GlimmerBlocker for Mac

CNET Editors' review

by: Chris Page on May 05, 2013

Pop-up advertising impacts most users' Web browsing experience. GlimmerBlocker for Mac blocks most advertisements adequately, all while stopping the need for reinstallation after browser updates.

Download of GlimmerBlocker for Mac completed quickly and the program installed as a separate application modified from the main computer preferences menu. Unlike other third-party ad blocking applications, this program is outside of the Web browser, itself, which prevents it from being deleted or modified when the browser updates. The application has no menu of its own during operations and works in the background to prevent animated ads from playing. Support for product updates is available and the application automatically checks for them at certain time intervals. The program's settings menu has a number of useful options, which allow the user to view blocking reports, add additional filtering, and track suspected Web pages. During our tests while web browsing, the program appeared to block relevant ads, and the history forms showed the different Web services that were blocked. While the program worked well, some of the advanced features would have been more useful with user instructions included.

For those who need a pop-up ad blocker that works outside a Web browser, GlimmerBlocker for Mac performs well, although average Mac users may not be able to take advantage of its advanced features.