Frequently Asked Questions

Why a browse extension?

Browser extensions provide full visibility into the attack surface without requiring the user to change their natural processes. If we can detect and prevent attacks using analyst intelligence without changing human behavior, then we are one step closer to a less compromised world.

Will Blockade stop all attacks?

Unfortunately, no. Blockade is as good as its intelligence and will never be perfect. However, it’s a good first-start.

What happens when an attack is found?

If Blockade detects a malicious website, it will automatically redirect the request to a local warning page with additional context about the hack. This process happens before any web traffic leaves the browser, so you can be sure you never accidentally visit the malicious content.

What data does Blockade collect?

Blockade is built with privacy in mind and only collects data when an attack has been identified. Data about the web request and browser are sent to the cloud node for processing. This data is processed by an analyst in order to try and identify more attacks.

Can I host my own cloud node?

Yes! We have an opensource Python-based server you can use to host your own cloud node or an automated AWS deployment script that will generate a serverless architecture.

How does Blockade inspect my browser?

Great question. Browsers provides developers with special access to certain parts of the browser through APIs. Blockade uses a web request API in order to inspect all requests the browser is making before any data is transmitted. You can read more about our architecture here.

How do I contribute to a cloud node?

You can either set up your own cloud node, or link up with analysts who already have one. You will need to be approved by the administrators of the node to contribute. Once that's out of the way, you can use our analyst toolbench to send in indicators.

Can I keep my indicators private?

Yes and no. Any indicator sent to a Blockade cloud server must be hashed by the user (our toolbench handles all this). We do this in part to simplify the storage process, but also ensure that your indicators aren't known by others, even the browsers where they are deployed.

Can I help with the project?

Absolutely! If you have ideas, suggestions or want to work with the maintainers, just send us a message or file an issue!