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Tech · Victoria

Victoria's Shift Browser builds a free ad and tracker blocker into its browser

Blocker runs on the open-source adblock-rust engine, needs no extension and lets users choose filter lists; video-ad blocking comes with Shift Advanced.

By West Coast News staff ·
The east entrance to Bastion Square in Victoria at night
Bastion Square in downtown Victoria at night.

Shift Technologies, the Victoria, B.C. company behind Shift Browser, on Thursday launched Blocker, a built-in tool that stops ads, pop-ups and tracking scripts without a separate extension. Blocker is free for all Shift users, and blocking of video ads is included in the paid Shift Advanced tier.

Blocker runs on adblock-rust, an open-source ad-blocking engine, and checks pages against continuously updated filter lists. Users can choose filter lists and allow ads and trackers on specific pages or sites.

“Our users come to Shift because they want more say in how they browse,” said CEO Neil Henderson. “Blocker brings that same idea to privacy and advertising.”

Shift organizes apps, accounts and tabs into customizable Spaces. The company is part of the Redbrick portfolio and is a Certified B Corp.

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