Ghostery

Ghostery is a privacy-focused browser extension and mobile browser designed to block trackers, ads, and other unwanted elements on websites. It aims to provide users with greater control over their online privacy by allowing them to see and manage the trackers and scripts that websites use to collect data about their browsing behavior.

Ghostery maintains a database of trackers, categorized by their function (e.g., advertising, analytics, social media). The extension allows users to block these trackers individually or in groups, potentially improving website loading speed and reducing the amount of personal data collected by third parties.

Originally developed as a community-driven project, Ghostery has evolved through different ownership and business models. While historically known for its commitment to open-source principles, its development and distribution practices have shifted, raising some user concerns regarding data privacy under different ownership.

The software typically displays a notification or icon indicating the number of trackers detected on a given webpage. Users can then access a panel to view the trackers and customize their blocking preferences. Beyond tracker blocking, Ghostery offers features such as anti-tracking, smart blocking, and enhanced anti-tracking, each designed to provide varying levels of privacy protection.

While aimed at enhancing user privacy, the effectiveness of Ghostery, like other tracker blockers, can vary depending on the sophistication of the tracking techniques employed by websites and the frequency with which the tracker database is updated. User configurations also play a significant role in determining the level of privacy achieved.