AdGuard for Android 4.7.179

Note: Before using an ad-blocker we strongly encourage you to think about which products or websites you are blocking ads for. Most websites or apps manage to provide a free service to you only because they run advertisements. Blocking such advertisements will hurt the developers or publishers. We generally recommend that you whitelist websites or apps that run non-intrusive advertisements.

Overview

Adguard for Android is an ad blocking app. The Adguard software platform already supports Android and Windows platforms, plus there are web browser add ons or extensions for Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari and Yandex (support for native Mac OS X app is in development).

The Adguard Android app used to be available inside the Google Play Store but it was removed by the search company on November 25, 2014 ostensibly because blocking of adverts reduces Google's ability to generate an income from visitors. However, the software is still available via the Adguard official web site with a page explaining how to download and install it the app quite easily. Development of the Android app continues with regular updates.

Once installed, the software will configure itself to assist the user in staying safer on the web. It does this by filtering internet activity through its VPN facility which is built directly into the app itself which prevents the need to connect to a distant virtual private network which can slow down internet connections.

The software is designed to remove adverts and to extract the online tracking codes that can be included in web sites. This can help to prevent ad networks from tracking the movements of the web user and building up a profile of their online behavior without the user being aware.

Web pages are also checked against an updating database of malicious and phishing web sites to avoid the Android device getting infected. Apps downloaded from unknown sources, i.e. not downloaded directly from the Google Play Store, are checked for safety too.

Installation

The installation of the 5.8 MB Android APK file is done via the Adguard web site using the Android device or by using our mirror. There is a simple 3 step guide to help. The software currently requires Android 4.0.3 or higher.

The file is accessed, downloaded and then installed. Once it is installed, the software app can be run safely. From that point on, web traffic is routed initially through the internal VPN within the app in order to verify web site safety, app download safety, and remove adverting and advertising codes used on web sites.

Interface

The interface is clean on Android. It is easy to see how much bandwidth has been saved by the removal of adverts being downloaded. Very simple to use and understand.

Pros

• Block ads on web sites with Android mobile devices
• Blocks ads in mobile apps on Android
• Prevent ad networks from tracking your movements
• Stops phishing and malware attacks from malicious web sites
• Internal VPN and database to help with filtering
• Frequent updates for bug fixes and general improvements.

Cons

• Not available in the Google Play Store.
• Not compatible with Opera Mini or Puffin browsers

Conclusion

Adguard is a cross-platform ad blocking and phishing web site blocker which is ideal for the Android environment. It attempts to block all ads not only on web sites but also within apps which is not usually even possible. An internal VPN ensures fast parsing of valid web site addresses.