NordVPN’s ad blocker: Surf online free from intrusive ads

No, it is impossible to block all ads from the internet. Some ads are integrated into content in such a way that you can’t extract them without destroying the very thing you want to access — for example, sponsorship shoutouts in YouTube videos are part of the clip itself.

That being said, it’s still possible to block the vast majority of annoying ads. You can block some ads through your browser or smartphone settings, but using NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature is easier and faster. On Windows and macOS, the full version of Threat Protection Pro will also block ads on all major browsers.

An ad blocker is a software or browser extension that stops ads from loading on your screen while you browse or watch videos online. It filters out pop-ups, video ads, and banners to give you cleaner websites and faster loading times.

Ad blockers monitor website requests in real time and intercept any calls for ads. When you’re loading a web page, your browser sends requests to retrieve its parts from specific domains — including ad-hosting sites. Most modern ad blockers determine which of these requests relate to ad content (usually by following hardcoded rules, filter lists, or user preferences) and prevent them from being displayed.

Free ad blockers do exist, but be careful — due to surging demand, malicious actors have started disguising malware as free ad blockers. Even legitimate free ad blockers may come with downsides or limitations, usually locking their best functions behind a paywall.

Yes, using an ad blocker from a reputable developer is completely safe — just make sure you download it from the developer’s official website or some other reputable source, like a trusted online repository. Free ad blockers hosted on untrustworthy sites may be malware in disguise, designed to compromise your device and steal your personal data.

No. Using an ad blocker is completely legal. Even though some services and websites won’t work if they detect you are using ad-blocking software, you won’t be in any legal trouble. Some companies simply want to improve their ad revenue, so they demand that you unblock ads in exchange for access to their content.

Yes, ad blockers that operate on the device or system level (as opposed to ad-blocking browser extensions) can prevent many of the ads in apps from loading. Most in-app ads follow the same rules as website ads — they’re independent modules that must be fetched from a remote server and loaded onto your device. Ad blockers stop any request to ad-hosting domains, preventing the ad from loading in the app. However, this will not block ads that are part of the app’s code.

If you switched on the Threat Protection Pro feature and are still seeing ads, one of the reasons might be proxy solutions on your computer or browser. Check if you have any other proxies enabled and turn them off. Otherwise, Threat Protection Pro might be unable to inspect the website to block the ads. If this still doesn’t work, get in touch with our support team.

No, Chrome is not removing ad blockers, although the transition to Manifest V3 will impact ad blocking extensions. Manifest V3 cuts down the number of rules that an extension can run to 30,000, when most modern ad blockers rely on at least 300,000 for effective protection. While ad blocking extensions will undoubtedly continue to exist, your best bet for ad-free browsing in the foreseeable future will be software-based ad blockers — like Threat Protection Pro in the NordVPN app.

Threat Protection Pro protects your browsing by blocking your access to websites that are known for hosting malware to prevent your device from getting infected. It will also warn you about websites that are known to scam people, sell fake products, or commit fraud. In most cases, it’s for your own safety, but false positives may occur from time to time. If that’s the case, read our blog post on how to fix this Threat Protection Pro issue.

It can also happen because Threat Protection Pro clashes with other software you have on your device or browser, so we would recommend disabling other ad blockers you have installed.