By adjusting some settings in your browser, you can guarantee your privacy while surfing. More privacy? We explain per browser which options you have.
Everyone on the internet wants to know about you. Most sites run trackers that give administrators and advertisers insight into your surfing behaviour. Read more about how online advertising works here and in another article about the role of tracking cookies in this.
To limit that, you often have to set a few things yourself. We look at three popular browsers and some privacy-conscious options that you may not have known.
Chrome
Chrome is seen as one of the browsers that initially does not take your privacy very seriously. However, since the browser is open source, many independent developers were able to develop extensions, giving trackers no (or less) chance. So surf to the extensions menu in the Chrome Web Store and look for tools that are committed to your privacy. Good extensions include Cookie Autodelete, uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, and HTTPS Everywhere.
Chrome itself also offers options to block third-party cookies. Go to Settings via the three vertical dots at the top right of the screen, choose Privacy and Security and click Cookies and other site data. Here you can indicate your preferences.
In the menu Privacy and Security you will find many more useful functions. Bee Clear browsing data you can delete sensitive data and Security can you push the button Help make the internet safer for everyone to prevent certain data from being sent to Google.
And there are many more useful options to improve your privacy. So take a moment to dig through the various Chrome settings in the security menu.
Safari
By default, Safari has the option Intelligent Tracking Prevention which allows the browser to block and remove third-party trackers on websites that you haven’t visited in the past 30 days. Although the function not waterproof it is wise to check whether the option is actually enabled. To do this, go to in Safari Preferences and then to Privacy. Check if this is checked Prevent cross-site tracking.
You can also delete cookies yourself in this menu. Safari even offers the option to block all cookies. Although cookies can also be useful, they can protect your privacy significantly better. In the Privacy-menu you will find the option Hides IP address from trackers to keep your IP address hidden from third parties.
You can also download extensions for Safari in the App Store, which better protect your privacy. AdBlock Plus or Ghostery Lite for Safari are recommended by experts.
Also read: Safari Settings for iPhone and iPad
Edge
Microsoft’s browser offers some simple functions to block trackers under the menu Tracking Preventionwhich can be found in Edge’s settings under Search privacy and services. Here you have the choice between Base, Balanced and Strict. By default, Edge chooses the Balancedoption, which blocks trackers from websites you haven’t been to in a while. If you want to block most trackers, choose Strict.
Depending on your settings, Edge may send your browsing history and diagnostic data to Microsoft. If you don’t want that, you can turn it off in the same menu. Set the option Help Microsoft improve products by sending optional diagnostic data about your use of the browser and the websites you visit and error reports from.
Want to learn more about keeping your private information secret? Then view our Online Course: Security and Privacy.
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