Adblock Fast vs Disconnect

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.

Disconnect exposes and blocks trackers, data brokers and surveillance networks across websites, apps and email. Its Basic Extension displays and blocks trackers on visited websites. On iOS and Android, Tracker Protection uses encrypted DNS to block trackers across apps and browsers without a VPN. Privacy Pro for iOS adds Smart VPN, custom blocking rules and activity logs. Disconnect Premium can encrypt internet activity and mask the user's IP address in encrypted mode, using AES 256-bit encryption and 2048-bit Diffie-Hellman key exchange. Users can choose Blocking mode, focused on privacy and performance, or Encrypted mode, which may slow connections. Its ad blocking targets privacy-invasive ads that track users or may distribute malvertising, rather than every advertisement. A free plan is available, and the pricing note lists paid plans from $50/yr; Premium is also listed at $5 a month. Website subscriptions cover three unique devices. App Store subscriptions are limited to the purchasing iTunes user and their iPhone or iPad devices.