Top RequestPolicy Alternatives for Enhanced Online Privacy and Security
RequestPolicy was a beloved extension for Mozilla browsers, empowering users with granular control over cross-site requests to boost privacy and security. However, as software evolves, so does the need for modern, maintained, and feature-rich alternatives. If you're looking to replicate or even enhance the privacy and security features RequestPolicy offered, you're in the right place. This guide explores the best RequestPolicy alternative options available today across various platforms and browsers.
Best RequestPolicy Alternatives
Whether you're concerned about trackers, scripts, or intrusive ads, there's a RequestPolicy alternative designed to give you back control. Dive into our curated list to find the perfect solution for your browsing habits.
Ghostery
Ghostery is a freemium RequestPolicy alternative that excels at revealing and blocking trackers, web bugs, and other hidden elements on websites. It's available on a wide range of platforms including Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone, iPad, and popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. Its core features include a robust tracker blocker, ad blocking, and a browser extension for seamless integration, making it an excellent choice for those wanting to see and control who's tracking them.
NoScript
NoScript is a powerful, free, and open-source RequestPolicy alternative primarily for Firefox and other Mozilla-based browsers. It allows users to execute JavaScript, Java, Flash, and other plugins only from trusted websites, providing strong anti-XSS and anti-Clickjacking protection. This makes it a formidable tool for advanced users seeking fine-grained control over active content, much like RequestPolicy's focus on cross-site requests.
uMatrix
uMatrix is a free and open-source RequestPolicy alternative that offers a point-and-click matrix-based firewall for controlling all types of requests made by your browser. It's available for Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome, Opera, Chromium, and Firefox. With uMatrix, you have full control over where your browser connects, what data it downloads, and what it executes, making it an exceptional choice for privacy-conscious users who want to block ads, scripts, and more with an outbound firewall and request filter.
Flashblock
Flashblock is a free RequestPolicy alternative focused specifically on blocking Macromedia Flash content, available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Firefox. It takes a pessimistic approach, blocking all Flash content by default and providing placeholders to view it on demand. This is ideal for reducing bandwidth usage and preventing unwanted Flash executions, similar to how RequestPolicy would block certain content.
ScriptSafe
ScriptSafe, formerly known as ScriptNo, is a free and open-source RequestPolicy alternative that brings some of NoScript's functionality to Chrome, Vivaldi, Opera, Chromium, and Firefox, emphasizing simplicity and intuitiveness. It's available on Mac, Windows, and Linux and includes a built-in script blocker, making it a good choice for users who want script control without the complexity of more advanced tools.
Kill Evil
Kill Evil is a free and open-source RequestPolicy alternative for Chrome on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It's a browser extension that mercilessly removes or disables common annoyances like disabled right-click and window pop-ups on all pages, except those you whitelist. It can even work without JavaScript, providing a simple yet effective way to control unwanted browser behaviors.
LibreJS
GNU LibreJS is a free and open-source RequestPolicy alternative specifically for GNU IceCat and other Mozilla-based browsers like Firefox, available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD. It focuses on the ethical aspect of JavaScript, blocking nonfree nontrivial JavaScript while allowing free and/or trivial scripts. For users deeply concerned about software freedom and privacy, LibreJS offers a unique, principled approach to script control.
Negotiator
Negotiator is a free and open-source RequestPolicy alternative that offers custom cleaning and blocking of HTTP requests. Available across a wide range of platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, Chrome OS, Android Tablet, BSD, iPad, Chrome, Haiku, and Firefox, it combines blocking features similar to RequestPolicy with referer changes. Users define their own filters and actions, providing a high degree of customization for experienced users.
Priv3
Priv3 is a free and open-source RequestPolicy alternative specifically for Firefox on Mac, Windows, Linux, Windows Mobile, iPhone, and iPad. It tackles social networking site tracking, ensuring that sites like Facebook, Google+, and Twitter only learn about your web visits when you explicitly interact with their buttons. It functions as a browser extension to block ads and offers enhanced privacy, making it a targeted solution for social media privacy concerns.
Beef Taco
Beef Taco (Targeted Advertising Cookie Opt-Out) is a free and open-source RequestPolicy alternative for Firefox and the Web. Its primary function is to set permanent opt-out cookies, stopping behavioral advertising from over 100 different advertising networks, including major players like Google and Yahoo. While not directly controlling requests like RequestPolicy, it achieves a similar privacy goal by preventing targeted ads through cookie management.
Each RequestPolicy alternative offers a unique approach to online privacy and security. Consider your specific needs, preferred browser, and technical comfort level when choosing the best fit. Whether you prioritize script blocking, ad control, or general tracking prevention, there's a powerful tool waiting to empower your browsing experience.