Artificial Intelligence
tech guide & how tos..
Browsing the internet with Google Chrome is often compared to walking through a bustling marketplace where every vendor observes your movements, noting your preferences to offer tailored advertisements.
As the most widely used browser across the globe, Chrome offers significant power and convenience. However, it is owned by Google, a company whose business model heavily relies on the collection and analysis of user data.
Fortunately, Chrome contains settings that can act like a virtual cloak of invisibility, helping you to safeguard your privacy. This article provides Chrome users with a straightforward guide to effective settings that can significantly limit tracking and enhance their online privacy. No advanced technical expertise is required — only a genuine desire to take greater control of your digital footprint.
Consider Chrome as your digital home. Every website you visit is similar to an incoming unknown guest who might discreetly explore your belongings, leaving behind small digital trackers to monitor your habits. Chrome’s settings are the virtual locks, blinds, and security systems you can employ to keep these intrusive guests from prying.
By making a few adjustments to some of the options, you can prevent websites from collecting unnecessary data, effectively block intrusive advertisements, and significantly reduce the likelihood of your personal information being shared without your explicit consent. These privacy-enhancing settings are frequently not prominently displayed or easily accessible because Google, like many companies, benefits from the data it collects. We will now uncover these settings to significantly boost your privacy.
Accessing the Chrome Settings section: Open Chrome. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings. See image below.
The below Chrome-specific settings are easy to modify and can substantially reduce unwanted tracking. Think of them as the foundational elements of your personal digital fortress.
Chrome’s “Do Not Track” option sends a polite request to websites, asking them not to monitor your online activities. It is akin to placing a “No Solicitation” sign on your front door. While not every website chooses to honor this request, a significant number do, making this a simple yet effective step toward reducing tracking.
How to Enable It:
In Settings, Navigate to Privacy and Security.
Click on Third-party cookies.
Toggle on the option that states, “Send a ‘Do Not Track’ request with your browsing traffic”.
Cookies are small text files that websites use to remember information about you, such as your login status or items in a shopping cart. However, "third-party cookies" are different; they are like digital spies hired by advertisers to follow you across various websites. Blocking these cookies prevents companies from building a comprehensive profile of your Browse habits across different sites.
How to Configure It:
In Settings > Privacy and Security > Third-party cookies.
Select Block third-party cookies.
You can keep the option Allow related sites to see your activity in the group enabled to prevent breaking of some website functionality.
Blocking all third-party cookies can sometimes interfere with the functionality of certain websites. After this setting, if you experience functionality issues with some of the websites you frequently visit, particularly social media sites and ecommerce sites, you may Unblock third-party cookies and instead Block third-party cookies in Incognito mode.
Unknown or likely suspicious sites can then be visited in Incognito mode. We will talk about it later in this article.
Chrome’s cache temporarily stores parts of websites to load pages faster during subsequent visits. However, this cache also retains clues about your Browse history. Regularly clearing your cache and cookies is similar to wiping your footprints clean after walking through a sandy path, ensuring less information remains accessible.
How to Perform This:
Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete Browsing data.
Ensure that Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are selected.
Choose a Time range (for example, “All time” for a complete sweep).
Click Delete data.
Chrome’s “Enhanced Protection” mode significantly strengthens your browser’s security. It provides warnings about potentially dangerous websites and limits how your Browse data is shared with Google’s Safe Browse service. This feature acts like hiring a vigilant bodyguard for your online Browse.
How to Activate It:
Navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Security.
Under the Safe Browse section, select Enhanced protection.
Chrome’s Sync feature is designed to save your bookmarks, passwords, Browse history, and other settings to your Google account, making them accessible across all your devices. While convenient, this also means that Google has access to this synchronized data. If you do not require this cross-device synchronization, turning it off can help to keep your data stored locally on your device only.
How to Disable It:
Click on You and Google or click on your profile picture in the top right corner of Chrome.
Go to Sync and Google services.
Click on Manage sync.
You can either turn off individual options or select Turn off sync entirely. Google may take you to a quick verification process before turning off sync.
For those who are ready to implement even more robust privacy measures, these settings and tools offer additional layers of protection with minimal effort.
Incognito mode is a special Browse window that does not save your Browse history, cookies, or information entered into forms after you close the window. It is like using a public library computer that completely eradicates all your activity once you log off. This mode is particularly useful for sensitive Browse, such as checking bank accounts on a shared computer or researching personal topics.
How to Open an Incognito Window:
From the Chrome menu: Click New Incognito Window.
Using a keyboard shortcut: Press Ctrl + Shift + N (on Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + N (on macOS).
A new browser tab will open up in dark mode from where you can visit the sites that you want to visit with complete privacy.
WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a technology that enables real-time communication features directly within your browser, such as video calls and screen sharing or peer-to-peer file sharing, without requiring extra plugins. It is used by some websites that provide buttons to make a call.
However, WebRTC can, in certain circumstances, leak your real IP address even when you are using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which is designed to hide your IP address. Disabling WebRTC closes this potential loophole. Chrome does not currently have a built-in toggle for this setting, so you will need to use a browser extension.
How to Implement It (Using a Recommended Extension):
Install a reputable privacy extension that offers WebRTC blocking. A good option that has adapted to Chrome's Manifest V3 changes is WebRTC Leak Prevent from the Chrome Web Store.
Install WebRTC Leak Prevent: Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for WebRTC Leak Prevent.
Install the extension by clicking at the Add to Chrome button.
Configure the Extension: Once installed, the extension typically works automatically. You should see its icon in your browser toolbar under "Extensions".
Click at Options to see the available configuration options. WebRTC IP handling policy is set to Use the default public interface only by default.
Which Option to Set: This will depend upon whether you use a VPN or Proxy or none of these. Below are common cases and associated option to set.
If you are not using a proxy or a VPN, but still wants to conceal your IP address, the default setting will work for you, viz. Use the default public interface only.
If you are using an installed VPN, again the default setting will work for you.
If you are using a VPN in the form of a browser extension, such VPNs are considered proxies in Chrome. In that case set WebRTC IP handling policy to Disable non-proxied UDP (force proxy).
If you are surfing the net via a proxy (not VPN), set WebRTC IP handling policy to Disable non-proxied UDP (force proxy).
By using WebRTC Leak Prevent, you can effectively mitigate the risk of WebRTC leaking your IP address while still allowing legitimate WebRTC functionality to work.
Even with Chrome's built-in privacy controls, third-party extensions can provide an extra layer of defense against pervasive online tracking. These "digital guardians" work silently in the background, blocking unseen trackers and helping you regain control over your data. By selectively choosing and installing reputable, privacy-focused extensions, you can significantly reduce your digital footprint and protect yourself from unwanted surveillance.
One highly recommended extension for combating online tracking is Privacy Badger, developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Privacy Badger is unique because it learns to identify and block sneaky, invisible trackers that try to follow you across different websites, without needing to maintain a list of known trackers.
How to Install Privacy Badger:
Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for Privacy Badger.
Click Add to Chrome button and confirm the installation.
Once installed, Privacy Badger starts working immediately. You will see its badger icon in your browser's toolbar under "Extensions".
As you browse, Privacy Badger learns which domains are tracking you without your permission. When it detects a tracker that appears on multiple websites, it automatically blocks that tracker. Just set-it-and-forget-it. You generally don't need to configure anything. Its learning algorithm takes care of the blocking. However, if a website seems to be broken due to Privacy Badger (which is rare), you can use its Options interface to temporarily allow that specific site. It provides a multitude of customization options for the more inclined techys.
By employing Privacy Badger, you equip your Chrome browser with an intelligent defense mechanism that adapts to new tracking techniques, ensuring a more private Browsing experience without constant manual intervention.
It is important to understand why the discussed privacy settings are often tucked away in complex menus or why data collection is enabled by default. Google’s primary revenue stream is derived from advertising, which, in turn, relies heavily on tracking user behavior and preferences to deliver targeted ads.
By making privacy settings less prominent or requiring users to actively seek them out, Google inadvertently makes it more challenging for individuals to opt out of data collection. Changing these settings is analogous to refusing to share your personal diary with strangers — it significantly limits what Google and other companies can learn about you.
While enhancing your Chrome privacy settings is crucial, it is important to understand the potential impact on website functionality. Websites rely on cookies for various purposes, from keeping you logged in to remembering your preferences and enabling shopping cart features. Very strict settings can sometimes disrupt these functionalities.
Chrome's approach to cookies is evolving, with a strong focus on limiting third-party cookies by default, as these are primarily used for cross-site tracking. You will find options that reflect this shift.
If you encounter issues after adjusting your cookie settings (e.g., difficulty logging in, broken website features), here is what you can try:
Allow all cookies: This is the least private option but offers maximum compatibility.
Block third-party cookies in Incognito mode: This is a good default for privacy in private Browsing, where tracking is often a higher concern.
Block third-party cookies: This is the current recommended setting for most users seeking a balance between privacy and functionality. It prevents most cross-site tracking while allowing essential first-party cookies (set by the site you are directly visiting) to function normally. Google is progressively rolling this out as the default for all users.
Block all cookies (Not Recommended for General Use): While this option still exists (often under "Privacy and security" > "Third-party cookies" > "Block all third-party cookies" or "Clear site data when you close all windows"), it is generally not recommended for everyday Browsing. Blocking all cookies (both first-party and third-party) will significantly break many websites, making logins impossible and many features unusable.
Temporarily Allow Cookies for a Specific Site: If a site isn't working with your chosen cookie settings, you can add it to an exception list. While on the problematic site, click the lock icon or tune icon in the address bar, go to "Site settings" or "Third-party cookies", and adjust the cookie permission for that specific site to "Allow".
Consider "Block third-party cookies": For most users, this setting provides a solid balance. It significantly enhances privacy by stopping many trackers without severely impacting the usability of most popular websites. If you are part of the group where Chrome is already blocking third-party cookies by default, you are already benefiting from this enhanced privacy.
Clear site data on exit (for specific sites): Chrome allows you to configure specific sites to delete their data, including cookies, every time you close all windows for that site. This can be a useful setting for highly sensitive sites you want to ensure don't retain long-term data.
By understanding these options and selectively managing your cookie settings, you can achieve a higher level of privacy without sacrificing essential website functionality.
Adjusting the discussed essential Chrome settings is like diligently locking your digital doors and drawing your virtual curtains. It takes only a few minutes of your time but can profoundly reduce the amount of personal data you inadvertently share online.
Begin with the simpler changes, such as enabling “Do Not Track” or blocking third-party cookies, and then gradually explore the more advanced options as you become more comfortable. Your online privacy is an invaluable asset, and these accessible tweaks empower you to browse the internet on your own terms, with greater peace of mind.
Boost Your Firefox Privacy: Simple Steps for a Safer Online Experience
Microsoft Edge Privacy: Your Complete Guide to a Safer Browser
How to move your Email accounts from one hosting provider to another without losing any mails?
How to resolve the issue of receiving same email message multiple times when using Outlook?
Self Referential Data Structure in C - create a singly linked list
Mosquito Demystified - interesting facts about mosquitoes
Elements of the C Language - Identifiers, Keywords, Data types and Data objects
How to pass Structure as a parameter to a function in C?
Rajeev Kumar is the primary author of How2Lab. He is a B.Tech. from IIT Kanpur with several years of experience in IT education and Software development. He has taught a wide spectrum of people including fresh young talents, students of premier engineering colleges & management institutes, and IT professionals.
Rajeev has founded Computer Solutions & Web Services Worldwide. He has hands-on experience of building variety of websites and business applications, that include - SaaS based erp & e-commerce systems, and cloud deployed operations management software for health-care, manufacturing and other industries.