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5 uBlock Origin Alternatives for Safari

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If you hate unnecessary ads and trackers popping up on web pages and love to use ad blockers to get rid of them, you are at the right place. 

uBlock Origin is one of the most trustworthy adBlocker available in the market. But there is terrible news for Safari users; this excellent ad-blocker no longer works on Safari. 

We know that’s sad to know, but this is nothing to worry about, as we have some amazing Safari alternatives that will work out for you. So, without taking any more time, let us take you toward the alternatives we have picked for you. 

What is uBlock Origin? 

uBlock Origin, as the name suggests, is an open-source and free-of-cost ad-blocker that doesn’t even filter ads but also acts as a content filter for your web browser. This blocker is majorly concerned with protecting the user’s privacy on the web. 

Using the uBlock Origin ad-blocker, you will be able to detect any foreign material trying to invade your privacy online, and this blocker will consequently work in blocking that. 

uBlock Origin is known as a wide-spectrum content blocker , as its developers call it. Though numerous ad-blockers and content filters exist in the market for various web browsers, this one is the most cost-efficient and effective. ‘

4 Best uBlock Origin Alternatives for Safari

When it comes to adBlockers in the market, all the users want to get their hands on the best ones in the league. Though uBlock Origin is available for multiple web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, etc., unfortunately, it doesn’t work for Safari. 

This is a big disappointment for Safari users, but this doesn’t mean they don’t use any adBlocker now, putting their online privacy at stake. 

We have enlisted some of the best uBlock Origin Alternatives for you that work perfectly fine on the Safari browser. We compared their features with uBlock Origin for better choices before putting them on our list. 

Keep on reading if you are interested in knowing these alternatives in detail and want to make up your mind about the next best option in the market. 

1. Adblock Plus

If you have had a knack for ad blockers for a long time, you must have heard about Adblock Plus. It has been around for the longest and one of the reasons why it has survived for all this time is the reliability it offers. 

Adblock Plus is one of the easiest-to-use ad-blockers around, ensuring you get rid of all the unnecessary ads and irrelevant content coming your way. The best part about this blocker is that you won’t have to pay a single penny to remove all the ads from your webpage. 

Unlike other blockers in the market requiring separate software on your browser to make them work, this application works as a browser add-on . We found that to be a lot more convenient than installing software, as ads tend to appear quite often on web pages, and it’s hard to reach out to these software programs every time you see an ad. 

With a browser add-on, you have to activate the blocker once, and it will work for the entire time you are on a browser. 

The installation of Adblock Plus and its add-on extension is a hassle-free process. You don’t have to search for the blocker concerning your preferred web browser. All you have to do to install this ad-blocker is to go to the official webpage of adblockplus.org , and it will recommend the file depending on your browser. 

On Adblock Plus, you can choose the ads you want to block and filter the ones you don’t mind. For this, you just have to add the URL of the website you want to block all ads from into the filtering rule for Adblock Plus. Similarly, you can use the filters on this blocker to remove the ads popping up on your Safari webpage from time to time. 

2. AdGuard  

AdGuard is another uBlock Origin alternative you can use for your Safari browser. Being a premium ad blocker, it comes with all the features you expect from an ad blocker. While surfing on the web, this ad blocker will prevent all the ads and useless content solutions from reaching you. 

In addition to making your time on the web hassle-free, it also works in protecting your privacy to a great extent. This won’t let even your IP address get to anonymous sites. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that this software acts as a protective shield between you and online threats. 

AdGuard works by keeping an eye on malware trying to enter your web browser and also functions by hiding the CSS and HTML codes , ultimately protecting you against phishing. As far as the basic functioning of AdGuard is concerned, i.e., ad blocking, it does so by blocking all the banners, ads, pop-ups, etc., appearing on your web page. 

This software, like other ad blockers in the market, including uBlock Origin, does work perfectly well on YouTube videos. Though the functioning of this blocker for blocking YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram ads is not liable on Safari browser. 

But don’t worry; you get special filters on AdGuard to block all these unnecessary ads on the Safari browser. 

AdGuard also protects you against the most prevalent kind of fraud on the web, i.e., phishing, where the fraud takes up the form of reliable websites and web pages for stealing your private data and information.  

This blocker’s module website, which updates quite frequently, efficiently tracks and recognizes these websites, protecting your data online. Similarly, the Stealth Mode on AdGuard protects your data against websites that try to breach security by stealing your saved settings. 

Like unBlock Origin, where you can filter the kind of content you want to see on your web browser, AdGuard also keeps your web browsing experience completely safe and controlled. You can block the content from unwanted websites using this blocker.

Another exciting feature AdGuard comes equipped with is the regional filter feature that only works on the Safari browser. This filter permanently blocks data and ads from certain websites based on your language priority.   

3. Ghostery

If you are looking for a uBlock Origin alternative that keeps track of your online presence and blocks the ads and pop-ups based on your preference, Ghostery is the right choice. 

Like uBlock Origin and several other famous ad-blockers available in the market, you also get a browser extension for Ghostery. All you have to do is visit the relevant store for the browser and add its extension to it. 

Once the extension is integrated into the browser, it will handle the rest, i.e., blocking all the irrelevant ads , banners, and pop-up s and keeping malware and security threats away from you. 

Using the Do Not Track feature on Ghostery, you can browse through all the current trackers on your webpage. This also allows you to manage the trackers reaching you and can customize the ads you want to block or unblock based on your preference. 

As far as the interface of this popular ad-blocker is concerned, you won’t find it hard to use, even if you are a beginner. Most of the ads and banners can be removed from your webpage with just a single click. 

Customizing blocking filters and tracking the pathway your browser typically follows while you are online isn’t hard on this software either. 

One thing about this ad-blocker you need to know is that you can get a premium subscription to Ghostery, too, which will provide you access to Ghostery insights and other detailed information about your online presence . 

However, the free version of Ghostery is more than enough to block ads and banners and filter the content reaching you. If you have been using ad-blockers for the wrong time, it is not too much to go for the subscription plan , which is not that expensive. 

However, for beginners, we suggest sticking to the basic Ghostery plan, as it provides all the necessary information and has all the features to replace your uBlock Origin ad blocker. 

NextDNS is another reliable uBlock Origin you won’t regret getting your hands on. This blocker doesn’t only provide you immense security against all malicious websites but is also known for the high-class privacy features it offers. 

With NextDNS installed on your browser, data leakage isn’t something you need to worry about. NextDNS is extremely strict when sending information to third-party websites and doesn’t share even a bit of your personal information and data with third-party online sources without considering your knowledge. 

Being a DNS blocker helps keep your browser activity away from the reach of other sources online trying to track your online footprints. Whenever you search for a website on your Safari browser, NextDNS translates it into a numerical IP address , which is then shown to all the sources. 

On NextDNS, you get unlimited customization and configuration ability . This means that you can customize your DNS settings as much as you like ranging from blocking certain domains online, filtering up ads and banners to block, changing filtration settings, and customizing your block lists. This way, the entire control of your privacy and response to security threats remains in your hands. 

The Parental Control feature on NextDNS enables you to restrict the content your children can browse on the web. This way, you can prohibit the access of your Safari browser to certain websites, including adult and gambling sites. You can also set up a time tracker on your browser to record your children’s time on the web. 

Another interesting feature you get on NextDNS that is absent in uBlock Origin is the Handshake feature. Most security and privacy breaches online happen when you connect with other devices or connections. This feature allows you to establish connections only with secure and reliable sources. 

To stop other websites and advertising agencies from tracking your online presence and the websites and web pages you visit, NextDNS comes with a tracking protection feature. It works by blocking the DNS requests other domains send to your web browser. All you have to do is enable this feature on your blocker, automatically blocking all the DNS requests. 

Despite being laced with so many helpful features, the best part about NextDNS is its user-friendly interface. Even if you are a tech enthusiast aware of complex apps or are a beginner with little to no knowledge of blockers and trackers, using this ad-blocker won’t be a big deal for you. 

The Custom Allow list on NextDNS is helpful if you love to customize websites that can track your online activity or send their ads and pop-ups your way. Even if you have previously added a site to the block list of NextDNS, adding it to the Custom Allow list will make it available for you. 

How We Made This List 

Although trying multiple different uBlock Origin alternatives for the Safari browser was arduous, do you want to know what was even harder? Picking out the best options for you and deciding on the options that were not worth a try. 

Once you set out to find some reliable uBlock Origin alternatives for Safari, you will find a large pool of options. This is both fortunate and unfortunate. Fortunate, as you don’t have to worry about switching to a new ad-blocker service as with such a large number of options, the probability of finding the right one for you is pretty higher and unfortunate because it gets hard to decide on one option. 

What helped us get through this challenging task was a list we made containing all the features we wanted in the alternatives we picked out for you to try out. For your convenience, we have enlisted all these features below. 

Blocking Features 

As we were looking for uBlock Origin alternatives which is primarily an ad-blocker service, the first thing we kept in our mind was the blocking features the app comes with. With so many options in the market, we picked out only those options that can block multiple things simultaneously, including ads, pop-ups, and banners. 

This will allow you to get the benefits of multiple services in one blocker and will also save you plenty of time. As the service will manage most of the ads and security threats, you would be free to focus on the filtering rules. 

Extensions 

As we have mentioned, when ad-blockers are present as add-on extensions, the whole process is more accessible and hassle-free. While making our list of the best alternatives we wanted you to check out, we included only those available options as extensions to your browsers, so you don’t have to navigate to the software every time an ad pops up on your feed. 

Like other software programs and services, ad-blockers can also cost a lot of money if you go for the paid versions. Frankly, after all the research on ad blockers and going to multiple blockers ourselves, we realized there is no use investing in an ad blocker as a beginner. 

Keeping this in mind, all the options we enlisted above for you are entirely free of cost. Though some of them have paid versions, too, we have clearly mentioned who they are for. 

Conclusion – uBlock Origin Alternatives for Safari! 

That’s about it! Now you have access to some of the best uBlock Origin alternatives for Safari you can check out for yourself. With this guide, you now don’t have to feel bad about switching to the Safari browser, as all these options have the features you always wanted from the ad blockers. 

With these options, you can now spend as much time as you want on the web without worrying about your privacy and can even decide which devices you want to connect to. Have a safe online presence now! 

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The best ad blockers in 2024

Say goodbye to intrusive online advertising with the best ad blockers

Best in-browser ad blockers

Best ad-blocking apps, best ad-blocking mobile apps, other privacy-focused extensions and apps.

The best ad blockers are crucial to survive on the modern internet. Not matter where you go, you're at risk of being harassed by pop-ups, tracker cookies, malvertising and countless other digital nasties that seem hell-bent on ruining your online experience. Even if all your browsing is above board, you're still at risk.

Thankfully there's no shortage of apps and browser extensions that can block ads and keep you safer when you're online. Combined with the best antivirus software and the best VPNs , a good ad-blocker gives you a perfect arsenal of tools to offer as much protection as possible. Even the FBI recommends using an ad-blocker for protection.

The only thing you need to figure out is which ad-blocker is right for you. There are so many to choose from, and whether you are willing to live with the downsides. Most free sites rely on advertising revenue to survive, including Tom's Guide. But if you're happy with the trade-off, we've got a thorough list of the best ad blockers and privacy tools — with options for every browser and platform.

The best ad blockers you can get today

1. adblock plus (chrome, edge, firefox, opera, safari, android, ios).

AdBlock Plus (ABP) is among the most popular ad blockers, with extensions available for Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Edge and Opera. ABP features a quick setup, loading preset filter lists that allow users to quickly block most ads, as well as the option to filter malware and social media buttons. 

Savvy users can chose additional block lists as well as set custom filters or whitelist their favorite sites to keep their ad revenue in the black. AdBlock Plus allows what it calls "non-intrusive advertising" through filters; that may irk some users, though this feature can be disabled in settings. 

On Android, the AdBlock Browser provides a Firefox-based browser that blocks incoming advertising, while on iOS, the AdBlock Plus app integrates with the content blocker system to seamlessly block advertising on Safari with minimal setup.

Download AdBlock Plus: Firefox , Chrome , Safari , Opera , Edge

2. AdBlock (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

AdBlock (no relation to AdBlock Plus) is the other best ad-blocking browser extension of note, available for users of Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. AdBlock uses a series of filter lists to automatically block ad content coming from known ad servers and providers. Users can stick with the default block lists, subscribe to additional ones, or even create their own, as well as whitelist their favorite websites. 

As one of the most downloaded Chrome and Safari extensions, AdBlock has the trust of many users worldwide.

Download AdBlock: Chrome , Firefox , Safari , Edge

3. uBlock Origin (Chrome, Firefox)

Ublock Origin is a browser-based ad blocker that focuses on simple, efficient blocking with a low resource overhead. The extension comes loaded with a number of filter lists for known advertising and malware sources, with extra filter lists available and the option to read and create your own custom filters from hosts files.

Download Ublock Origin: Chrome , Firefox

4. Poper Blocker (Chrome)

Rather than be an all-in one blocking solution, Poper Blocker (aka Pop Up Blocker For Chrome), is designed to complement other adblockers. 

In this case, Poper Blocker focuses on blocking pop-ups, pop-unders, overlays, timed and scroll pop-ups, and other varieties that might slip past other ad-blocking extensions. Small notifications tell you when pop-ups are blocked. You also can view your blocking stats, but otherwise, you can generally just keep Poper Blocker running in the background with minimal impact alongside other adblocker extensions.

Download Poper Blocker: Chrome

5. Stands Fair AdBlocker (Chrome)

For a fast and light ad-blocking plugin, Chrome users can turn to Stands Fair AdBlocker. The extension does precisely what it promises, blocking ads and pop-ups from cluttering up your browser view while also preventing any tracking from going on. 

Stand's Fair AdBlocker gives you control over the type of ads you can block, specifying everything from autoplay video ads, YouTube ads, expanding ads and more. It can even block Facebook ads if you want.

The "Fair" part of AdBlocker comes into play by giving you the ability to allow certain types of ads or even whitelist ad-supported websites you don't want to shortchange of badly needed revenue. This is one ad blocker that doesn't take a scorched earth approach to its stated purpose.

Download Stands Fair AdBlocker: Chrome

6. Ghostery (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge)

Like the other extensions on our list of the best ad blockers, Ghostery can remove ads from webpages, so you can focus on content and browse more efficiently. But the real value in Ghostery lies in its privacy protection features. You can use Ghostery to view trackers, which lets you see who's trying to collect data on you. With Ghostery, you can also stop that tracking from taking place. If you really want to safeguard your privacy, you can turn to Ghostery's Enhanced Anti Tracking to anonymize your data.

Ghostery's a free download that offers basic web protection. More advanced protection starts at $4.99 a month and the $11.99 monthly tier comes with a built-in VPN. There are also versions of Ghostery that work with Android and iOS devices.

Download Ghostery: Chrome , Firefox , Opera , Safari , Edge

7. Adblocker for YouTube (Chrome, Firefox)

YouTube has gotten more aggressive with ads, so the makers of ad-blocking extensions have followed suit. Adblocker for YouTube is a Chrome extension that promises to automatically block YouTube ads, whether we're talking about the pre-roll ad appearing before your video or any text and banner ads that appear on the video itself.

If you prefer Firefox to Chrome, there's also an AdBlocker for YouTube extension that works on that browser. Same name, different developer apparently, but the functionality of stripping out video and display ads remains. This version works on Android devices too.

Download Adblocker for YouTube: Chrome , Firefox

1. AdGuard (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS)

Uses looking for a more robust experience can try out the subscription-based AdGuard, which provides desktop and mobile options to reduce the ads you see when surfing online. 

AdGuard on Windows and Mac covers popular browsers, with highly configurable options for ads, content, and tracker blocking, as well as a parental controls module for restricting adult content. AdGuard for Android is a no-root ad-blocker that blocks advertising on apps and games, though you’ll have to install it from AdGuard’s site instead of through Google Play. AdGuard for iOS works with Safari to effectively filter ads on the default browser.

Download AdGuard: Windows , Mac , Android , iOS

2. AdLock ($33 per year)

AdLock avoids the browser-based route, instead opting to run as a separate program to be able to block not only browser-based ads, but also advertising in other programs like Skype or games. 

The app runs in the background, using filters to block ads, popups, and autoplaying videos, speeding up loading times and applying Safe Browsing features to automatically block sites that are known to be unsafe. 

For obvious reasons, the mobile version is unavailable on the Google Play Store, so you'll need to sideload the app if you want to get AdLock into your Android device. iOS users can download AdLock directly from Apple's App Store.

Download AdLock: Windows , Chrome ,  Android , Mac , iOS

3. Wipr (macOS, iOS; $1.99)

If you’re a Safari fan, Wipr may be the best ad blocker for both your Mac and iPhone. The app is available for both iOS and macOS — costing $1.99 from either Apple App Store — and it promises to work with Safari as well as apps that use Safari for displaying web pages.

You’ll find a full array of features with Wipr, which not only blocks apps and trackers, but cryptocurrency miners, EU cookie and GDPR notices and anything else that gets in your way of surfing the web. Its blocklist gets updated twice a week, and there’s little configuration; the idea is that you load Wipr and forget that it’s there while it does its job in the background.

With Wipr, pages should load faster in Safari, which will be particularly welcome if you’re surfing from an iPhone, where ads and trackers can bog down your browser’s speed.

Download Wipr: macOS , iOS

1. 1Blocker (iOS)

1Blocker was one of the first really good ad blockers on iOS when Apple opened up that functionality on iPhones and iPads; the apps has since been optimized for Safari. 

The app is designed to make browsing faster and more secure by blocking ads, popups, trackers and other online cruft. Rather than blocking content of a downloaded page, 1Blocker works with Safari's content blocker API to tell the browser what to block in advance, saving time and resources. 

1Blocker features more than 115,000 blocker rules, custom regional adblocking settings, and easy-to-use custom rules settings. The app is a free download, with premium features available as in-app purchases.

Download 1Blocker: iOS

2. Firefox Focus (Android, iOS)

Firefox Focus is another addition to Mozilla's family of browsers. This one's a privacy-oriented version of Firefox that bakes in ad-blocking and anti-tracking into a light and functional package. Firefox Focus blocks ads and speeds up browsing, while also working in privacy-friendly features like automatic history and cookie clearing. 

Users can selectively block ads, analytics, content and social trackers with easy toggles, turn on a "stealth" mode, and set a default search engine.

Our look at the best Android browsers has more on the various flavors of Firefox.

Download Firefox Focus: Android , iOS

3. AdClear (Android, iOS)

AdClear — or AdClear Plus if you're searching for the iOS version — offers the kind of mobile ad blocking in browsers that similar apps provide. But AdClear takes it one step farther by also blocking ads in apps. 

AdClear achieves this through a DNS changer feature that routes traffic through a VPN. AdClear doesn't catch everything in all apps, and in our experience, some apps ran a little slower. But this free download can put a stop to ads interrupting what you're trying to do whether in an app or a browser.

Download AdClear: Android , iOS

1. Decentraleyes (Chrome, Firefox)

Some times, blocking ads can also prevent websites fromn pulling needed resoruces and libraries from third-party sources, breaking web pages in the process. Decentraleyes tries to stop that from happening by acting as a local content delivery network emulator to serve up the files that websites need. By doing so, this extension can stop websites from sending out requests to the likes of Google Hosted Libraries.

Think of Decentraleyes as a complement to ad blockers. In fact, the extension specifically says it can work with uBlock Origin and AdBlock Plus, both of which we recommend up above.

Download Decentraleyes: Chrome , Firefox

2. Opera (Desktop, Android, iOS)

The Opera browser bakes in ad-blocking features into the browser without the need for an extra add-on, while also offering privacy-friendly tools such as an unlimited, built-in VPN service, incognito mode, fraud and malware warnings for suspicious links and pages, and more. In addition, you can further customize Opera's capabilities with a wide array of extensions. 

Mobile users need not fret, as the Android version comes with just about everything the desktop version has but built for touch-screen interfaces. On iOS, the mobile version of Opera is listed in Apple's App Store as Opera Touch. (Incidentally, we've got a guide on how you can use Opera to block ads on the iPhone .)

Download Opera: Mac or Windows , Android , iOS

3. Privacy Badger (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)

The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Privacy Badger browser extension was born from the EFF's concerns about the business models of some privacy tools and ad blockers. 

Privacy Badger functions similarly to extensions like AdBlock Plus (on which it was based), observing the various tracking tools that advertisers and other third parties might use to track your online activities and selectively blocking them from executing. Built-in learning algorithms adapt to the sites you visit and take any new tracking tools discovered into account. 

While not explicitly an ad blocker, Privacy Badger does also block some advertising, depending on how aggressively the ads track you across websites.

Download Privacy Badger: Chrome , Firefox , Opera

4. Tor Browser (Desktop, Android)

The Tor network helps anonymize your internet activity by bouncing the data you send and receive through a distributed anonymous network of routers to foil a common online surveillance technique called traffic analysis, which can reveal the sites you visit or who you're communicating with. 

The Tor Browser is an all-in-one package that includes everything you need to surf the net through the Tor network in an easy-to-install portable package. The package includes a modified version of Firefox with privacy aids such as NoScript baked in, and an automatic setup aid that makes it easy to connect to and create new Tor circuits. 

On the desktop, you can grab a version of Tor Browser for Windows, macOS or Linux. There's also a version of Tor Browser for Android, which replaces the previous OrBot + OrFox combination recommended for browsing Tor on Android.

Download Tor Browser: Desktop , Android

5. Onion Browser (iOS)

iOS users aren’t left out when it comes to browsing the Tor anonymizer network, with the Onion Browser among the more popular options on Apple’s mobile OS. 

Previously a premium app, Onion Browser has since moved to a donation model, opening up access to everyone who wants to download the app, without compromising security or features. The usual caveats apply: Browsing through Tor will slow down the web experience, and some features, like video streams and video files won’t work in order to preserve anonymity.

Download Onion Browser: iOS

How to choose the best ad blocker for you

Many of the best ad blockers are available for free, either as extensions or as standalone apps, though a few, like AdLock, charge a fee. Determine if the free services provide enough ad-blocking to meet your needs or whether a paid app delivers more for your money. You should also figure out if a browser extension will take care of your ad-blocking needs or whether you should consider switching browsers to one with more built-in privacy features.

You can narrow down your choice in ad blockers by deciding specifically what you're looking to accomplish with such an app or extension. Do you just want to stop annoying pop-up ads from appearing or do you want the full range of services, including privacy features and an end to ad-tracking? Grab the ad blocker that ticks off all the boxes on your wishlist.

Some ad blockers, such as AdBlock Plus include filters and the ability to let in non-obtrusive advertising. Others, like AdBlocker Ultimate, take a more aggressive approach. Find out which one best suits your needs and comfort level.

As we noted at the outset, there's also an ethical component to ad blockers. Do you feel comfortable keeping ad revenue out of the hands of sites you enjoy and use for free? As good as the best ad blockers are, that's still a trade-off you need to consider when deciding whether to install one as a browser extension or as a standalone app. 

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• kep55 I'm waiting for an ad blocker that will spoof the websites into thinking there is no ad blocker in place. More and more sites are incorporating code that disables the site entirely or many of the features if an adblocker is in use. Reply

kep55 said: I'm waiting for an ad blocker that will spoof the websites into thinking there is no ad blocker in place. More and more sites are incorporating code that disables the site entirely or many of the features if an adblocker is in use.

• View All 2 Comments

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uBlock Origin

Popular and efficient blocker for Chromium, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Thunderbird. Fast and lean.

• Open Source
• Vivaldi Browser
• Microsoft Edge

a widespectrum efficient blocker. which block ads, trackers and malware sites. supports chromium, chrome, edge, firefox, opera, safari, thunderbird. fast and lean, and as of 2017 still being actively improved. forked from ublock

more than 12 million users. including 3.8+ millions users on firefox and 8.9+ millions users on chrome

ublock origin has received praise from technology websites, and is reported to be much less memoryintensive than other extensions

manifesto• the user decides what web content is acceptable or not in their browser.• the ublock origin project does not support adblock plus' "acceptable ads manifesto", because the "acceptable ads" marketing campaign is really the business plan of a forprofit entity.• users are best placed to know what is or is not acceptable to them. ublock origin's sole purpose is to give users the means to enforce their own choices.

Links to official uBlock Origin sites

Official Website

Customizable Firefox extension Privacy focused Privacy protection Security focused Lightweight Google Chrome extension 3rd party filters Website whitelisting Custom filters Element blocker

Productivity Education and Reference Security Web Browsers

customizable firefox-extension privacy-focused privacy-protection security-focused lightweight chrome-extension 3rd-party-filters website-whitelisting ad-blocking custom-filters element-blocker icecat-extension

The Best 58 uBlock Origin Alternatives

Adblock Plus

Adblock Plus is a free extension that allows you to - among other things - block annoying ads, disable tracking and block domains known to spread malware.

Free Open Source Mac OS X Windows Linux iPhone BSD iPad Chrome OS Microsoft Edge

Ghostery sees the invisible web - tags, web bugs, pixels and beacons. Ghostery tracks the trackers and gives you a roll-call of the ad networks, behavioral data providers, web publishers, and other companies interested in your activity.

Free Open Source Mac OS X Windows Linux Android iPhone Android Tablet iPad Mac Microsoft Edge

your favorite feature in mozilla firefox finally comes to google chrome, safari and https://alternativein .

Free Open Source Mac OS X Windows Linux iPhone BSD Chrome Safari Opera

Enjoy a faster, cleaner web. uBlock enhances your browsing experience, efficiently blocking any clutter and overhead disturbing your experience.

Free Open Source Mac OS X Windows Linux Android Chrome OS Chrome Safari Opera

Privacy Badger

Privacy Badger is a browser-add on tool that analyzes sites to detect and disallow content that tracks you in an objectionable, non-consensual manner.

Free Open Source Mac OS X Windows Linux Chrome Firefox

Disconnect was founded in 2011 by former Google engineers and a consumer- and privacy-rights attorney. We develop award-winning, user-friendly privacy and security software in San Francisco, California.

Open Source Freemium Windows Linux BSD Mac Chrome Firefox Safari Opera

Point & click to forbid/allow any class of requests made by your browser. Use it to block scripts, iframes, ads, facebook, etc. uMatrix: A point-and-click matrix-based firewall, with many privacy-enhancing tools.

Free Open Source Mac OS X Windows Linux Chrome Firefox Opera Chromium

Adguard is an unique internet filter that removes ads, ad-trackers and blocks websites with viruses & malware.

Freemium Mac OS X Windows iPhone Chrome OS Chrome Vivaldi Browser Safari Yandex.Browser

An ad blocker that uses the hosts file. The hosts file contains a list of mappings between hostnames and IP addresses. When an app requests an ad, that request is directed to 127.0.0.1 which does nothing.

Free Open Source Android

Bluhell Firewall

lightweight ad-blocker and privacy protector for mozilla firefox and thunderbird. all we know the availability of popular adblockers lying around...

Free Open Source Mac OS X Windows Linux Android Firefox Thunderbird

RedMorph Browser Controller

Comprehensive privacy tool, bundling ad-blocker, tracker-blocker, and encrypted proxy into one extension.

Freemium Web Chrome Vivaldi Browser Yandex.Browser

Bad Ad Johnny

Bad Ad Johnny stops ads, fights malware & dodges trackers. It is a free chrome extension that mocks other ad blockers & apps as part of its communication & UI. All modes can function independently or in cohesion.

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Safari 13 Just Killed uBlock Origin and Other Extensions

Safari 13 deprecates support for legacy extensions. Instead, you now how to download them through the Mac App Store. A GitHub user explained the uBlock Origin situation and recommends adblocking alternatives.

Get a content blocker. Not nearly as powerful as uBO, but the best option if you want to stay with Safari. Do not get the app called “uBlock” , this is unassociated with uBlockOrigin ( read about the split here ), and is simply a content blocker with a big negative feature of having acceptable ads built in

Check It Out: Safari 13 Just Killed uBlock Origin and Other Extensions

12 thoughts on “ Safari 13 Just Killed uBlock Origin and Other Extensions ”

As of the end of the Safari 12 series, I dumped using it as my browser. Why? Because Apple almost universally destroyed access to the best browser extensions. What meagre extensions that have replaced them are mostly junk by comparison, IMHO. I have had no regrets leaving Safari behind. It has its occasional uses. But if I need a clean (no extensions) WebKit based browser for some obscure reason, I instead use OmniWeb, which is still being maintained.

My browser of choice is currently Brave. It has all the excellent browser extensions. It’s fast, is consistently found to be on the cutting edge of browser security, and is rarely buggy. It’s based on Chromium with no Google gunk added.

I still keep both Firefox and the Tor Browser (which has a Firefos base) on hand for further special purposes. I also keep up-to-date with source Chromium as well as Waterfox, a more secured version of Firefox.

Do you mean popup windows? Or are they annoying pop-overs that usually appear when your mouse gets near the edge of the page. They say “don’t leave, sign up for our mailing list!” Those are designed to keep you from leaving the site.

@ Lee Dronick Try to switch of localization. And the popup blocker don’t work on porn sites….

I am not visiting porn sites, they are news, tech, science, art related and such.

No wonder and Apple is not alone. Google kicked also the uBlock Origin from Chrome for robbery.

https://thehackernews.com/2019/09/browser-chrome-extension-adblock.html?m=1

Seems that the mentioned article is mixing up uBlock with uBlock Origin. Consider this as unverified rumor. Thank you.

No. This article has multiple blunders. It has an image stating “uBlocker”, which is wrong. The article also wrongly points at uBlock Origin for stuffing cookies, which it does not. The actual culprits are plain old louay uBlock and the ripoff named ‘AdBlock’, which is NOT the highly recommended same named app AdBlock from GetAdblock.com. uBlock Origin remains excellent and is also highly recommended.

Yikes, wish they wouldn’t advertised the change in extensions a bit more because I installed Safari 13 (after looking at the list of changes which didn’t mention extensions) and my 1Password extension no longer works which is a major PITA. Does anyone know how to downgrade Safari back to 12.1.2 (which I still have a copy of on another machine)?

“would’ve”, not “wouldn’t”

I wish Safari could block popups. No I don’t want you to send me notifications or sign up for emails. Put those links on the page.

Did you visited ever the Safari preferences?

Yeah, that setting doesn’t seem to work on many websites.

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uBlock Origin Alternatives in Safari 13?

• Thread starter ParanoidDroid
• Start date Sep 19, 2019
• Sort by reaction score

ParanoidDroid

Macrumors 6502.

• Sep 19, 2019

Oh silly me! I just updated to Safari 13 and that killed my beloved uBlock Origin extension. Unfortunately, I don't have a current time machine backup, but I do have an another Mac with Safari 12. 1. First what are the best alternatives to uBlock Origin? 2. Is there a way to roll back to Safari 12 manually?  

macrumors 65816

macrumors regular

macrumors 6502a

Hi, I'll refrain from upgrading to Safari 13. They write "Includes an updated start page...blah-blah-blah". What about Top Sites? What's the look in Safari 13?  

I also had this issue and installed Ublock from the App Store, works amazing! After install you need to go into safari preferences - extensions and check the boxes next to the Ublock icons. Then you need to click update filter lists on the main UBlock app interface. Confusing I know, but it works.  

• Sep 20, 2019

hooptyuber said: I upgraded to Safari 13 and now I can't connect to Amazon.com on any of my four Macs. ????? Click to expand...

adrianlondon

Macrumors 603.

My solution (since getting the Catalina beta) was to move to Firefox. I currently use FF 71 (the Nightly version) and I really recommend giving it a go. The different UI takes some getting used to, and if you want to customise it like I do then you'll be spending a while editing userChrome.css, but the one thing people keep saying - that FF is slow and is a memory hog - has finally been fixed. This thing flies. It's faster than Safari for me, which is a surprise. My only issue was that it doesn't use keychain but I migrated all my passwords to Bitwarden and that solved that. Bitwarden is also much better (at managing passwords and in having user-defined fields) than keychain so this was another win. Plus, iOS13 works well with Btwarden on my iPhone as it integrates well with the stock password features there. I actually moved from Safari to FF before Catalina once I lost access to cookie management via SIMBL, as I like to delete most cookies when I quit the browser, but at that time Firefox made my laptop run hotter than Safari. No longer.  

ParanoidDroid said: Oh silly me! I just updated to Safari 13 and that killed my beloved uBlock Origin extension. Unfortunately, I don't have a current time machine backup, but I do have an another Mac with Safari 12. 1. First what are the best alternatives to uBlock Origin? 2. Is there a way to roll back to Safari 12 manually? Click to expand...

macrumors newbie

Oh why didn't I check on here before updating. Thank god I build a pi-hole this week. This will keep me somewhat save until I find a solution for safari.  

nylon said: I also had this issue and installed Ublock from the App Store, works amazing! After install you need to go into safari preferences - extensions and check the boxes next to the Ublock icons. Then you need to click update filter lists on the main UBlock app interface. Confusing I know, but it works. Click to expand...

Anyone care to comment on my post? Are these add blockers really doing what my paste says they can? Thanks.  

macrumors member

• Sep 21, 2019

So far the best alternative is Wipr, I bought a day ago and it seems to get the job done. Wipr  

russell_314

I researched this and it seems this isn't just a Safari thing. Chrome will prevent adblockers as well in a future update. Not that I would use Chrome anyways. I understand companies are under pressure from advertisers to prevent people from using ad blockers but I wouldn't have expected Apple to cave in. Right now I downloaded Firefox since they're still allowing ad blockers but just wondering if this change is inevitable.  

It's still possible to use an adblocker in Safari. There are so many Safari Extensions on the App Store you can download and use. But uBlock Origin was written in a way that doesn't work anymore in Safari 13. Is the new Safari Extension format worse than before? Maybe, but that doesn't mean you can't block ads at all.  

Ritsuka said: It's still possible to use an adblocker in Safari. There are so many Safari Extensions on the App Store you can download and use. But uBlock Origin was written in a way that doesn't work anymore in Safari 13. Is the new Safari Extension format worse than before? Maybe, but that doesn't mean you can't block ads at all. Click to expand...

macrumors G5

I've been using 1Blocker on both macOS and iOS. It works well with both, including with Safari 13.  

I use Wipr and I hardly see any ads, but I guess it depends on which website you visit.  

chrfr said: I've been using 1Blocker on both macOS and iOS. It works well with both, including with Safari 13. Click to expand...

Ritsuka said: I use Wipr and I hardly see any ads, but I guess it depends on which website you visit. Click to expand...

1Blocker works well for me.  

Using hosts to block ads https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/using-hosts-to-block-ads-and-malware-in-catalina.2198978/ Works in Mojave too.  

Blowback said: I've updated to Safari 13..... I was checking the prefs and went to 'manage websites' and found that I had over 1400 (cookies?)....deleted all and re-signed in to my ~20 sites which needed sign-ins/ remember me's . No problems at all....checked Amazon etc. and no issues. Was in the Apple Store today discussing ad-blockers with one of there techs and he mentioned U-Block Origin. Reason I bring this up is because with the other blockers you get this boilerplate: View attachment 860383 Does U-Block Origin also grab these 'permissions'? Apple tech said he didn't know but would look into it when he got home. Also, per Maverick28: I don't see any updated start page or Top 5 sites. Really have been looking and can't seem to find anything different ...though it is faster. Click to expand...

nylon said: So I spoke too soon. Ublock is not blocking all ads or pop ups. It also seems its just a rebranded version of AdBlock. So I spent the $2 for Wipr and all is well after testing. Way better than Ublock. Click to expand...

FYI FOR ALL: Add blockers are DEAD in Safari. Please read : https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple...ri-but-unlike-chrome-users-didnt-say-a-thing/  

Have you tried WIPR?  

How to Access Ublock Origin on iOS

Installing Ad Blockers is the only way to get rid of distractions that often disrupt your internet browsing experience and online activities.

One such option is Ublock Origin. It is one of the leading ad blockers that provides a cleaner and more enjoyable browsing environment.

How do you get  Ublock Origin on iOS ? Is it available for iPhones and iPads? Or will you  jailbreak your device to take advantage of this adblocker?

Hold your patience, as this  iOSIdeas guide will take you through all the details about Ublock origin .

If you are tired of the constant bombardment of ads and want to enjoy a peaceful browsing experience, get this ad blocker on your smartphone and say goodbye to those frustrating distractions.

Without further ado, let’s get rolling!!

Table of Contents

A Quick Introduction – What is Ublock Origin?

When browsing free websites, you get bombarded with many advertisements that often disrupt your experience. That’s where  Ublock Origin  comes into the role.

It is a free, open-source ad-blocker designed to filter content and block unnecessary ads. The ad blocker keeps unauthorized access at bay, thus protecting users from malware and scams.

The ad blocker is easy to use and streamlines the users’ internet browsing experience. So, what are you waiting for?

Add this option as your browser extension and use free websites without worrying about those annoying advertisements.

Can I Download Ublock Origin on iOS?

Here’s the question – can you download  Ublock Origin on iOS ? Or is this ad blocker available for iOS devices?

Well, you’ll be surprised that the ad blocker used to be known as Safari  iOS 13  extension, but Apple has recently dropped it from the list.

It is done to implement a new extensions framework limited in ad-blocking functions. Simply put, Ublock Origin will no longer work with Safari on iOS , and users are advised to use the new content blocker app to eliminate advertisements and distractions.

What Are the Best Ublock Origin Alternatives?

Now that you know that there is no  Ublock Origin on iOS, let’s walk through some similar alternatives that are available to use on the Safari browser.

Scroll through the list and have a closer look.

It is a powerful ad blocker that shuns all pop-ups and banners on free websites. Furthermore, this ad blocker also works for free apps, thus offering a great experience.

2. Adblock Plus

It also turns off tracking and blocks domains known to spread malware.

Don’t worry. It will never track your data while keeping you safe and secure from unauthorized access. This app supports dark mode so that you can use it comfortably at night.

3. SponsorBlock

It is a browser extension and features an open API via Crowdsource for skipping sponsor segments in YouTube videos.

The ad blocker is open-source, thus receiving regular updates. The best part is that it doesn’t require any registration and comes with a feature to block trackers.

It protects you from all kinds of security threats, thus keeping your device and data safe from prying eyes.

Besides, it has a Block Trackers feature to prevent all the trackers from tracking your activity. The ad blocker offers a safe and supervised internet for kids, making their browsing experience kid-friendly.

Frequently Answered Questions

Q. how do i check other extensions on safari.

Ans. To check other extensions on Safari, please open Safari, click the upper-left menu, and select the Extensions tab. Here, you can check all available Safari extensions individually.

Q. Will Ublock Ever Be Available on iOS?

Ans. No, it doesn’t seem like that. Since Apple dropped this extension from the list, it’s less likely to get featured again.

The Bottom Line

That’s all about  Ublock Origin on iOS . Are you an avid internet user trying to get rid of annoying ads? Download ad blockers and make your browsing more enjoyable than ever.

Be mindful that ads and pop-ups pose a security threat while draining your system’s resources. Hence, it’s better to use Ublock Origin or other similar alternatives to say goodbye to these distractions.

Thanks for reading, and contact us for more iOS updates!!

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Apple’s Safari Browser May Let You Erase Ads Completely With New AI Makeover

Safari could look more like arc browser on ios 18 and macos 15 with new ai summaries handled on-device..

Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome are already being drowned in new AI features, so we suppose it was inevitable that Apple would also try to shove some AI activities into its default browser. With Apple reportedly jumping on the AI hype train for iOS 18 (though getting on at the caboose end rather than the passenger car) the company at the end of 1 Infinite Loop may try to shove AI summaries and browser assistants into Safari in a move that’s reminiscent of the existing Arc Browser . Unlike the competition, this time Apple could be powering it all from the device itself, rather than the cloud.

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More interestingly, the browser could let you highlight and erase whole sections of web pages. Tired of the banner ads on top of Gizmodo’s site? If the rumors are true, Safari might have the ability to mask that. It all comes from a report from Apple Insider based on the latest builds of Safari 18 . The controls hidden in the latest test models of the browser seem to indicate Safari would paper over sections of a site you don’t want to see. Better yet, it would remember your selections and re-erase the same parts of the page if you come back to it later. You would have the option of reverting the page to its original state.

That feature is akin to apps like 1Blocker on Safari with iPhone or uBlock Origin on other browsers, two apps that allow you to apply cosmetic filters on offending ads. 1Blocker in particular tells Safari what parts of the page to open, which also may help increase the speed at which the page loads.

Of course, advertisers and online publishers would not be happy about any built-in ad-blocking features. The click-centric publishing model is already flailing with the greater push for AI in Google Search .

But this is still extremely early, and code found inside Safari 18 does not necessarily point to how Apple plans to roll out these features, if at all. But AI upgrades to Safari feel inevitable. The so-called “Intelligent Search” would use a large language model to find key phrases and words in an article as the basis for its summary. AI summaries are already available in Edge through the Copilot feature, and Chrome’s Gemini-powered assistant can perform a similar task.

AI features may be Apple’s best bet if it wants to take a hammer to Google’s search and ad monopoly. That’s what Microsoft has been doing with its Edge browser and Bing search, but so far Google Search and Chrome remain dominant in their categories. Apple is also going all-in on AI with its upcoming releases. The M4 chip , expected to debut along with the new OLED iPad Pro , will reportedly have a better neural processor than its previous M-series CPUs. Similarly, the next iPhone 16 is said to have a bunch of AI capabilities with the promise of running some of these language models or art generators on-device.

We’ll likely hear more about this when WWDC rolls around on June 10 .

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uBlock Origin - An efficient blocker for Chromium, Firefox, and Safari. Fast and lean.

el1t/uBlock-Safari

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uBlock Origin for Safari

pronounced you-block origin ( /ˈjuːˌblɒk/ ) — you decide what enters your browser.

An efficient blocker add-on for various browsers. Fast, potent, and lean.

Regarding this Safari port

The majority of this code is shared with upstream . Platform specific portions are under development. Much of the platform shim from the original uBlock Safari version is still being used.

Installation

Release history, further documentation.

The preferred method of installation is to install from the extension gallery . This allows the extension to update automatically, and the submissions are approved by Apple.

To learn more about installation and updates, visit the wiki .

Compatible with Safari 11, untested on older versions (but should work).

To benefit from uBlock Origin's higher efficiency, it's advised that you don't use other inefficient blockers at the same time (such as AdBlock or Adblock Plus). uBlock₀ will do as well or better than most popular ad blockers. Other blockers can also prevent uBlock₀'s privacy or anti-blocker features from working properly.

Development

To build and load an unpacked extension for development:

• Clone uBlock-Safari and uAssets into the same parent directory
• Build by running ./tools/make-safari.sh in uBlock-Safari 's directory
• In Safari, load the Extension Builder (Develop > Show Extension Builder)
• Click the + button in the bottom left corner and "Add Extension"
• Select dist/build/uBlock0.safariextension
• Click install and enter your password
• You will have to reinstall from this panel every time you restart Safari

If you don't see a Develop menu in Safari, you can run defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeDevelopMenu -bool true or go to Preferences > Advanced > Show Develop menu in menu bar .

Example clone and build:

To build and sign for release (certificates required):

• Requires xar-mackyle , which will be built if not found

See the releases pages for a history of releases and highlights for each release.

Visit the upstream uBlock Origin wiki for further documentation.

uBlock Origin's manifesto .

Free. Open source. For users by users. No donations sought.

Without the preset lists of filters, this extension is nothing. So if ever you really do want to contribute something, think about the people working hard to maintain the filter lists you are using, which were made available to use by all for free.

You can contribute by helping translate uBlock₀ on Crowdin .

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My 5 must-have Firefox extensions and what I use them for

Firefox is a much better browser than the market share would indicate. With just one big exception (tab management), I would go so far as to say it's the best browser available to nearly all platforms.

It's a shame that Firefox gets overlooked but for those who do know how well the browser works, you get it. For those who might be on the fence about using Firefox, the extensions feature might help sway you.

Also: Google delays killing third-party cookies in Chrome again. What you need to know

My favorite extensions level up the open-source browser for me and my workflows. Each of these extensions is free to install and use and helps add a bit of extra security and efficiency to the browser.

With that said, let's get to the extensions.

1. uBlock Origin

uBlock Origin is the king of content blocking for Firefox. With over 7 million downloads, the numbers speak for themselves. Most think this extension is little more than an "ad blocker" but that's selling it short. 

Also: YouTube videos may no longer play if you use a third-party ad blocker

uBlock Origin is a wide-spectrum content blocker that blocks ads, trackers, coin miners, popups, prefetching, hyperlink auditing, and more. uBlock Origin works with the help of various lists of known threats and issues. Out of the box, the extension uses EasyList (for ads), EasyPrivacy (for tracking), Peter Lowe's Ad server list (for ads and tracking), Online Maclicous URL Blocklist, and uBO's own list. There are other lists you can enable but the default collection works very well.

If I could only install one extension to Firefox, this would be it. I would even go so far as to say uBlock Origin should come pre-installed on Firefox; it's that good (and necessary). In this modern era, visiting certain types of websites is a security and privacy crapshoot but uBlock Origin helps tilt the odds in your favor.

2. Privacy Badger

Unlike the wide-spectrum nature of uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger focuses on one thing: invisible trackers. What makes Privacy Badger so important is that it learns as it is used. Instead of relying on lists, this extension discovers trackers based on behavior. 

Privacy Badger also automatically opts you out of data sharing and selling as well as tracking. If that weren't enough, Privacy Badger also automatically removes link click tracking on both Facebook and Google, so those sites cannot track the links you've clicked on.

Also: The best secure browsers for privacy in 2024

Use Privacy Badger along with uBlock Origin (along with Firefox's built-in security measures) and you've got one of the most secure browsers on the planet.

3. Bitwarden Password Manager

Continuing with our theme of security, you should be using a password manager . When you do adopt a password manager, I highly recommend Bitwarden. 

Also: How to use Bitwarden Identities to secure your most sensitive data

Not only does it have a robust feature set, end-to-end encrypted vaults, and apps for desktop, mobile, and web, but it also has a browser extension. One of the reasons many refuse to use a password manager is that it adds yet another step in their already busy day. To that end, they'll allow their web browser to store passwords for easy logins. Unfortunately, web browsers aren't nearly as safe as legitimate password managers. 

With the Bitwarden Password Manager Firefox extension , you get the best of both worlds. Not only do you have the extra security layers of a real password manager, but also the simplicity and efficiency of easy logins.

4. Sideberry

The only area where Firefox struggles is tab management. Out of the box, Firefox's idea of tab management is pretty much the same as it ever was… none. That's a shame, given how browsers like Opera and Safari have created some of the best tab management options available.

Also:  5 ways to improve your Chrome browser's security

Although Firefox doesn't have an extension to rival Opera's Workspaces , it does have Sideberry , which adds a sidebar where you can better manage your tabs with a flat list, tree view, grouped tabs (folders), colorizations, automatic unloading, and custom tab titles. Ever since I started using Arc Browser on MacOS, I've come to really enjoy side tabs. The only thing I wish Sideberry could do is hide Firefox's default tab bar.

5. ClearURLs

How many times have you wanted to share a link with someone, only to find the link a never-ending stream of characters that extends far beyond the necessary address? All of those extraneous characters are tracking elements and look something like this:

The above link is for a vinyl copy of Rush's "Moving Pictures" album on Amazon. The only bit you really need is this:

With the ClearURLs extension, when you click on the Amazon listing, it strips away all of the tracking bits and presents only the necessary link. To me, that's a must-have.

And there you have it, five extensions that help level up Firefox's security and efficiency. If you don't find an extension here that tickles your browser fancy, you can always check the Firefox extension  market and find an exhaustive list of possible add-ons to help make Firefox the web browser you've always wanted and needed.

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Apple's 'incredibly private' Safari is not so private in Europe

Infosec eggheads find igiant left eu ios 17 users open to being tracked around the web.

Apple's grudging accommodation of European antitrust rules by allowing third-party app stores on iPhones has left users of its Safari browser exposed to potential web activity tracking.

Developers Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk looked into the way Apple implemented the installation process for third-party software marketplaces on iOS with Safari, and concluded Cupertino's approach is particularly shoddy.

tl;dr: The way Apple has added support for third-party app stores lets any website, when visited by Safari on iOS at least, to ping a chosen approved software marketplace with a unique per-user identifier. That means as users move from website to website, or use a website, these sites can quietly disclose that activity to a non-Apple app store – revealing the sort of things individual netizens find interesting. That info can be used for targeted app promotions, ads, and so on. This appears to apply to iOS 17.4 users in the EU. Whether anyone will exploit this in the wild remains to be seen – but the potential is there.

"Our testing shows that Apple delivered this feature with catastrophic security and privacy flaws," wrote Bakry and Mysk in an advisory published over the weekend.

Apple – which advertises Safari as " incredibly private " – evidently has undermined privacy among European Union Safari users through a marketplace-kit: URI scheme that potentially allows approved third-party app stores to follow those users around the web.

A URI scheme is a way of determining how a particular network request gets handled. A website offering an alternative software marketplace can include a button that, when tapped in Safari, launches a marketplace-kit: request that is handled by a MarketplaceKit process on the EU user's iPhone. This process, built into iOS 17.4 by Apple, then reaches out to the back-end servers of the approved marketplace to complete the installation of that store's app on the phone.

The trouble is, any site can trigger a marketplace-kit: request. On EU iOS 17.4 devices, that will cause a unique per-user identifier to be fired off by Safari to an approved marketplace's servers, leaking the fact that the user was just visiting that site. This happens even if Safari is in private browsing mode. The marketplace's servers can reject the request, which can also include a custom payload, passing more info about the user to the alternative store. This is all illustrated in the video below.

Youtube Video

In addition to Apple's Safari, two other iOS browsers currently support third-party app stores in Europe: Brave and Ecosia.

Apple doesn't allow third-party app stores in most parts of the world, citing purported privacy and security concerns – and presumably interest in sustaining its ability to collect commissions for software sales.

But Apple has been designated as a "gatekeeper" under Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA) for iOS, the App Store, Safari, and just recently iPadOS .

That designation means the iBiz has been ordered to open its gated community so that European customers can choose third-party app stores and web-based app distribution – also known as side-loading .

But wait, there's more

According to Bakry and Mysk, Apple's URI scheme has three significant failings. First, they say, it fails to check the origin of the website, meaning the aforementioned cross-site tracking is possible.

Second, Apple's MarketplaceKit – its API for third-party stores – doesn't validate the JSON Web Tokens (JWT) passed as input parameters via incoming requests. "Worse, it blindly relayed the invalid JWT token when calling the /oauth/token endpoint," observed Bakry and Mysk. "This opens the door to various injection attacks to target either the MarketplaceKit process or the marketplace back-end."

And third, Apple isn't using certificate pinning , which leaves the door open for meddling by an intermediary ( MITM ) during the MarketplaceKit communication exchange. Bakry and Mysk claim they were able to overwrite the servers involved in this process with their own endpoints.

The limiting factor of this attack is that a marketplace must first be approved by Apple before it can undertake this sort of tracking. At present, not many marketplaces have won approval. We're aware of the B2B Mobivention App marketplace , AltStore , and Setapp . Epic Games has also planned an iOS store . A few other marketplaces will work after an iThing jailbreak, but they’re unlikely to attract many consumers.

The two security researchers argue that scam apps regularly find their way through Apple's review process, meaning rogue app stores could be allowed through. And they claim the privacy problems arise from Apple wanting to track third-party store usage.

"The flaw of exposing users in the EU to tracking is the result of Apple insisting on inserting itself between marketplaces and their users," asserted Bakry and Mysk. "This is why Apple needs to pass an identifier to the marketplaces so they can identify installs and perhaps better calculate the due Core Technology Fee (CTF) ."

They urge iOS users in Europe to use Brave rather than Safari because Brave's implementation checks the origin of the website against the URL to prevent cross-site tracking.

Academics probe Apple's privacy settings and get lost and confused

• In quest to defeat Euro red-tape, Apple said it had three Safari browsers – not one
• Apple demands app makers explain use of sensitive APIs
• Apple Private Wi-Fi hasn't worked for the past three years

Back when Apple planned not to support Home Screen web apps in Europe – a gambit later abandoned after developer complaints and regulatory pressure – the iGiant justified its position by arguing the amount of work required "was not practical to undertake given the other demands of the DMA." By not making the extra effort to implement third-party app stores securely, Apple has arguably turned its security and privacy concerns into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In its remarks [PDF] on complying with the DMA, Apple declared, "In the EU, every user's security, privacy, and safety will depend in part on two questions. First, are alternative marketplaces and payment processors capable of protecting users? And, second, are they interested in doing so?"

There's also the question of whether Apple is capable of protecting users – and whether it's interested in doing so.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment. ®

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