This article needs to be updated. (January 2017) |
IronVest (formerly Abine Blur and DoNotTrackMe),[1] is a browser extension for blocking trackers on the Internet developed by Abine, a privacy company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and first released for Firefox in March 2011.[2] There is a free version, and a paid one with more features.
DoNotTrackMe (DNTMe) blocked Internet tracking activity, which Abine defined as "a request that a webpage tries to make your browser perform that will share information intended to record, profile, or share your online activity".[3] DNTMe was available for Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer browsers.[1] In July 2012, the company claimed 1,500,000 downloads.[4] In October 2013, Abine reported that they could not develop DNTMe for smartphones and tablets due to technical limitations but were working on other mobile products.[1]
An associated add-on, MaskMe, provided users with masked email addresses without charge, and masked telephone numbers and disposable virtual credit cards for a subscription charge. A masked email address can be given by a user to an organization so that they can address email to it which is redirected to the user's real address—never provided to the sender. Masked telephone numbers work similarly. Virtual credit cards are used once, online only, then deleted, so that the card details cannot be used for later fraud.[1]
In November 2014, Abine announced Blur as a replacement for their DoNotTrackMe and MaskMe services, with both free and paid options.[5][6][7]
Blur later became IronVest, and was rated "outstanding" by PCMag.[8]
See also edit
- DeleteMe, another service by Abine
- uBlock Origin – an ad-blocker
- Disconnect Mobile – An open source application to stop third-party trackers.
- Ghostery – A privacy and security-related browser extension.
- Privacy Badger – An ad- and cookie-blocker browser extension.
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Abine FAQs". Blur, DeleteMe [permanent dead link]
- ^ Kirk, Jeremy. "Abine Releases Do-not-track Browser Add-on". IDG Consumer & SMB. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
- ^ Felix, Samantha. "This Is How Facebook Is Tracking Your Internet Activity". Business Insider. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
- ^ Bhatti, Jay (July 18, 2012). "Online Privacy Start-up Abine.com crosses 1.5 million downloads of its Do Not Track product". Business Insider.
- ^ "Abine Blog announces Blur." Abine, Inc. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ Rubenking, Neil J. (July 2, 2019). "Abine Blur Premium Review". PCMAG.
- ^ "Don't Expose Yourself: A Guide to Online Privacy". Fox Business. May 31, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
- ^ Rubenking, Neil J. (May 19, 2023). "IronVest Review". PCMAG.