Privacy Badger

Privacy Badger automatically learns to block invisible trackers.
What is Privacy Badger?
Privacy Badger is a Chrome extension developed by the EFF. It's an automatic blocker that learns and blocks invisible trackers, offering enhanced internet privacy. It achieves this by sending 'Global Privacy Control' and 'Do Not Track' signals and opts users out of data sharing and selling. In addition, it replaces potential trackers with click-to-activate placeholders, removes outgoing link click tracking on social media platforms, and continues to develop more privacy protections. Notably, Privacy Badger does not share user browsing data unless the user chooses to share it.

Extension stats

Users: 1,000,000+
Rating: 4.41 (1,734)
Version: 2024.7.17 (Last updated: 2024-07-18)
Creation date: 2020-07-01
Risk impact: High risk impact
Risk likelihood: Very low risk likelihood
Manifest version: 3
Permissions:
  • alarms
  • declarativeNetRequest
  • privacy
  • scripting
  • storage
  • tabs
  • webNavigation
  • webRequest
Host permissions:
  • <all_urls>
Size: 1.84M

Other platforms

Privacy Badger (v2024.7.17)
4.80 (2,501) 1,245,300+
Privacy Badger (v2024.7.17)
4.80 (114) 415,166+
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Extension summary

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Instead of keeping lists of what to block, Privacy Badger automatically discovers trackers based on their behavior. 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. If trackers ignore your wishes, Privacy Badger will learn to block them.

Besides automatic tracker blocking, Privacy Badger 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. To learn more, see our FAQ at https://privacybadger.org/#faq

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

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

When you install Privacy Badger, your browser warns that Privacy Badger can “read and change all your data on the websites you visit”. You are right to be alarmed. You should only install extensions made by organizations you trust.

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

Note that the extension permissions warnings only cover what the extension has access to, not what the extension actually does with what it has access to (such as whether the extension secretly uploads your browsing data to its servers). Privacy Badger will never share data about your browsing unless you choose to share it (by filing a broken site report). For more information, see EFF’s Privacy Policy for Software: https://www.eff.org/code/privacy/policy

User reviews

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Chrome Web Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Effective at blocking excessive trackers
  • Works well with other privacy extensions like uBlock Origin
  • Long-term user satisfaction reported
  • Appreciation for the Electronic Frontier Foundation's work
Cons
  • Leaves placeholders for blocked ads instead of eliminating them
  • Breaks functionality of other extensions
  • Doesn't block all cookies or ad trackers completely
  • Compatibility issues with newer Chrome versions
  • Reported errors and malfunctions after updates
Most mentioned
  • Interferes with other extensions
  • Not as effective as other ad blockers like uBlock Origin
  • Hosts a significant number of hidden trackers
  • Concerns about data collection and government affiliations
  • Frequent errors reported
Recent reviews
Verwende ich schon lange und funktioniert immer einwandfrei. Ein unbedingtes Must-have für den Browser.
by Othmar HANNY, 2024-09-02


by Asher Wang, 2024-08-26
View all user reviews

Extension safety

Risk impact

Privacy Badger is risky to use as it requires a number of sensitive permissions that can potentially harm your browser and steal your data. Exercise caution when installing this extension. Review carefully before installing. We recommend that you only install Privacy Badger if you trust the publisher.

Risk likelihood

Privacy Badger has earned a good reputation and can be trusted.

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