Block ads with AdBlock Plus

Before and after shots of AdBlock Plus, using the right panel of my Facebook page as an example.

(Credit:
Matt Elliott/CNET)

AdBlock Plus is a Chrome or Firefox extension that does just what its name suggests.

Odds are you have become skilled at ignoring Internet ads. But every year, advertisers get more invasive creative at inserting ads in places where they are harder to ignore. As soon as next month, for example, ads will appear in your Facebook newsfeed. It’s too soon to say whether AdBlock Plus will remove these forthcoming newsfeed ads, but the extension does an admirable job of removing the current advertising from Facebook and other sites.

Simply install the extension (here for Chrome or here for Firefox) and it automatically starts running (Firefox requires a restart first). In Chrome, you’ll know it’s running because a small ABP stop-sign icon gets added to the right side of your URL bar. If you consider that an ad, you can remove it in AdBlock Plus’s settings. Go to Window > Extensions. Click on the new tab that opens, click the Options link for AdBlock Plus, and cho… [Read more]