{
  "slug": "hblock",
  "category": "ad-blockers",
  "name": "hBlock",
  "description": "POSIX shell script for Unix-like systems that builds a hosts file blocking domains that serve ads, tracking scripts and malware, using several public blocklists.",
  "website": "https://hblock.molinero.dev",
  "source": "https://github.com/hectorm/hblock",
  "license": "MIT",
  "platforms": [],
  "jurisdiction": null,
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "B",
  "score": 88,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "hBlock scores 88 out of 100 (grade B) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 6 of 7 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, effective by default, no browsing data collected and custom filters. It does not meet independent audit.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/ad-blockers/hblock/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/ad-blockers/hblock/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/hectorm/hblock/blob/master/LICENSE.md",
      "note": "MIT."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/hectorm/hblock",
      "note": "No telemetry or analytics in the source code."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/hectorm/hblock#readme",
      "note": "Free, open-source script with no ads."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "blocks_by_default": {
      "title": "Effective by default",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/hectorm/hblock/blob/master/SOURCES.md",
      "note": "Uses a default set of ad, tracking and malware blocklists."
    },
    "no_data_collection": {
      "title": "No browsing data collected",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/hectorm/hblock",
      "note": "Runs locally and only downloads blocklists. No data is sent to the developer."
    },
    "custom_filters": {
      "title": "Custom filters",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/hectorm/hblock/blob/master/hblock",
      "note": "Supports custom sources, an allowlist and a denylist."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:00:36.877Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}