Adblock

What is Adblock?

Adblock blocks ads and trackers system-wide using predefined blocklists, preventing intrusive advertisements and tracking scripts from loading on websites you visit.

How it works

Adblock uses a curated list of known advertising and tracking domains. When enabled, requests to these domains are blocked at the system level, preventing ads and trackers from loading before they can display or collect data.

Privacy Benefits

• Blocks intrusive advertisements
• Prevents tracking scripts from collecting your data
• Reduces data usage by blocking ad content
• Improves page load times
• Protects against malvertising (malicious ads)

Important Considerations

Website Functionality: Some websites may not function properly if ads are blocked. You can disable adblock or add specific domains to the safelist if needed.

Customization: You can view and manage blocked domains, and add specific domains to the safelist if they need to be allowed.

Choose how Adblock enforces the blocklist

Stealth Adblock uses hosts-file mode publicly. Private builds can use Stealth DNS in tunnel-only mode without changing physical adapter DNS.

System (hosts file)

Writes a capped local blocklist directly into the Windows hosts file at C:\\Windows\\System32\\drivers\\etc\\hosts. Every app and browser on this PC will route those blocked domains to 127.0.0.1. Requires administrator privileges to update the file. The list is intentionally smaller than Stealth DNS to avoid overloading Windows DNS Client.

Stealth DNS

Private-only. When the VPN tunnel is active, Stealth pushes the resolver into the WireGuard adapter. It does not pin DNS on Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapters.

Switching

Switching engines removes legacy Stealth DNS enforcement state before applying the selected backend.