GlimmerBlocker

Free

GlimmerBlocker overview

GlimmerBlocker is a different kind of ad blocker. The problem with other ad blockers for Safari is that they are implemented as awful hacks: as an InputManager and/or ApplicationEnhancer. This compromises the stability of Safari and very often creates problems when Apple releases a new version. GlimmerBlocker is implemented as an HTTP proxy, so the stability of Safari isn't compromised because it doesn't use any hacks. It is even compatible with all other browsers.

You'll always be able to upgrade Safari without breaking GlimmerBlocker (or waiting for a new release); and you'll be able to upgrade GlimmerBlocker without upgrading Safari. This makes it much easier to use the beta versions of Safari and especially the nightly builds of WebKit. Because GlimmerBlocker doesn't hack Safari, there is a few things it isn't able to do: adding a block by right-clicking an image, stopping pop-unders, and filtering cookies from 3rd party sites. But you win a lot in stability, and GlimmerBlocker provides much easier methods for adding your own modifications to pages by adding CSS rules, pieces of JavaScript or by transforming the HTML before Safari receives it. So I hope you're happy with the tradeoff.

If you can program in JavaScript you'll be able to add your own modifications to pages. See the included filters for examples, e.g., adding a download link to YouTube.

What’s new in version 1.6.6

Updated on Sep 17 2015

Version 1.6.6:

Bug fixes and better upgrader

Fix crasher when activating/de-activating GlimmerBlocker on some OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) systems. Reported by Alex K.
Use CONNECT/SOCKS etc for CONNECT requets when a site-wide proxy has been specified. Reported by Adam J.
Minor fixes:

Better log (in debug mode) when connect fails.
Fix syntax bug in parser.
Timeout for socket reads in CONNECT requests.
Improved naming of threads Suppress "EXCEPTION WHILE USING CONNECTION" when Safari aborts connection while downloading file.

View older GlimmerBlocker updates

Information

License

Free

Size

60.9 MB

Developer’s website

http://glimmerblocker.org/

Downloads

61880

App requirements

Intel 64
OS X 10.9 or later

0.0

(0 Reviews of )

There are no reviews yet

Comments
User Ratings

misterjspencer

May 8 2019

1.6.6

4.0

Version: 1.6.6

Is this still being maintained, are scripts being updated?

Bonobo

Jan 13 2017

5.0

GlimmerBlocker has for a long time been one of the essential softwares on all my Macs and it still is :-) THANK YOU!

George6

Nov 19 2016

hm, i m trying this, because adblock plus gets detected by more and more sites, and using anti adblock scripts are not the way. sadly it seems to me that glimmerblocker filter lists are not too greatly maintained, some of the user lists on the websites are even outdated links which you can't subscribe to anymore. atm you need to add some rules to each of your favourite sites first. that would be ok if the ui was a bit nicer, but sadly it is pretty old, seemingly from 10.4 or so. why does it use the system preferences anyway? it's a proxy, so a web gui would be the logical choice, allowing you to maintain your settings from the browsers itself. anyway, if you get the hang of it, it works. not in beauty, but it works. i just wish the dev would give it a complete overhaul, the increasing adblock detection on websites maybe gives this project a new user base, and makes it worth the effort! (tested on 10.10)

Guest

Oct 24 2015

Nope. Doesn't work on El Capitan. After upgrading to El Capitan from Yosemite, I did a clean uninstall of GB plus hard wipe (i.e. manually deleting every last trace of GB, including installer receipts) followed by a reboot (after installation) and another reboot (after GB & Network setup as per instructions on the GB website), and nothing happens. GlimmerBlocker sits around idle at ca. 0.1% CPU load, internet access, VPN and everything else works, but Safari, Chrome and the other apps still show all the ads that are supposed to be blocked by GB. (I'm using the extended LittleSnitch script that leaves local web servers alone, e.g. printer servers.) It's a preference pane that I desperately want to have working on my system, but it simply won't (Yosemite 10.11.1, GB 1.6.6). It's a catastrophe… don't wanna use Adblock Plus.

Oct 20 2015

I have tried them all, ad block plus on safari, perl scripts working through squid, and privoxy. This is the easiest install and set up of filters. The problem is the filters are not perfect and there is not enough going on in the creation of filters, on the filter page of the glimmer blocker web site. I have found a few others across the web even tried to make one of my own (not brilliant) Filter creators please step up, especially if you could convert the adblock plus filter

Oct 19 2015

Worked for me on Yosemite, but does not work on El Capitan installed this morning. Activated, it blocks my internet connection, and had a prompt that says "Problem performing the request. Try deactivate and reactivate GlimmerBlocker". One of the early prompt of El Capitan, after its installation, said that GlimmerBlocker is not compatible with this version of OSX. I'll wait for an update, but in the meantime, I deactive it.

pa-geographer

Sep 19 2015

Version 1.6.6 not compatible with OS X 10.9 as stated here. Requires 10.10 or later.

MichaelHaeusler

Aug 10 2015

1.6.5

0.5

Version: 1.6.5

It says "OS X 10.9" or later, but in reality it's not compatible with Yosemite (10.10.4) and Safari 8.0.7, latest Firefox etc. with LittleSnitch. Tried the new LittleSnitch script for 10.9, even tried Glimmerblocker beta (1.6.6b42), but no use. Such a great app, but the current OS is not supported. Don't even bother. Willing to give it a good rating again, but it needs to be updated first.

Jacblac

May 29 2015

For whatever it may be worth, after reinstalling Yosemite 10.10.3 (Safari kept freezing, despite my sundry efforts to fix it), i got a window saying that GlimmerBlocker (1.6.5) is incompatible w. this version of the OS. Safari still acted up after the reinstallation, so i trashed the different bits of GlimmerBlocker, & now Safari works as it should.

Zx81

Feb 1 2015

"GlimmerBlocker is implemented as an HTTP proxy" ; I need help here. Does this mean every page I view goes through a kind of GlimmerBlocker Proxy (& would cause security and privacy problems?) Thanks.

ylluminate

Jan 6 2015

1.6

Version: 1.6

Absolutely essential. This is definitely one of the first installs on new workstations that we have. I do use a couple other items in conjunction, but this is super useful and handy and the additional logging facilities are very useful as a developer for debugging, etc. from time to time.

Fuhayer

Jan 3 2015

i paused AdBlock and tried this to see its performance but it did not block all the ads that Adblock did in some sites. it needs more work to block all ads.

Madmacmad

Jan 2 2015

still the Best!!!! don't look further.... forget this fxxk Adblocker in Safari & other Browsers... this is the ultimative Weapon and you can easy customize it! Kudos & Respect to the Dev... i use it since the beginning on all my Mac's... Thank you to keep it Free and for the Updates!!!!

tfigs

Nov 30 2014

1.5.3

Version: 1.5.3

Works in Yosemite despite the warning that it doesn't. I tried the Safari extensions AdBlock and also AdBlock Plus. Both were fine but I would have trouble with some pages loading correctly. GlimmerBlocker just works.

Dec 31 2013

is it true that adblockers are selling advertising bypass to the ad people? At least so i read on a comment down at lifehacker

Oct 29 2013

Version 1.5.1 works fine with Mavericks AND with Oracle's Java SE 7.. The current version, 1.5.3, for some reason requires Apple's old Java SE 6.

Jazzyguy

Oct 23 2013

It WILL work in Mavericks Go to the Developer's Web Site and follow the instructions to download the Java which is an integral part of it.You may have to download twice but it definitely works in Mavericks. 5 stars for sure!

Rollerdl

Not compatable with OS X Maverick yet. :(

SickTeddyBear

Jul 17 2013

Developer Quote: "The problem with other ad-blockers for Safari is that they are implemented as awful hacks: as an InputManager and/or ApplicationEnhancer." It seems to me that with the advent of extensions for Safari, and the specific availability of the AdBlock extension, that GlimmerBlocker has become much less necessary than it did in the past. There are obviously use cases where GlimmerBlocker provides needed features that AdBlock does not, but for the average person, I no longer see a purpose for this program.