Browser Privacy Settings: How to Protect Your Privacy

Your browser knows more about you than you think. Here’s how to lock it down.

Quick Privacy Checklist

Disable third-party cookies
Enable “Do Not Track” or “Global Privacy Control”
Block fingerprinting
Use private browsing for sensitive tasks
Clear cookies and cache regularly
Disable password saving (use a password manager instead)
Review extension permissions

Chrome

Settings → Privacy and security

Cookies

Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies
→ Block third-party cookies

Safe Browsing

Privacy and security → Security → Safe Browsing → Enhanced protection

This sends more data to Google but provides real-time protection against phishing and malware.

Do Not Track

Privacy and security → Third-party cookies → 
Send a "Do Not Track" request with your browsing traffic

Clear on Exit

Chrome doesn’t have a built-in auto-clear. Use the “Clear browsing data” shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+Del) and set time range to “All time.”

Flags (Advanced)

chrome://flags → search "privacy" or "tracking"

Extensions for Privacy

uBlock Origin — ad and tracker blocker
Privacy Badger — learns to block trackers
HTTPS Everywhere — forces HTTPS connections

Firefox

Firefox is the best browser for privacy out of the box.

Settings → Privacy & Security

Enhanced Tracking Protection

Privacy & Security → Enhanced Tracking Protection → Strict

Level	Blocks
Standard (default)	Trackers in private windows
Strict	All trackers, fingerprinting
Custom	Choose what to block

DNS over HTTPS

Settings → Network Settings → Enable DNS over HTTPS
Provider: Cloudflare or NextDNS

Prevents your ISP from seeing which domains you visit.

Delete Cookies on Close

Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → 
Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed

Additional Protections

Turn on:
□ Block fingerprinting
□ Block cryptominers
□ Block tracking content in all windows

Safari (macOS)

Safari → Settings → Privacy

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Enabled by default. Safari uses machine learning to identify and block trackers.

Privacy Report

Safari → Privacy Report (click shield icon in address bar)

Shows which trackers have been blocked on the current site.

Additional Settings

Safari → Settings → Privacy:
☑ Prevent cross-site tracking
☑ Hide IP address from trackers
☑ Block all cookies (may break some sites)

Private Browsing

Cmd+Shift+N opens a private window that:

Doesn’t save history
Doesn’t save form data
Blocks known trackers

Edge

Settings → Privacy, search, and services

Tracking Prevention

Privacy → Tracking prevention → Strict

Level	Blocks
Basic	Blocks known malicious trackers
Balanced (default)	Blocks trackers from sites not visited
Strict	Blocks most trackers (may break some sites)

Daily Privacy Check

Edge has a built-in privacy checker that guides you through settings:

Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Privacy checkup

Private Browsing Comparison

Feature	Chrome Incognito	Firefox Private	Safari Private	Edge InPrivate
History saved	No	No	No	No
Cookies kept	No	No	No	No
ISP can still see you	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Employer can still see you	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Prevents tracking from sites	Partial	Full (Strict)	Full	Strict

Private browsing ≠ anonymity. It only prevents local storage. Your ISP, employer, and the websites themselves can still track you.

Global Privacy Control

Send a legally enforceable privacy request to every website you visit:

Safari:  Privacy → Prevent cross-site tracking ✅
Firefox: Privacy → Global Privacy Control ✅
Chrome:  Install GPC extension
Edge:    Install GPC extension

Advanced: User.js for Firefox

For maximum privacy, use a custom user.js configuration:

# Download arkenfox user.js
curl -LO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/arkenfox/user.js/master/user.js
mv user.js ~/.mozilla/firefox/<your-profile>/

This enables every privacy setting Firefox offers and disables telemetry, Pocket, and other Mozilla services.

Related: Learn about VPNs and password managers.