The Internet Junkbuster Proxy or Guidescope's?

Which ad blocking software is right for you?

Why block ads?

There are three main reasons that millions of people use ad-blocking software.

Speed: it reduces the World-Wide-Wait for banner ads to load on your browser. Your browsing gets much faster.
Quiet: Animated banner ads that flash and move while you're trying to read are distracting. They're designed that way. You can stop them from wasting your time.
Privacy: Cookies used by ad networks to track your movements on the Web may be associated with your real identity and used to invade your privacy. If you block the ads, they never get to place this tracking device on your computer.

What is Guidescope?

Guidescope is the name of a software company that provides an advanced real-time ad-blocking service. Since 2005 the company also maintains the Junkbusters web site and other resources. Guidescope's flagship product, also called Guidescope, is separate from the Internet Junkbuster (though the two products do have certain compatibilities). Junkbusters staff assisted Guidescope to establish its service and have always recommended it.

How does Guidescope's software compare with the Internet Junkbuster?

Both products operate as proxy servers and have similar internal technical characteristics, but there are some key differences.

The Guidescope product is much easier to install and configure than the Internet Junkbuster.
The Guidescope company maintains a central database of known ads, which its software queries as you browse. This allows it to block more ads more accurately than is feasible with techniques that rely on pattern-matching.
If you manage to find an ad that isn't already in its database, Guidescope's graphical interface lets you easily zap it. The information about the ad then gets added to the company's database where it can be shared with other users. This way everyone benefits from each others' zapping.
There are also other features and benefits in Guidescope besides ad blocking, explained on the Guidescope site.
Other considerations about using Guidescope: source code is not yet available it doesn't run on as many operating systems as the Internet Junkbuster; it has to constantly check back with its database as you browse, and the service is free only for individual users. Commercial entities are charged a small fee for using the ad-filtering service.
Various technical advantages and differences of Guidescope are explained on the Guidescope site, including the treatment of the console and HTTP/1.1.

Which product should I consider using?

We recommend using Guidescope unless there's some reason why you can't or shouldn't, which is the case only for a small percentage of people. So go check it out.

For the technically obsessive, there's a flowchart below. Whichever you choose, you should read the product descriptions and license carefully, as always.

Are you very experienced in computer technology? If so, skip to step 3. If you're not very experienced, proceed to step 2.
Is the computer you're using running one of the following: Windows 95, 98, NT, XP, ME or 2000? If so, use Guidescope. If you're using a Macintosh or other OS, check out our list of alternative products.
Could you run the Guidescope proxy on a platform for which it is available? (These are currently the Microsoft OS variants in the previous step, Solaris and Linux.) If so, proceed to the next step. If not, use the Internet Junkbuster.
Do you need source code right now? If so, use the Internet Junkbuster. If not, proceed to the next step.
Do you have any problem with the following qualities of Guidescope: the real-time checking against the database of known ads, or the fee charged to institutions (not individual users). If so, use Internet Junkbuster. If not, Guidescope.