APRIL 2020 MACWORLD 23development of built-in Safari anti-tracking
features [go.macworld.com/antr].)
However, 1Blocker didn’t require these
extra features. Version 3 upgrades its
code, overhauls its interface, and shifts it
into a Mac App Store install. But it’s mostly
the same app, though it’s easier to use in
nearly every respect.
Because 1Blocker relies on the
content-blocking rules allowed in Safari
(go.macworld.com/blrl), its only real
limitation is how many rules Apple allows
at once—50,000 per extension. To work
around this, 1Blocker has split its current
110,000-plus ruleset into multiple
extensions, each focused on a specific
category, like ad trackers, “annoyances”
(cookie usage pop-up notices), and adult
sites. These are set via Safari →
Preferences → Extensions. For each
extension type, you need to enable the
extension in Safari and separately flip a
switch in 1Blocker.
Two categories that you might consider
not enabling include comment loading and
“social widgets.” Many sites rely on third-
party comment systems, like Disqus. If you
want to use commenting, then you’ll need
to either keep this category turned off or
use on/off switches for individual rules in
the Block Comments ruleset to enable just
the settings you need.
Social widget blocking prevents
buttons and code loading on a site you
visit that’s imported from Facebook,
Twitter, and many other sites. If you use
social sharing routinely, leaving this
category disabled makes sense, but many
people prefer to not trust what information
leaks about their behavior to third-party
networks. (Some sites build social sharing
in such a way that they don’t pass your
details along, and would be unaffected.)
1Blocker labels many of its individual
rules with the name of the site or serviceClick the 1Blocker button to see basic infor-
mation and change settings, such as whitelis-
ting the site to bypass all rules.