Perk Becomes First Browser To Block Ads On The Web

AUSTIN, Texas, July 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Perk, the world's first web browser that rewards users for surfing, searching and shopping online, announced today that it now blocks banner ads and third-party cookies as a default feature, achieving yet another first for desktop and mobile browsers.  The new feature gives users of the loyalty web browser total control of how they experience the web.

Providing users with the ability to customize how they experience the web is a core tenant of Perk, contrary to traditional browsers that offer little control over the advertisements, third-party cookies and retargeting that is pushed on them. And if users choose to see ads, then Perk will reward them with "Perk Points" that are redeemable for goods, services and Bitcoin, or the ability to donate to a number of leading charity organizations.

"Plain and simple, Perk's goal has always been to be the first to give users full control of their browsing experience, and to reward them for their attention," said Roj Niyogi, founder and CEO of Perk. "We believe in the 'Attention Economy' where people are rewarded for giving you time to tap in to their attention, not forcing unwanted ads down their throats. Instead of seeing ads as a disruptor, Perk's users will begin to see them as an aid to a customized Web surfing experience. We want people to be fully aware of the fact that if they choose to turn ads on, it's because they feel it will enhance their online experience and provide them with something of value."

Recently it came to light that Mozilla and the Center of Internet and Society at Stanford are planning to enact a "clearinghouse" to arbitrate which third-parties can and cannot place cookies on users' computers. Although this seems similar to what Perk is doing, there is one fundamental difference between the two: Mozilla and the Center of Internet and Society are taking full control of which third parties can place a cookie on your computer, while Perk is giving the users full control over whether or not they are tracked, rewarded and served with relevant ads.

"Mozilla and the Center of Internet and Society's decision to control who has the right to track and serve ads to you is something that is diametrically opposed to the way we think about giving users control of their browsing experience," said Adam Salamon, founder and COO of Perk. "We want to offer Web surfers the browsing experience they prefer.  We simply give people the control to dictate exactly what their online experience will look like and reward them for their participation."

Perk is powered with top tier search capabilities and is built on the open source project, Chromium, the technology behind Google Chrome. To download Perk and start earning "Perk Points" or search ad-free, please visit www.perk.com. To learn more about the great rewards you can receive for surfing, searching and shopping the Web, please visit here.

About Perk
Perk is the world's first Web browser – available on Mac and Windows – that rewards users with "Perk Points" that can be redeemed for products, services and causes, by simply surfing, searching and shopping online. Perk is built on the Chromium open source project and includes over 2,000 merchant partners including 1800 Flowers, BestBuy.com, Urban Outfitters, drugstore.com and many more.

Perk.com is backed by Insight Capital, has its headquarters in Austin, TX with offices in Bangalore, India. 

About Jutera Labs
Jutera Labs is an Austin, Texas-based technology incubator that operates using the principles of keiretsu, where interlocking business relationships and shareholders merge to form a shared ecosystem for conceiving, developing, launching and scaling companies. Jutera Labs' companies focus on the fields of digital media, retail and advertising. The company has offices in both Austin, Texas and Bangalore, India.

Jutera Labs was founded in 2010 by ex-Social Media.com and Bazaarvoice executives Roj Niyogi and Adam Salamon, who have parlayed their experience with running startups in social, deals / loyalty, online and multichannel retailing into an incubator for emerging companies.  Jutera Labs completed a Series A round in September of 2011.  Its main investors are Walnut Creek, California-based Insight Capital, as well as undisclosed business angels.

SOURCE Perk