Google Chrome is currently the most popular browser, especially under Windows. On the equally popular Chromebook, it is even the central hub of the OS. Updates appear very regularly and it is wise to dive into the equally regularly changing settings with some regularity. Check out these Chrome settings.
Chrome is often the ‘alternative’ browser that many install blindly. Or is that very smart? Difficult to give a clear answer to that. It mainly depends on how deeply you want to be integrated into the Google ecosystem. For example, if you have an Android smartphone and (or) tablet, then you are already up to your ears in it: after all, it is inextricably linked to your Google account. A lot of users therefore simply choose to log in to the Chrome browser with the same Google account as that of their Android device.
If you want a little more control over your privacy, we advise you not to. The only problem is that Google isn’t crazy either, and can see both IP address and location of PC and phone. And can draw obvious conclusions from it. In short: if you opt for a Google environment, you should actually assume that the company is aware of all your online trading and walking. Whether that’s bad is something only you can decide for yourself.
Login to Chrome?
If you go for Chrome, it’s good to keep in mind that you can somewhat curb the browser’s collection rage. Click on the button with the three dots at the top right of the screen and then on Settings in the opened menu. put under You and Google and Sync and Google services the switch at the back Allow login to Chrome from. Makes the Google cloud services just a little more separate from the browser.
You can leave searches and URLs autocomplete on, eventually your search query will be sent to (usually) Google. You can turn off the other options with confidence, as long as something was already on. Are all options in favor of Google and significantly less for you. You must restart Chrome for these changes to take effect.
Saving payment methods: better not
If you want to play it safe, click in the left column on Autofill and right on Payment methods. Turn off both enabled switches, so that no one can make unauthorized payments from your computer.
You can also take a critical look at Passwordsalso under Autofill. It may be wiser to use an external password manager in the form of, for example, a locally running tool. Google doesn’t have to be able to access everything.
Privacy(guide)
Then it’s time to click Privacy and Security. You will find the button here first To work below Go through Privacy Guide at. Definitely click on that. And then look very critically at the solutions offered there. Say “no” to anything that is not directly necessary for basic browser functionality.
Furthermore, there is the option Privacy Sandbox, which is on by default. Here, Google is experimenting with new privacy techniques. The problem with this function is that, first of all, it is not clear what exactly these experiments consist of. In addition, you should always be aware of buggy code that can potentially cause instability over slowness.
That chance is not very high, we’re guessing. But if you want to avoid any chance of wild privacy adventures, you can flip the switch Privacy Sandbox Trial Features turn of. By the time the testing phase of one or the other is done, Google will automatically add it as a regular option. Why would you want to be a guinea pig?
Order the course bundle Security & Privacy if you want to learn more about protecting your digital private data.
Search engine and download location
below Design you will find the more useful functions that you can switch on or off according to your taste and without further risks. It is also here that you will find the switch to turn the missing home button (back) on. If for some reason you prefer not to have Google as your default search engine, you can use it below Search engine (left column) to your liking. If you are very privacy-conscious (but that is in sharp contrast to your choice for Chrome…), then you choose DuckDuckGo. This search engine anonymizes all search terms, always practical.
below Downloads (column left, again) comes the switch Ask where to save a file before downloading may come in handy. By default, everything is saved in the download folder without further prompting. If you prefer to choose that location per download, then turn on the switch behind the option mentioned.
Close Chrome properly
It’s good to know that if you close Chrome, some of it will still remain active. This is designed to start the browser faster. The disadvantage of this is that it costs memory space and possibly also processor time. Potential security risks also lurk in such a scenario. Solve this by solving in the column on the left System to click. Then toggle the option Background apps continue to run when Google Chrome is closed from.
Closing Chrome is therefore really closing. If you find that starting up your browser suddenly takes a very long time, you can always turn the switch back on. But at least you know that processes and components will always remain active after closing Chrome.
stay alert
The settings for Chrome on different operating systems are almost the same, and it is certainly wise to check if things have changed after an update. Or worse: options are enabled that you had disabled. Chrome may have become the most popular browser through clever marketing, but that doesn’t mean it’s also the best. Especially in terms of privacy, you should always keep a watchful Google in mind.
Be careful about storing sensitive data — which in fact includes browsing history and favorites — with a company that thrives on user data. Google will undoubtedly do its best to encrypt, anonymize things before selling or otherwise using it. But a mistake is often in a small corner.
For the rest, Chrome is a user-friendly browser with many options. It is not the fastest and certainly not the ‘lightest’. For that you have to swerve like something to Firefox, Brave or – in Apple’s case – Safari.
Yet we see that more and more sites are optimized for Chrome. And that means that sometimes you may not be able to get around that same Chrome. In any case, use it with caution.
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