GlimmerBlocker

The word "ad" is almost synonymous with the word "annoyance". There is rarely such a thing as an interesting or fun ad. Most web browsers come with built-in blockers for pop-ups, but not for standard ads. If you don't want to see any kind of advertisements on any web page, GlimmerBlocker can meet your demands. This utility is capable of blocking all sorts of ads, on any website. All you have to do is enable it and you won't be bothered by ads again.

Thanks to the way in which it's implemented, GlimmerBlocker does not present any risks to Safari, like other similar utilities which hack the browser. The application works as an HTTP proxy, directly on your Mac and not on a central server. The best part is that it doesn't use any kind of hacks, so even if Safari is updated, nothing will be broken. GlimmerBlocker is fully compatible with any other web browser as well. While it's active, you won't see any ads, regardless if you are using Safari, Opera, Chrome or Firefox. Also, the utility provides support for other native Mac OS X applications, like NetNewsWire.

Once it is installed on your Mac, GlimmerBlocker's options can be accessed on a tabbed menu, in the System Preferences panel. The utility comes with its own filters, which block ads from various companies and ad agencies, as well as site-specific ads. What's more, you may create your own filtering rules, using various conditions and parameters. It is also possible to share the filters with other users.

GlimmerBlocker includes other useful options as well. A particular feature, which is definitely worth mentioning is the possibility of allowing iPhones and iPods, as well as other computers on your network to use GlimmerBlocker on your Mac.