How does Surfshark CleanWeb protect you from ads and trackers?

Cleaning up the web, one ad at a time

Features By Mark Gill published 28 September 2024

Surfshark's CleanWeb feature is often described as an ad blocker, but that doesn't quite do it justice. Not only does CleanWeb put a stop to those annoying ads and cookie pop-up requests that spoil your browsing experience, but it also alerts you to data breaches and malware threats.

Whether you're thinking about switching to Surfshark, one of the best VPNs we've reviewed, or you're a current subscriber, I'll provide you with all the information you need to make the most of CleanWeb. This includes taking you through how its ad and malware tools work – and how to get it set up on your device in just a few clicks. 

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What is CleanWeb? 

CleanWeb is Surfshark's built-in ad-blocking tool. This consists of an ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, data breach alerts, and malware alerts, all of which can quickly and easily be toggled on or off as and when they're needed.

Included with all Surfshark subscriptions, CleanWeb makes your browsing experience that much more enjoyable by putting a stop to all of those invasive ads and pop-ups, along with the equally repetitive cookie requests that crop up every time you visit a new site. 

Surfshark provides two versions of CleanWeb. The first was introduced via its desktop, mobile, and Amazon Fire TV apps, and is capable of blocking ads and trackers as long as the VPN is connected. In fact, this can even put a stop to video ads on your Smart TV.

One thing you may notice when you find this feature within the SurfShark app is that it's accompanied by a message that says: "Use our browser extension for advanced ad, tracker and malware blocking." This refers to Surfshark’s new-and-improved CleanWeb 2.0.

Having listened to user feedback, Surfshark introduced CleanWeb 2.0 which added a cookie pop-up blocker, data breach alerts, and malware alerts. The other key difference is that CleanWeb 2.0 is only available via Surfshark's Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browser extensions.

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