Adblock Fast vs AdNauseam

Adblock Fast is a free ad blocker for desktop computers and mobile browsers. It uses 12 optimized filtering rules derived from EasyList and Bluhell Firewall; the maker says these rules are intended to speed page loading while using less CPU, memory and storage. On Android it blocks ads in Samsung Internet 4.0 and later, and on iOS it works in Safari. The maker lists support for Windows 7 and later and a Chrome desktop extension; the repository marks Opera support as discontinued. In Chrome, the toolbar button can disable blocking for a site, and the choice is remembered when a user returns. Mobile users can choose the default Fast rules or an experimental Faster mode with more comprehensive, current rules. The maker says Faster mode anonymously crawls common websites using background bandwidth without cookies or other personal information. The blocker intercepts HTTP traffic and injects CSS and JavaScript into visited pages to block requests and hide ad elements. Its code is open source under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later, subject to listed exceptions. The app does not block ads in other Android or iOS apps.

AdNauseam is a free browser extension intended for people who want to resist advertising surveillance and tracking. Built on uBlock Origin, it blocks ads and quietly simulates clicks on blocked ads to add noise to advertising networks’ user profiles. Its interactive AdVault lets users inspect and explore captured advertisements. The FAQ says simulated clicks run as background requests, with responses discarded rather than executed in the browser.

AdNauseam supports major browsers, including Chromium-based browsers and Firefox derivatives, and is available on desktop and mobile. The Firefox add-on page lists availability for Firefox on Android. Google Chrome requires workarounds because the extension was disallowed there; the installation instructions describe those workarounds as temporary. The extension does not collect or click ads in private or incognito windows unless enabled manually. Its developer reports that it does not require data collection, while its Firefox add-on permissions include access to privacy settings, tabs, navigation activity, and data for all websites. It is licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0 only and is offered at free.