Your browser may already have built-in tools that you can use to improve your privacy. Here are a few we recommend.
Change your default search engine. If you’re frustrated with Google results or just not interested in seeing AI-generated answers to every query, take a look at alternative search engines. DuckDuckGo emphasizes privacy, and although it has experimented with AI, you can easily turn that feature off.
Tweak how Chrome handles some advertising. Click the three-dot icon and then go to Settings > Privacy and security > Ad privacy. The three ad privacy settings give you some control over how ads are presented to you and what information is used to target ads. I keep all three off. Keep in mind that these settings don’t replace an ad or tracker blocker.
Adjust Firefox’s tracking protection. Click the three-line icon and then open Settings > Privacy & Security > Browser Privacy. The three levels here allow you to change what Firefox automatically blocks on the web. I keep mine set to Strict. If you have an issue with how a site behaves, click the shield icon in the URL bar and toggle off enhanced tracking protection. I still use a tracker blocker in addition to Firefox’s built-in protections.
Enhance Safari’s tracker protection. Click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, and then click the Advanced tab. Where it says “Use advanced tracking and fingerprint protection,” use the drop-down to select in all browsing. Fingerprinting is a method in which advertisers and other parties attempt to identify you by recording specific characteristics of your computer, such as its screen size, language, and other settings.
Go HTTPS only. HTTPS encrypts your browser traffic to prevent your internet service provider and other parties from seeing the bulk of your web traffic. Most browsers offer an option to browse the web using only HTTPS. Since most sites use HTTPS, you shouldn’t run into any problems in doing so, but keep it in mind if something breaks when you’re browsing.
- Chrome: Click the three-dot icon, go to Settings > Privacy and security, and enable Always use secure connections.
- Firefox: Click the three-line icon and then open Settings > Privacy & Security > Enable HTTPS-Only Mode.
- Safari: This browser doesn’t offer an option to block sites that don’t use HTTPS. Version 18.2, now in beta, does have the option to warn you before connecting to an HTTP site.
