Your browser is one of the most heavily targeted tools on your device — used daily, and often revealing the most about you. Companies, advertisers, and even malicious actors track your browsing habits, fingerprint your device, and collect metadata, often without consent.
But you can fight back.
This guide walks you through how to harden your browser — regardless of which one you use — to minimize tracking and maximize privacy.
Choose a Privacy-Respecting Browser
If possible, start with a browser that prioritizes privacy:
| Browser | Privacy Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Firefox | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best balance of control & support |
| Brave | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Built-in ad/tracker blocking |
| LibreWolf | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Hardened Firefox fork (advanced users) |
| Tor Browser | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Highest anonymity, but slower |
| Ungoogled Chromium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Google-free Chrome fork |
🚫 Avoid: Chrome, Edge, Opera — proprietary and full of telemetry.
Change Default Privacy Settings (Firefox Example)
Settings → Privacy & Security:
- Set Enhanced Tracking Protection to Strict
- Disable Telemetry and Crash Reports
- Set “Do Not Track” to Always
- Enable HTTPS-Only Mode
Settings → Home:
- Disable sponsored content and shortcuts
Settings → Search:
Switch to DuckDuckGo, Startpage, or SearX
Install Essential Privacy Add-ons
| Extension | Function | Browser | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| uBlock Origin | Blocks ads, trackers, malware | Firefox/Chrome | ublockorigin.com |
| Privacy Badger | Learns to block hidden trackers | Firefox/Chrome | privacybadger.org |
| ClearURLs | Removes tracking elements from links | Firefox/Chrome | clearurls.xyz |
| Cookie AutoDelete | Clears cookies after tab closes | Firefox/Chrome | Cookie Auto-Delete |
| Decentraleyes | Serves local versions of CDN files | Firefox | decentraleyes.org |
Optional (advanced):
CanvasBlocker (defend against fingerprinting)
NoScript (block JS per site)
Block Fingerprinting and Browser Leaks
📌 Fingerprinting is the technique of identifying you based on:
- Screen size
- Fonts
- Extensions
- Language and time zone
- Canvas/WebGL rendering
🛠️ Tools like LibreWolf, Tor Browser, or CanvasBlocker help prevent this.
Test your browser at:
Use Privacy-Focused Search Engines
| Engine | Features | Link |
|---|---|---|
| DuckDuckGo | No tracking, private, mobile app | duckduckgo.com |
| Startpage | Google results, privacy layer | startpage.com |
| SearX | Open-source, self-hostable | searx.space |
🔍 Set one as default in your browser settings.
Disable Third-Party Cookies & Reduce Permissions
Turn off WebRTC (to prevent IP leaks – use about:config in Firefox)
Go to Settings → Privacy
Block third-party cookies
Disable location access, microphone, notifications by default
Don’t Log In Everywhere
Use containers or separate profiles for different accounts (e.g., Facebook, Google)
Avoid staying logged in while browsing unrelated sites
Consider Firefox Multi-Account Containers
🌐 addons.mozilla.org
Further Reading and Tools
PrivacyGuides – Desktop Browsers