Surfshark is the first VPN provider to launch a Cookie popup blocker
Tired of seeing cookie popups when visiting new sites? Surfshark has a fix.
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Cookie popups in yourbrowsercan distract you while you work which is why theVPNproviderSurfsharkhas added a new feature to its browser extensions designed to block them all together.
For those unfamiliar,cookie popupswhich are also known as cookie consent popups or banners, are notifications users see when entering websites that need to comply with the transparency requirements ofGDPR. They usually request that users provide consent for websites to collect browsing information and can be quite annoying.
This is why Surfshark has added a Cookie popup blocker to its browser extensions forChromeandFirefoxwhich is available for free to all users of its VPN service.
Surfshark CEO Vytautas Kaziukonis explained in a press release why the company decided to add a cookie popup blocker to itsVPN browser extension, saying:
“When browsing websites, people are frequently forced to accept cookies before they can access the content. Unfortunately, too often, designs manipulate users into clicking ‘yes,’ while certain websites have been found ignoring people’s choices entirely. Inspired by the overarching frustrations, we’ve decided to develop a new feature to our browser extensions that will help bypass cookie consent popups.”
Cookie popup blocker
Surfhsark’s Cookie popup blocker works by employingCSSrules and network request blocking to hide popup elements as well as block specific network requests. However, if these two methods fail, the feature automatically chooses “accept”.
Whether or not these methods work depends on how a website has implemented its consent cookies. For instance, some websites apply cookies to their users' by default until they click “reject” while other websites likeGooglerun this element until a user clicks “accept”.
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While Surfshark’s Cookie popup blocker is designed to enhance the web experience of its users by helping them bypass cookie consent popups, it’s not meant to enhance privacy protection. Still though, it could certainly help boost yourproductivityas you won’t have to waste time clicking “accept” or “reject” when visiting new websites.
Interested users runningGoogleChrome can test out Surfshark’s new Cookie popup blocker by installing the company’sChrome extensionwhile this feature will be added to itsFirefox add-onlater this year.
Looking to protect your privacy online? Check out our list of thebest VPNservices
After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
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