Your browser is tracking you. Change these 5 settings now to stop it

Every time you open a browser, a handful of companies are quietly collecting data about where you go, what you click, how long you linger on a page, and even the unique configuration of your device. This isn’t a secret—browsers have become advertising platforms, and their default settings are designed to share generously. The good news: you don’t need to be a privacy expert to dial it back. Most of the lever-pulling takes less than a minute each.

What happened

For years, browser makers have enabled third-party cookies by default, allowed websites to request your precise location, and tolerated scripts that build a “fingerprint” of your device. These features aren’t malicious in themselves, but they’re routinely exploited by ad networks and data brokers to follow you across the web. In 2024, Google began phasing out third-party cookies in Chrome, but tracking hasn’t disappeared—it’s shifted to fingerprinting and first-party data collection. Other browsers like Safari and Firefox have tighter defaults, yet most users never touch the settings that control the worst of it.

Why it matters

You don’t have to care about ads to care about privacy. Tracking data can be stolen, sold without your knowledge, or used to infer sensitive information about your health, politics, or finances. Location data has been used by law enforcement without warrants, and fingerprinting is nearly impossible to block without specific countermeasures. The default settings in your browser are not designed to protect you; they’re designed to maximise the value of your attention. Changing them is the single most effective step you can take in under ten minutes.

What readers can do

Below are five settings you can adjust right now. Instructions are general—exact names vary by browser, but the intent is the same.

1. Turn off third-party cookies

Most browsers label these as “block third-party cookies” or “cross-site tracking.” In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies and select “Block third-party cookies.” Firefox calls it “Strict” tracking protection. Safari blocks them by default, but double-check under Preferences > Privacy. This stops the most common cross-site trackers.

2. Disable location tracking

Browsers can share your GPS or Wi‑Fi location with any site that asks. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Location and set it to “Don’t allow sites to see your location.” In Firefox, type about:preferences#privacy and under Permissions, remove the checkmark from “Request location.” Safari: Preferences > Websites > Location > “Deny without prompting.” You can still grant permission to a site you trust on the fly.

3. Block fingerprinting scripts

Fingerprinting collects browser version, installed fonts, screen resolution, and other details to create a unique ID. Firefox includes “Fingerprinting Protection” under Privacy & Security > Tracking Protection (set to Custom). Chrome doesn’t have a native toggle, but you can add Privacy Badger (from the EFF) or enable “Use secure DNS” with a provider that blocks known fingerprinting domains. No single setting kills fingerprinting entirely, but combining it with a privacy extension helps.

4. Use private browsing mode correctly

Private or incognito windows stop the browser from saving your history and cookies locally, but they do not hide your activity from your employer, ISP, or the sites you visit. Use them when you don’t want local traces, but for real privacy, pair them with a VPN and the above settings. Also, note that private mode can lower some anti-fingerprinting protections—check your browser’s documentation.

5. Enable ad blocking and anti-tracking features

Most browsers now include basic ad blocking if you turn it on. Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection set to “Strict” blocks many trackers. Chrome has a built-in ad blocker for intrusive ads, but it’s limited. For real control, install a dedicated extension.

Recommended extensions (free and open‑source):

  • uBlock Origin – lightweight, blocks ads and trackers efficiently. Note: Google is phasing out Manifest V3 extensions in Chrome, which limits uBlock Origin’s ability in the long term. Firefox and Edge (based on Chromium but with looser restrictions) are better bets.
  • Privacy Badger – from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Learns about trackers in real time and blocks them.
  • NoScript – for advanced users who want to block all JavaScript by default. Useful but can break many sites.

Bonus: Consider switching browsers

If you want privacy out of the box, consider Firefox or Brave. Both block most trackers by default, and neither is built on Google’s ad business model. Safari (on macOS/iOS) is also strong, provided you dig into its privacy settings.

Sources

This guide draws on publicly available documentation from browsers, privacy advocacy groups, and the work of journalists covering digital tracking. The PCWorld article (June 2026) offers a similar walkthrough for readers who prefer a visual guide. For deeper reading, the EFF’s “Panopticlick” tool (panopticlick.eff.org) can show you how identifiable your browser is before and after you make these changes.