: blocks sites known to spread malware.
• Block ads, trackers and malware: also blocks ad and tracking sites.

Your level and allowed sites are saved on this device, so set them on each device you use.

Allowed sites

If a site doesn’t work properly with ads and trackers blocked, add it to Allowed sites, which appears when the level is Block ads, trackers and malware. An allowed site isn’t blocked as an ad or tracker. Malware sites stay blocked.

• Enter the site in Add a site, such as example.com, and select Add.
• A site covers its subdomains: allowing example.com also allows www.example.com and shop.example.com.
• Enter a domain only: not a web address, an IP address or a shared ending such as co.uk.
• You can allow up to 200 sites. To remove one, select the cross next to it.

Which protocols use it

The Ad & Tracker Blocker works with WireGuard and SecureFast connections. With IKEv2, Beast Protocol or OpenVPN, the app shows Not with this protocol.

If it isn’t applied

The blocker never stops you connecting. When it can’t be used, you connect without it, and the blocker’s This connection row and Connection details show why:

• Not on your plan: your plan doesn’t include the Ad & Tracker Blocker. Select Upgrade, or compare plans.
• Not on this server right now: this server can’t block sites at the moment. Connect again later, or choose another location.
• Not with this protocol: choose WireGuard in Preferences › Connection › VPN Protocol, then connect again.
• Not with Digital Identity: Digital Identity connections don’t use the blocker.
• Not on this connection: this kind of connection doesn’t use the blocker.
• Not available yet: the blocker isn’t running yet. Your level is kept for when it is.

Ads & trackers blocked

While the blocker is working, the app shows Ads & trackers blocked for this connection, and the blocker also shows Malware blocked. The counts start at zero each time you connect and update about once a minute. A site blocked again within a minute counts once.

Your privacy

• We keep only how many sites were blocked during each connection.
• We don’t keep the names of blocked sites, a history of the sites you visit or a log of your DNS lookups.
• Your allowed sites are sent with each connection, and our servers delete them when it ends.

If ads still appear

• Check that the level is Block ads, trackers and malware and that you’ve connected again since changing it.
• Check that the site isn’t in Allowed sites.
• Some ads come from the same site as the page you’re viewing, so they can’t be blocked without breaking the page.
• A browser set to use its own secure DNS provider looks sites up itself, so the blocker can’t filter it. Turn that setting off in the browser.