Ad Block Genius Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 1st, 2025

This Privacy Policy describes Ad Block Genius's information practices for its website and browser extension. Your privacy is important to us and we want you to understand what information we collect exactly, how we process them, which pieces you can request us to remove, and how to contact us about this policy. Please read this privacy policy carefully. When it comes to your personal information, most of this policy applies to users who choose to donate to support Ad Block Genius. If all you do is use the extension then you're practically invisible to us except for an anonymous, unique ID.

Responsibility for data collection and processing

Controller

The legal person responsible for the collection, processing and / or use of personal information in connection with our websites and products ("Controller") can be contacted here

What do we classify as personal information?

The purpose of data protection is to protect personal information. Personal information means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person ("data subject"). An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular, by reference to an identifier such as a name, location data, an identification number, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person. This information also includes information in connection with payments.

1. User Data Collection

This section outlines the types of data Ad Block Genius collects from its users.

Anonymous Usage Data (from the extension):

• Extension version number, preferred language, and opt-in for Acceptable Ads.
• List of tabs opened at the time of install for advertising campaign tracking and click fraud protection.
• The number of ads and requests blocked.
• Browser and operating system type.
• An anonymous, unique ID assigned to each installation.

Personal Information:

• IP address, unique ID, and logs of some button clicks (e.g., download or install) when you visit the Ad Block Genius website.
• Your computer's IP address when the extension communicates with Ad Block Genius servers.

Error Reporting Data:

When an error occurs, a report is sent containing anonymous usage information, the current browser version, and a description of the error. The extension will attempt to remove any URL present in the error description.

Server Log Data:

• General requests to Ad Block Genius domains include the IP address (which is anonymized via a hash), browser, operating system, and page address.
• Logs for payment processing include IP address, name, email, address, browser type, operating system, payment amount and type, and partial credit card details (card type, expiration date, and last four digits) if provided.

Analytics Data:

Ad Block Genius uses Google Analytics to collect and aggregate information about traffic patterns and usage of the website and extension. You can find information about Google Analytics’ data collection practices, as well as its privacy policy here.

For users in the European Union and European Economic Area

We use Google Analytics on our Website, Google Analytics is a web analysis service of Google Inc. ("Google"). The information gathered by cookies on your use of our Website (including your abbreviated IP address) is transmitted to a Google server located in the United States and stored there. Google uses this information to assess your use of our Website, to build reports on the activities for us and to provide more services connected with use of our Website and the internet.

You can deactivate Google Analytics by means of a browser add-on if you do not want to participate in Website analysis. You can download this here: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de

2. Data Handling and Purpose of Use

This section explains how the collected data is used.

• General Purpose: The collected usage and analytics information is used internally to maintain and improve the Ad Block Genius extension and website, understand how services are used, and prevent fraud.
• Anonymous Data: This information helps to identify and fix potential issues and to evaluate the performance of the extension's features.
• Error Reports: This data is used for troubleshooting and to identify defects that may lead to crashes or errors.
• Server Logs: General logs are used to generate usage statistics and investigate potential security problems. Payment processing logs are used to gain insights into the financial performance of Ad Block Genius.
• Legal Basis for Processing (for users in EU/EEA): Data processing is based on user consent, the necessity to perform a contract, compliance with legal obligations, or our legitimate interests (such as ensuring security and usability).

3. Data Storage and Retention

This section details how data is stored, for how long, and the security measures in place.

• Security: All collected personal and usage information is stored in our databases, and we take reasonable steps to keep it secure. That said, no database or server is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data. You use Ad Block Genius's website and browser extension at your own risk.
• Data Retention Periods:
  • Aggregate statistics connected to a user's anonymous ID are stored indefinitely.
  • Identifying information like IP addresses are removed from general log files and databases after six months.
  • Error report information is removed from log files and databases after 7 days.
  • General server logs are kept for up to 90 days.
  • Payment processing logs are kept in accordance with tax law retention periods.
• Storage Location: Information gathered by Google Analytics is transmitted to and stored on a Google server in the United States.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

This section clarifies our policies on sharing user data with third parties.

• No Sale of Personal Information: We never have and never will sell your personal information to any third party without your consent.
• Aggregated and Anonymized Data: We sometimes share anonymized and aggregated information, which cannot be associated with an individual, with third parties or the public.
• Legal Compliance: We cooperate with valid United States law enforcement requests and court orders and may disclose personal information as required by law. If possible, we'll notify you of requests for your information. Some circumstances may prohibit us from contacting you about a request (e.g., an order under 18 U.S.C. § 2705(b)).
• "Warrant canary": Ad Block Genius has never received an order under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, and if this sentence ever disappears, you'll know it's because we have received such an order -- or similar order -- and the U.S. Government made us delete it.
• Business Transfers: We will not transfer your personal data to third parties as part of business development without providing advance notice and obtaining your prior permission, unless permitted by GDPR or other applicable EU laws.
• Analytics Provider: Google may transmit Google Analytics data to third parties if required by law or if those third parties process the information on Google's behalf.

What is the legal basis?

Ad Block Genius collects and process your personal information in compliance with the GDPR and the applicable EU laws.

Collection and processing based on your consent: Art. 6 (1) a GDPR, Art. 4 (11) GDPR

We will always ask for your consent to collect and process your personal information for the specific purposes mentionned above, unless the collection and processing of your personal information is permitted by statutory laws. Where you have provided your consent to the collection and processing of your personal information for the above mentionned specific purposes, you have the right to withdraw your consent any time.

Collection and processing is necessary prior to enter into a contract: Art. 6 (1) b GDPR

The collection and processing of your personal information may be necessary for the execution of a contract to which you may be a party. Before entering such contract, the collection and processing of your personal information may also be necessary in order to take steps at your request. This applies for installation and the use of our extension as well as any payment processing in connection with donations.

The collection and processing of your personnal information is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the Controller is subject: Art. 6 (1) c GDPR

The collection and processing of your personal information may be necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which Ad Block Genius is subject under EU laws or the laws of a EU Member State.

The collection and processing of your personal information is necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests: Art. 6 (1) f GDPR

The collection and processing of your personal information may be necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests. We use information collected and processed via subscription downloads, extension update checks, emergency notifications and feedback data sent by you, for technical reasons, including but not limited to, ensuring the security of the extension version used by you. Ensuring the security of Ad Block Genius extension is in your and our vital interest and therefore we use such data. We collect and process server logs for technical reasons, including but not limited to, preventing denial of service attacks. Denial of service is typically operated by flooding a targeted machine or resource with superfluous requests attempting to overload systems and prevent some or all legitimate requests from being fulfilled. Preventing such overloads of our systems and any security issues by denial of service attacks is in your and our vital interest and therefore we use the website logs. Furthermore, we collect and process such data to make sure that our website and extension are constantly improved and adapted to the changing requirements for an efficient usability and the technical environment. Ensuring the usability of Ad Block Genius websites and extension is in your and our vital interest and therefore we use such data.

What are your rights?

In accordance with the GDPR and the applicable EU laws and to the extent legally permitted, you have the following rights to protect your personal information collected and processed by us:

Information, access, rectification and restriction rights

You have the right to request and receive details about the personal information stored by us about you and information about how we collect, process and store your personal information. Where that is the case, you have the right to gain access to your personal information stored by us. You have the right to request the rectification of your inaccurate personal information. Taking into account the purposes of collecting and processing your data, you have the right to have incomplete personal information completed. You have the right to request restriction of processing.

Erasure of your data

You have the right to request from us the erasure of your personal information, where one of the following grounds applies:

• If we no longer need your personal information for the aforementioned purposes.
• If you chose to withdraw your consent on which the collection and processing is based and where there are no other legal grounds for the collection and processing.
• If you object to the collection and processing and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the collection and processing.

Please note, if some data needs to be retained for legal purposes pursuant to Art. 17 (3) GDPR, we will restrict the use of such data.

Data portability

You are also entitled (a) to receive all personal information related to you and which you have provided to us, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and (b) to transmit that data to another controller.

Right to file a complaint with a supervisory authority

You have the right to file a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement if you consider that the collection and processing of personal information relating to you infringes the GDPR.

Right to object to the processing of your data

You have the right to object, at any time, to the collection and processing of your personal information on grounds relating to your particular situation, when collection and processing is based on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) f GDPR).

Consent withdrawal at any time

You are entitled to withdraw your consent at any time, when you have provided us with your consent to the collection and processing of your personal information for one or more specific purposes.

Acceptable Ads

Ad Block Genius earns revenue by using an Acceptable Ads model. At the top of Google’s search results page. If you click on one of these links, a share of the ad revenue is directed to us.

These search results are independently generated. They are tailored to the keyword you entered and appear only in select markets. If you wish to opt-out of these links, you may do so by contacting us.

Changes and updates to this policy

We reserve the right to change this policy for any reason, and may make changes to this policy with or without notice.

Each time this policy is changed we will revise the "Effective Date" at the top of this page. When substantial changes are made to the disclosure of your personal information we will attempt to notify you.

Your continued use of the Ad Block Genius website or browser extension constitutes your agreement to this Privacy Policy and any revisions or updates.

Contact

You are always very welcome to contact us for questions, comments or suggestion about our privacy policy using the form below or by regular mail :