Ad-blockers are a common add on, most Browsers can run them.  Optional extensions though, not built in, so looks like Vic has found a first!  I’m using AdBlocker+ on Firefox, opened up slightly on this site so I only see less intrusive ads.

Plenty of other Browser Extensions available: translators, customisers, cache managers, games, password managers, and containers etc.  Apart from Ad-blocker+ I limit myself to a UK Spell Checker, DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials and Privacy Badger.   The last two block trackers.   I’ve also used an extension that allows my Browser to pretend to be another: useful sometimes!

Although Microsoft have every right to make money, I won’t use Edge or Bing because they both collect activity data that’s used to develop my profile as a way of targetting adverts and maybe for more nefarious purposes.  Microsoft are pretty intrusive: required by law to ask permission, they keep trying, perhaps by implying an upgrade won’t finished until you do.  Annoyingly, major OS updates often overwrite user security settings, so they all have to be reset manually.  I guess they hope people will get fed up and just tick all the ‘yes’ boxes.

My main concern with firms collecting my data is that the information might be sold on by an employee out to make a fast buck, or the company might be hacked.   It happens!  TalkTalk, who should have known better, were hacked a few years ago.   Therefore I do my best to minimise leaks!

Dave