Is AdGuard AdBlocker Safe? — Extension Safety Profile

This extension requests broad permissions to block ads and manage web requests across all websites. The host access combined with webRequest, declarativeNetRequest, and scripting APIs is expected for a content blocker—it needs to inspect and modify network traffic and page elements to filter advertisements and trackers. The tabs and cookies permissions allow it to manage browser tabs and read cookie information for advanced filtering rules, which is typical for this category.

General-purpose ad blockers are powerful tools that can see and alter every page you visit. A careful user should be aware that, while this is necessary for functionality, it also means the extension has the technical capability to observe browsing activity. For any ad-blocking extension, it is wise to review its privacy policy and, if available, its open-source code to understand what data is or isn't logged. The developer's privacy declarations state they collect location data and do not sell it, but the permissions scope means trust in the publisher's implementation is essential.

The fact sheet shows a strong maintenance record and excellent community reputation, with a high user count and rating. The weakest dimension is the permissions scope itself, which is inherently broad but justified by the extension's purpose. The publisher identity score is moderate, suggesting some but not all verification factors are in place.