Ad blocking and privacy protection software
AdGuard is an ad blocking service provided by AdGuard Software Limited with applications for Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android and iOS. AdGuard is also available as a browser extension.[1]
AdGuard Software Limited was founded in 2009 in Moscow.[2] In 2014 AdGuard Software Limited's products became available in Cyprus, to where its headquarters were subsequently moved.[3][4]
Features
AdGuard features include:
AdGuard Home
AdGuard Home acts as a recursive DNS resolver, which prevents most advertisements from displaying by responding with an invalid address for domains that appear in its filter lists.[5] It is similar to Pi-hole.[according to whom?]
AdGuard Browser extensions
The browser extension blocks video ads, interstitial ads, floating ads, pop-ups, banners, and text ads.[6] It is also able to handle anti-AdBlock scripts.[7] The product blocks spyware and warns users of malicious websites. AdGuard Content Blocker is an additional browser extension for browsers Yandex Browser and Samsung Internet, which uses Content Blocker API. It downloads filter list updates and asks browsers to enforce them via Content Blocker API.[8]
AdGuard applications
AdGuard has Windows and Mac versions,[9] as well as native mobile versions for Android[10] and iOS.[11] The application sets up a local VPN, which filters all traffic on the mobile device.[12]
AdGuard DNS
AdGuard operates recursive name servers for public use. AdGuard DNS supports encryption technologies, including DNSCrypt, DNS over HTTPS, DNS over TLS, and DNS over QUIC.[13] AdGuard began testing DNS service back in 2016, and officially launched it in 2018.[14]
| Server |
Description
|
| Default |
Blocks advertisement and tracking domains.
|
| Non-filtering |
Does not block advertisement and tracking domains, or any other DNS requests.
|
| Family protection |
Blocks websites with adult content, enforces safe search in search engines wherever possible, and blocks advertisement and tracking domains.
|
Reception
While the company's products have earned positive feedback in industry publications,[15] a series of policies by Google and the Apple app store were implemented between 2014 - 2018, which impeded user access to AdGuard's mobile applications.[16]
In April 2020, Android Central stated that AdGuard uses "a little more processing power to do its thing than uBlock Origin", but it is "the best all-in-one blocking tool for someone who doesn't want to use more than one extension" because it blocks crypto mining. However, Android Central recommended uBlock Origin with a dedicated crypto mining blocker over AdGuard.[17]
Incidents
- Distribution of AdGuard's app for Android was removed from Google Play at the end of 2014. It nevertheless is still being updated and has been made available for download from the developers’ own website.[18]
- AdGuard for iOS received no updates from the summer of 2018[19][20][21] until summer 2019[22] due to Apple policies at the time against ad blocking via the iOS VPN APIs.
- In September 2018, AdGuard was hit by credential stuffing attack. AdGuard claims that their servers were not compromised and instead attackers used credential pairs reused by victims on other sites and stolen from those other sites. According to company spokesperson, they "do not know what accounts exactly were accessed by the attackers", so the company had reset passwords for all accounts "as a precautionary measure". Also, AdGuard pledged to use "Have I Been Pwned?" API to check all new passwords for appearance in known public data leaks. Furthermore, they implemented more strict password security requirements.[23][24][25]
In November 2020, Microsoft Edge Store and Chrome web store[26] were infiltrated with fraudulent add-ons posing as various legitimate VPN browser add-ons, including NordVPN and AdGuard's VPN add-on.[27] Subsequently Microsoft and Google were alerted and actions were taken to remove the imposter add-ons in the various browser stores.[28]
Research
AdGuard developers have taken up research in order to inform wider audiences on user privacy, cybersecurity and data protection. The following issues are notable cases involving the developers:
