Your Browser Knows More Than You Think

Out of the box, most browsers are configured to prioritize convenience over privacy. They share your browsing data with advertisers, save your location, store third-party cookies, and phone home to their developers with usage statistics. The good news: most of these behaviors can be turned off with a few setting changes.

Here are 12 browser privacy settings worth reviewing — covering Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

1. Disable Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are the backbone of cross-site ad tracking. Disabling them prevents advertisers from following you across the web.

  • Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies → Block third-party cookies
  • Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Enhanced Tracking Protection → Strict
  • Edge: Settings → Cookies and Site Permissions → Manage cookies → Block third-party cookies

2. Enable HTTPS-Only Mode

HTTPS encrypts your connection to websites. Forcing HTTPS-only mode ensures you never accidentally connect to an unencrypted site.

  • Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → HTTPS-Only Mode → Enable in all windows
  • Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Security → Always use secure connections

3. Turn Off Search Suggestions

When you type in the address bar, your browser sends keystrokes to Google (or another search engine) in real time. Turning off suggestions stops this.

  • Chrome: Settings → Sync and Google services → Autocomplete searches and URLs → Off
  • Firefox: Settings → Search → uncheck "Provide search suggestions"

4. Disable Location Access by Default

Browsers ask sites before sharing your location, but allowing it by default is risky. Set the default to blocked and approve only on a case-by-case basis.

  • Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Site Settings → Location → Don't allow
  • Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Location → Block new requests

5. Send a "Do Not Track" Request

While not legally binding, enabling Do Not Track signals your preference to websites. Some do honor it.

6. Disable Browser Telemetry and Usage Data

Most browsers collect crash reports and usage statistics. While often anonymized, it's worth opting out:

  • Chrome: Settings → Sync and Google services → Help improve Chrome's features → Off
  • Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Firefox Data Collection → uncheck all boxes

7. Use a Private DNS Resolver

By default, DNS queries (the lookups that translate domain names to IP addresses) go through your ISP, who can log every site you visit. Switch to a privacy-respecting DNS provider:

  • Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 (with a no-logging policy)
  • Quad9: 9.9.9.9 (blocks known malicious domains)

Both Chrome and Firefox support DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) in their secure DNS settings.

8. Block Camera and Microphone Access by Default

Restrict camera and microphone access so that no site can activate them without your explicit permission per visit.

9. Clear Cookies on Exit

Automatically clearing cookies when you close the browser prevents long-term tracking across sessions.

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

10. Disable Autofill for Passwords and Credit Cards

Browser-stored passwords and payment info are convenient, but a breach of your browser sync account exposes everything. Consider a dedicated password manager like Bitwarden instead.

11. Review Installed Extensions

Extensions have broad access to your browsing data. Audit your extensions regularly and remove any you no longer actively use or don't fully trust.

12. Switch to a Privacy-Focused Default Search Engine

Your search engine sees everything you look up. Consider switching to DuckDuckGo, Brave Search, or Startpage as your default.

Take It Further

These settings form a strong baseline. For deeper protection, consider pairing them with a content-blocking extension like uBlock Origin and a VPN for network-level privacy.