AdGuard


AdGuard is a line of ad blocking and privacy protection software which comprises open-source and shareware products that protect Microsoft Windows, Linux, OS X, Android and iOS users from unwanted ads, pop-ups, banners, as well as from tracking, obscene content, malware and phishing. A cross-platform utility, AdGuard is also available as an extension for the most widely used browsers, Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser, and Microsoft Edge. Over 5 million people are reported to be using the software in 2018.
AdGuard Software Limited was founded in 2009. As of 2017 the headquarter was moved to Cyprus while most developers are still located in Moscow.

Products

While the company's products have earned positive feedback in several industry publications, a series of policies by Google and Apple app stores occurred in 2014 - 2018, which impeded user access to AdGuard's mobile applications.
AdGuard's products include browser extensions and server-side software, including:
  1. AdGuard Home: The product intercepts and filters DNS requests. It works as a DNS server and prevents all the devices in a home network from connecting to the servers that track user browsing.
  2. AdGuard Browser extension: The extension blocks video ads, interstitial ads, floating ads, pop-ups, banners, and text ads. There is a possibility to handle anti-AdBlock scripts. The product also blocks spyware and warns users of malicious websites.
  3. AdGuard: for Windows, Android, Mac, iOS
  4. AdGuard Content Blocker
  5. AdGuard DNS: A free service from AdGuard that provides an easy way to block ads, online trackers, and analytical systems on a DNS level. The product offers DNSCrypt, DNS over HTTPS, and DNS over TLS variants for encrypting all DNS requests and avoiding interception and/or alteration through DNS spoofing or other methods. AdGuard DNS also offers an optional Family Protection mode for blocking access to websites with adult content as well as enforcing safe search in search engines. Whenever a device with AdGuard DNS servers setup sends an ad request, the DNS server responds with an empty response. This prevents the request from ever reaching the ad servers.

    Research

AdGuard developers have taken up non-commercial research in order to inform wider audiences on user privacy, cybersecurity and data protection. The following issues are notable cases involving the developers: