It's common knowledge that the Internet is crawling with ads, whether you're trying to read newspapers, play videos, check the weather, or just take a minute to verify your inbox.
Adguard Web Filter's purpose is to block online advertisements (banners and messages) to ensure instant gratification when it comes to a smooth and uninterrupted browsing experience. Apart from this convenience, the utility also acts like a shield against malicious and phishing Internet pages.
The trial version expires after only 14 days but does not impose any restrictions. The full edition of Adguard Web Filter can be purchased for $19.95 / €14.95 (standard license for 1 year) or $59.95 / €49.95 (lifetime standard license).
The installation procedure is quick. Setting up an Adguard account is optional but not mandatory. Users should keep in mind that any open web browser will be automatically closed during this time. Once run, the anti-ad layer is integrated into all installed browsers.
An initial configuration can be made at startup and later modified. It focuses on the interface language, HTTPS filtration (secure connections) and Adguard filtration mode.
The last one is able to disable social media widgets (such as Like button that can track browsing activity) together with counters and web analytics (issues a Do Not Track signal to prevent marketing companies from collecting browsing activity statistics).
Starting with version 5.8, Adguard introduces a feature that allows useful ads when browsing the Internet. “Useful” is labeled by the developer and takes into account results which generate context-based ads, minimal level of distraction from the site content (text-based ads are preferred to sound and animation), and so on. Users may also contact the makers for requesting ads to include in this exclusion list.
The interface is clean and intuitive, having all main components broken down into categories and subcategories. Two viewing modes (basic and extended) either collapse or extend the subcategories.
Protection can be easily disabled and re-enabled with the click of a button, along with the ad blocker and browsing security modules. Statistics show the total size of processed and saved traffic information, removed ads and total web pages, total verified objects and web pages, as well as potentially dangerous requests that were blocked. These can be reset. Apart from reporting an ad that the app failed to remove (along with phishing or malicious sites), it is possible to create an exception list with sites whose ads (all present on the site) will not be filtered.
Individual protection components can be disabled in extended view. The user filter makes room for creating own rules when filtering ads, as an alternative to using Adguard Assistant. Other filters are created specifically for English, Russian, German, Japanese, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese content, as well as for countering spyware agents.
Similarly, phishing and malicious site blocking may be deactivated for Adguard's own filters and Google's black lists. Last but not least, statistics concerning traffic, the ad blocker or browsing components may be inspected in graphical view on the current or previous day, previous week or month, or for all time.
Adguard Assistant is a feature that integrates into web browsers and lets users remove any type of content from a page, like pictures or banners. It also shows the current domain's reputation according to Web of Trust. In order to block a specific element, it is necessary to make a selection and, optionally increase or decrease the area. Advanced settings apply the rule to all websites and block elements by URL. The tool offers a preview.
Furthermore, it is possible to create exceptions for the current page or entire website (e.g. disable elements hiding, content filtration and URL blocking rules), temporarily disable ad blocking (for 30 seconds), and undo the last action. All modifications with excluded elements made from the current web browser apply to all other installed browsers as well.
As far as general settings are concerned, the program can run at system startup until further notice, automatically check for updates on a regular basis, skip using Adguard Assistant, and activate the most appropriate filters automatically (language-oriented). Options may be restored to default.
Once again, extended view provides access to additional settings in regard to the ad blocker, browsing security, assistant, browsers, network, and logging. Creating custom rules for filters is not easy, and users should first consult the how-to guide.
Notifications for sound and blocked requests to malicious websites can be deactivated for the browsing security module, while the Adguard Assistant may be repositioned and resized on the screen. Web browsers can be excluded from filtering or deleted from the list, while new ones can be added by simply pointing out their executable file.
When it comes to network configuration, it is possible to use proxies, automatically filter browser traffic or use Adguard as an HTTP proxy, as well as use the WFP network driver. These settings may be restored to their factory parameters as well. Finally, program logs may be created at a base or detailed level, thus allowing users to evaluate Adguard's activity and compare statistics.
The Good
The app is compatible with all popular Windows versions, including Windows 8/8.1 (32 and 64 bit). It features multiple UI languages and help documentation, along with brief descriptions throughout the interface.
Adguard Assistant did an excellent job during our evaluation. Furthermore, CPU and RAM usage was low in our case (Intel Core i5-3470 with CPU 3.20GHz and 12GB RAM on Windows 8.1 Pro).
The Bad
Creating tailor-made filters is not designed for casual users. Even with the how-to guide presented online, it involves some experience with HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
While toggling the basic and extended interface mode, the app got stuck at some point and we couldn't resize or move the main frame until restart.
A lifetime standard license costs a bit too much.
The Truth
Although it's a little rough around the edges, Adguard Web Filter does a very job at hiding advertisements while surfing the Internet, thus giving users the original browsing experience before the age of ad-bloated websites. Tyler Durden is somewhere looking at us with pride right now.
NOTE
14 DAY TRIAL // 
