Ransom Zapper FAQ

Imagine you’re trying to open a door, but it’s locked. Every time you turn the handle, you’re making an “attempt,” even though you never get inside. Advertisers do something similar: they keep trying to load an ad slot over and over, even if it’s already blocked. Each of those “attempts” counts as a blocked request, so the total number of blocks can get very high.

Meanwhile, our log only shows the times we actually remove an ad element from the page. If an ad never makes it through the lock (because it was blocked at the network level), there’s no element to remove or record in the log. That’s why you see a big number for “ads blocked,” but only a few entries in the log: the repeated attempts never even get onto the page, so they don’t appear in the log.

Some websites integrate advertisements inside their main content. Since Ransom Zapper is blocking ads, it may unintentionally remove entire sections of the page that rely on ads to load properly.

Option 1: Whitelist the Site (Recommended) 🔵
By adding the website to your whitelist, Ransom Zapper will still block mainstream third-party ads (like Google Ads, DoubleClick, etc.), but it will allow embedded ads that are necessary for the page layout to function properly.

✅ Keeps most ads blocked
✅ Allows the website to display properly
✅ Prevents missing content issues
📌 How to Whitelist a Site:

Open the Ransom Zapper extension
Click on "Whitelist This Site"
Refresh the page, and the content should appear
 
Option 2: Power Off Ad Blocking (Use with Caution) 🔴
You can temporarily disable Ransom Zapper entirely using the Power Off button. This will stop all blocking and allow the site to load exactly as intended, but it comes with risks:

⚠️ Risks of Powering Off:

❌ ALL ads will load, including malicious or tracking-heavy ads
❌ Pop-ups and trackers may follow you across websites
❌ Some scam websites may use deceptive ads to trick users
📌 How to Power Off:

Open the Ransom Zapper extension
Click on the Power Off button
Refresh the page
🚀 Tip: If you use Power Off, remember to turn Ransom Zapper back on when you leave the site to stay protected.

No. Even if you whitelist a website, our extension will still block third-party ads. These ads are often linked to malware or scams, and we keep them blocked to protect your security. Whitelisting only allows the site’s core content to display normally—trusted sites can function correctly without unnecessary interference, but harmful third-party ads remain filtered out to keep your browsing safe.

Third-party advertising platforms allow many advertisers to display ads on various websites. Although these companies aim to ensure only safe ads are shown, their review process isn’t perfect. Scammers can sometimes sneak in scam ads because:

Limited Review: The ad review process isn’t extensive, so some scam ads slip through.
Scam Ads Leak: Once a scam ad is live, even if the platform eventually removes it after receiving complaints or catching it in a review, many users may have already clicked on it.
Intent to Protect: Our extension focuses on stopping these scam ads—especially the harmful third-party ones—to help keep your browsing safe, even on whitelisted sites.