<sub>pronounce _you-block_ as in "you decide what enters your browser" / see the "µ" as a stylish "u", to emphasize small resource footprint<br></sub><sup>sorry for the dubious name, we are coders, not marketers</sup>
µBlock is not an *ad blocker*; it's a general-purpose blocker. µBlock blocks ads through its support of the [Adblock Plus filter syntax](https://adblockplus.org/en/filters). µBlock [extends](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Filter-syntax-extensions) the syntax and is designed to work with custom rules and filters.
That said, it's important to note that using a blocker is **NOT** [theft](https://twitter.com/LeaVerou/status/518154828166725632). Don't fall for this creepy idea. The _ultimate_ logical consequence of `blocking = theft` is the criminalisation of the inalienable right to privacy.
Ads, "unintrusive" or not, are just the visible portions of privacy-invading apparatus entering your browser when you visit most sites nowadays. **µBlock's main goal is to help users neutralize such privacy-invading apparatus** — in a way that welcomes those users who don't wish to use more technical, involved means (such as [µMatrix](https://github.com/gorhill/uMatrix)).
_EasyList_, _Peter Lowe's Adservers_, _EasyPrivacy_ and _Malware domains_ are enabled by default when you install µBlock. Many more lists are readily available to block trackers, analytics, and more. Hosts files are also supported.
Once you install µBlock, you may easily un-select any of the pre-selected filter lists if you think µBlock blocks too much. For reference, Adblock Plus installs with only _EasyList_ enabled by default.
<sup>[1] Details of the benchmark available at <ahref="https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Firefox-version:-benchmarking-memory-footprint">Firefox version: benchmarking memory footprint</a>.</sup><br>
<sup>[2] Important note: There is currently a [bug in Chromium 39+ which causes a new memory leak each time the popup UI of an extension is opened](https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=441500). This affects <i>all</i> extensions. Keep this in mind when measuring Chromium's memory usage. In the benchmarks, I avoided opening the popups completely.</sup><br>
<sup>Details of the benchmark available in <ahref="https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/blob/master/doc/benchmarks/cpu-usage-overall-20141226.ods">this LibreOffice spreadsheet</a>.</sup>
You can install the latest version [manually](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/tree/master/dist#install), from the [Chrome Web Store](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm), or from the [Opera store](https://addons.opera.com/en-gb/extensions/details/ublock/).
Install from [Firefox Add-ons homepage](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock/), or you can install by downloading the latest [uBlock.firefox.xpi](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/releases) file, and by dragging the downloaded `xpi` file to your add-on page.
µBlock is also available on the [Safari Extension Gallery](https://extensions.apple.com/details/?id=net.gorhill.uBlock-96G4BAKDQ9), although that's not guaranteed to be the latest version.
To benefit from µBlock's higher efficiency, it's advised that you don't use other inefficient blockers at the same time (such as AdBlock or Adblock Plus). µBlock will do [as well or better](#blocking) than most popular ad blockers.
For advanced usage, read about [dynamic filtering](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Dynamic-filtering:-quick-guide) and more on [µBlock's wiki](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki).
