This Simple Setting Prevents Websites from Spying on You

This Simple Setting Prevents Websites from Spying on You

The websites you visit track your activity to build a profile of you. But there's a simple browser setting that can help stop this constant surveillance.

Internet privacy is a complex topic and a nearly impossible goal to achieve fully. Protecting your privacy online is a real challenge, given the countless traces we leave while browsing. From your Internet service provider to the websites you visit—and the intermediary services and apps you use daily—virtually everyone on the Web collects data about your habits.

Much of the online economy relies on collecting and exploiting this data, especially for targeted advertising. While there are ways to minimize exposure, such as using the Tor network or a VPN (Virtual Private Network), these solutions can be complicated or costly. However, a much simpler method exists: enabling a specific setting in your browser to limit tracking.

What is Do Not Track?

Most major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, as well as alternatives like Opera, Vivaldi, Brave, and Safari, offer a feature called Do Not Track. When activated, this function sends a signal to websites indicating your preference not to have your browsing activity (e.g., pages visited, links clicked) recorded.

How to Activate Do Not Track

  • On Google Chrome:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy and Security.
  3. Select Third-party cookies.
  4. Toggle the switch next to Send a "Do Not Track" request with your browsing traffic.

  • On Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click Privacy & Security.
  3. Scroll down to the Website Privacy Preferences section.
  4. Check the box for Ask websites to "Do Not Track Me".

  • On Microsoft Edge:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click Privacy, Search, and Services in the left-hand menu.
  3. Scroll to the Privacy section.
  4. Toggle the switch next to Send "Do Not Track" requests.

This feature is also available in the mobile versions of these browsers for both Android and iOS. While the option is usually found under Settings, its exact location may vary slightly, and the name may differ from the desktop version.

Limitations of 'Do Not Track'

Once this option is enabled, you'll still see online ads, but they will be less targeted and less reliant on your browsing history or searches. However, it's important to note that there are currently no regulations requiring websites to honor Do Not Track requests. As a result, some sites may continue to collect data about your behavior.

Still, enabling this feature is a meaningful first step toward improving your online privacy.