Privacy Policy

Last updated: 6 October 2026

SheerBlock blocks websites and URL keywords you choose, together with optional preset website categories. This policy describes the extension and its settings dashboard.

Account and saved list

Google sign-in uses Firebase Authentication. We use your account identifier and email address to recognize your account. The online service stores your custom blocked domains, keywords, entry identifiers and creation times so you can manage your list after signing in. The service uses Firebase for authentication and Cloudflare for hosting and database storage.

Data kept on your device

The extension keeps sign-in session credentials, a cached copy of your custom list, your blocking switches, category selections and language preference in Chrome extension storage. The dashboard stores its language preference and may retain its Firebase sign-in session in browser storage. The cached list lets blocking continue when the list cannot be refreshed.

URLs and browsing history

SheerBlock does not collect your browsing history or record which pages you visit. Chrome applies blocking rules locally. The popup reads the current tab's title, URL and icon to display that page and let you add its domain to your list. Adding a site sends the normalized domain to the service. Keyword matching checks the URL locally, not page text. A blocked page may receive the blocked URL, domain or keyword locally to identify the blocked item; those block-page values are not sent to our online service.

Use and sharing

Account and list data are used to authenticate you, save and retrieve your list, and provide blocking controls. We do not sell this data, use it for advertising, or add browsing analytics. Authentication and hosting providers process the information needed to provide their services.

Your controls

You can remove custom sites and keywords through the dashboard, pause blocking, turn categories on or off, and sign out. Uninstalling removes the extension's local storage but does not automatically remove your online account or saved list. Removing list entries deletes them from the active online list; this policy does not promise immediate deletion from provider backups.

Permissions

Website access and declarativeNetRequest support local blocking and redirection. Storage keeps local settings and cached data. Identity supports Google sign-in. Alarms refresh the signed-in list. Incognito blocking only operates if you enable the extension in Incognito in Chrome.

Questions

For privacy questions or requests concerning account data, use the developer contact shown on SheerBlock's Chrome Web Store listing.