Template:Main Page/Consumer Tools

Ad & tracking blockers

• Pi-hole – Self-hosted network-based ad blocker.
• uBlock Origin – Efficient browser-based ad and tracker blocker.
• LocalCDN – Replaces third-party CDNs with local resources to block trackers.

Anti-scam resources

• Have I Been Pwned – Check if your email/password was exposed in a breach.
• CFPB – File complaints and view alerts about financial services.
• ScamAdviser – Analyze websites for trustworthiness.
• VirusTotal/Hybryd Analysis – Scan files and websites for malware.

Archival tools

• Wayback Machine - World’s largest internet archival service
• archive.today - Smaller internet archival service for excluded websites (ex: Twitter/X, Facebook)
• SingleFile - Browser extension to save website EULA/privacy policy as html locally
• ArchiveBox - Self-hosted website archival tool

Corporate accountability & recalls

• Better Business Bureau (BBB) – Lookup business complaints and file your own.
• SaferProducts.gov – U.S. product recall and complaint site.
• FDA Recalls – Drug and food recall database.

Legal & complaint filing

• Consumer Reports – Independent product reviews and ratings.
• Ripoff Report – Public consumer complaint database.
• ClassAction.org – View or join consumer class-action lawsuits.

Repair & Open designs

• iFixit – Open repository of device repair instructions.
• Open Source Ecology – Open source machinery designs.

Price & product transparency

• CamelCamelCamel – Amazon price tracker to detect deceptive price drops.
• Keepa – Detailed price history and deals on Amazon products.
• TrueStar – Analyzes Amazon reviews for manipulation. [Subscription needed]

Privacy & surveillance tools

• PrivacyGuides.org – Recommends tools to protect online privacy.
• SimpleOptOut – Direct links to opt out of data brokers.
  • EasyOptOuts – Automated data broker opt-out service. [Subscription needed]

Subscription & dark pattern tracking

• Trim – Finds and cancels unwanted subscriptions.
• Goodbudget – Budgeting app with debt tracker. [Subscription needed]
• Terms of Service; Didn’t Read – Summarizes privacy policies and rates companies by trustworthiness.
• Deceptive Design – Defines, identifies, and catalogs dark patterns and deceptive design practices in various software and services.
• Dark Pattern Games – A game review website devoted to helping you find games that don't use psychological tricks to manipulate you into becoming an addicted gamer.