Privacy Badger

The EFF states: "If an advertiser seems to be tracking you across multiple websites without your permission, Privacy Badger automatically blocks that advertiser from loading any more content in your browser. To the advertiser, it's like you suddenly disappeared." Privacy Badger works by detecting the presence of content loaded from third-party domains when you visit a website, then blocking those domains which are determined to be tracking you.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36435076/digital_part_1/|title=Defending against Web snoops|last1=Chen|first1=Brian X.|date=22 February 2016|work=LNP Always Lancaster|publisher=Steinman Communications|agency=New York Times|last2=Singer|first2=Natasha|issue=250|department=Trending|location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania|volume=221|pages=B1, B4|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Rp|B4}} Controls on the software allow selective blocking of the third-party domains based on user preference.{{Rp|B4}} Unlike adblockers, Privacy Badger only blocks those ads which come with embedded trackers.

Privacy Badger has been noted as one recommended tool in a set of tools to protect online privacy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36436965/steps_to_improve_browser_privacy/|title=Steps to take to improve your browser privacy|last=Komando|first=Kim|date=7 September 2014|work=Argus Leader|publisher=Gannett|agency=USA Today|issue=250|department=Voices|location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota|volume=127|page=10C|author-link=Kim Komando|via=Newspapers.com}}

In October 2020, following security disclosures by the Google Security Team, Privacy Badger changed its default behavior. While it would previously learn to block new trackers heuristically after installed, it now defaults to blocking only trackers it already knows from automated testing before release. While it can still be configured to learn heuristically, it is no longer the default option because it can be exploited by third-parties to fingerprint the user based on trackers it blocks.{{cite news|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/10/privacy-badger-changing-protect-you-better|title=Privacy Badger Is Changing to Protect You Better|date=7 October 2020|work=Privacy Badger|publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation|access-date=4 February 2021}}

The alpha version was released on 1 May 2014, followed by a beta on 21 July 2014.{{cite press release|title=Stop sneaky online tracking with EFF's Privacy Badger|date=21 July 2014|publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation|url=https://www.eff.org/press/releases/stop-sneaky-online-tracking-effs-privacy-badger|access-date=4 June 2015}} In April 2017, the EFF announced that Privacy Badger had surpassed one million users.{{Cite news|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/04/one-million-badgers|title=One Million Badgers|last=Quintin|first=Cooper|date=3 April 2017|work=Electronic Frontier Foundation|access-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804002322/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/04/one-million-badgers|archive-date=4 August 2017|url-status=live}}

Several publications reported on Privacy Badger in May 2014, following its alpha release.

Ian Paul, for PC World, mentions that Privacy Badger "only blocks third-party tracking, not first party", and mentions that prevention of browser fingerprinting is planned for a future release.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2150823/eff-introduces-privacy-badger-to-destroy-third-party-tracking-online.html|title=EFF's new Privacy Badger browser add-on closes the prying eyes of online trackers|author=Paul|first=Ian|date=2 May 2014|website=PC World|access-date=28 May 2014}}

Ars Technica notes that if an advertiser makes a commitment to respect Do Not Track requests, their cookies will be unblocked from Privacy Badger.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/05/eff-privacy-badger-plugin-aimed-at-forcing-websites-to-stop-tracking-users/|title=EFF "Privacy Badger" plugin aimed at forcing websites to stop tracking users|last=Brodkin|first=Jon|date=2 May 2014|website=Ars Technica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708191051/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/05/eff-privacy-badger-plugin-aimed-at-forcing-websites-to-stop-tracking-users/|archive-date=8 July 2017|url-status=live|access-date=28 May 2014}}

Nathan Willis, writing for LWN.net, describes the green, yellow, and red sliders of the Privacy Badger menu as being a "nice visualization aid", making it easy for the user to toggle the trackers on and off, if desired – describing it as much easier to browse through than ad blocking add-on interfaces.{{cite web|url=https://lwn.net/Articles/597487/|title=Privacy Badger gives teeth to Do Not Track|last=Willis|first=Nathan|date=7 May 2014|website=LWN.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112331/https://lwn.net/Articles/597487/|archive-date=28 December 2017|url-status=live|access-date=28 May 2014}}

Kif Leswing writing for Gigaom writes, "Privacy Badger’s blacklist is generated through heuristic blocking, which means it gets better the longer it is used", and wrote in May 2014 that Privacy Badger "breaks a lot of websites", but considers it important as it is created by a nonprofit organization, and sums it up as "more than good enough".{{cite web|url=https://gigaom.com/2014/05/11/not-all-ad-blockers-are-the-same-heres-why-the-effs-privacy-badger-is-different/|title=Not all ad blockers are the same. Here's why the EFF's Privacy Badger is different|author=Leswing|first=Kif|date=11 May 2014|work=Gigaom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728104824/https://gigaom.com/2014/05/11/not-all-ad-blockers-are-the-same-heres-why-the-effs-privacy-badger-is-different/|archive-date=28 July 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=28 May 2014}}

Privacy Badger belongs to a class of free tracker blockers which function as web browser plugins.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36435076/digital_part_1/|title=Defending against Web snoops|last1=Chen|first1=Brian X.|date=22 February 2016|work=LNP Always Lancaster|publisher=Steinman Communications|agency=New York Times|last2=Singer|first2=Natasha|issue=250|department=Trending|location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania|volume=221|pages=B1, B4|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Rp|B1}} Tracker blockers similar to Privacy Badger include Disconnect, uBlock Origin, Redmorph and Ghostery.{{Rp|B1}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36436000/evading_trackers/|title=Evading Trackers|last=Gelles|first=Jeff|date=28 June 2015|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|publisher=Philadelphia Media Network|department=Consumer|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|edition=City & Suburbs|page=E12|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36436628/protect_privacy_in_turbulent_times/|title=Protect your privacy during turbulent times|last=Summers|first=Timothy|date=14 October 2017|work=Elko Daily Free Press|publisher=Lee Enterprises|issue=205|department=Opinion|location=Elko, Nevada|volume=134|page=A4|via=Newspapers.com}} Privacy Badger has also been compared favorably to Blur, which has an annual subscription fee.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36436412/5_ways_to_keep_nsa_away/|title=5 things to do to keep NSA from prying into your email|last=Liedtke|first=Michael|date=17 March 2015|work=The Oklahoman|publisher=Oklahoma Publishing Co.|agency=Associated Press|issue=71|department=Innovations|location=Oklahoma City, Oklahoma|volume=124|page=2C}}

{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}

• AdNauseam – A free and open-source browser extension that blocks and clicks on ads served by sites that ignore Do Not Track
• Blur – An open-source application designed to stop non-consensual third party trackers.
• HTTPS Everywhere – A free and open-source browser extension developed by The Tor Project and the EFF that automatically makes websites use the more secure HTTPS connection.
• Switzerland – An open-source network monitoring utility developed by the EFF to monitor network traffic.

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web|author=Tom Cheredar |url=https://www.eff.org/mention/effs-privacy-badger-tells-you-when-websites-ignore-do-not-track-settings |title=EFF's Privacy Badger tells you when websites ignore 'Do Not Track' settings | Electronic Frontier Foundation |publisher=Eff.org |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=28 May 2014}}

{{cite web |title=Privacy Badger FAQ |url=https://www.eff.org/privacybadger |publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation |access-date=22 July 2014 |ref=1}}

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• {{Official website|https://privacybadger.org}}

{{FOSS}}

category:Internet privacy software

category:Electronic Frontier Foundation

category:2014 software

category:Google Chrome extensions

category:Free Firefox WebExtensions

Category:Software using the GNU General Public License