Privacy Badger (Firefox, Chrome): Detects and prevents tracking and blocks invisible trackers uBlock Origin (Firefox, Chrome, Safari): Blocks ads, pop-ups, and trackers[3] X Research source AdBlock Plus (Firefox, Chrome, Opera, IE, Safari): Blocks the display of advertisements and prevents them from tracking you HTTPS Everywhere (Firefox, Chrome, Opera): Automatically activates https encryption protocol on every website that supports it NoScript (Firefox): Blocks pop-up advertisements, banners, and JavaScript ScriptSafe (Chrome): Blocks pop-up advertisements, banners, and JavaScript Ghostery (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, MS Edge): Blocks third-party trackers[4] X Research source

At the least, you want to block third-party cookies. You likely have the option to block all cookies. However, this can ruin your browsing experience. Some cookies are “good” in the sense that they keep you from having to enter the same information multiple times or wait for a page to load fresh each time you visit it.

If you need help finding the right place to adjust your settings, go to https://simpleoptout. com/ and see if the platform or service is listed.

Go to https://youradchoices. com/control and click on the “WebChoices” tool to opt out of interest-based advertising on the internet. If you have a smartphone that runs on iOS or Android, you can also download AppChoices, which controls how your interests are tracked for in-app advertising.

If you don’t subscribe to a VPN, you can use a third-party DNS provider, such as OpenDNS. OpenDNS provides additional filters that you can use to protect your privacy. [9] X Research source

Tor can be downloaded from https://torproject. org/. Tor does not work everywhere and is completely blocked in countries like China. Also, many websites block Tor exit nodes because of their high use for spam, so the sites you get to use are completely limited. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/c/cd/Prevent-People-from-Tracking-You-on-the-Internet-Step-6-Version-3. jpg/v4-460px-Prevent-People-from-Tracking-You-on-the-Internet-Step-6-Version-3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/c/cd/Prevent-People-from-Tracking-You-on-the-Internet-Step-6-Version-3. jpg/aid238707-v4-728px-Prevent-People-from-Tracking-You-on-the-Internet-Step-6-Version-3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Fair_use">Fair Use</a> (screenshot)
\n</p></div>"} If you don’t want to go as far as browsing on Tor, switch to Firefox. Firefox is more secure than other browsers and has greater privacy options. The default browser that came with your computer is probably the weakest. If you use Chrome, you’ll be tracked by Google. [11] X Research source The Brave browser, which was publicly released in November of 2019, is another open-source option that prioritizes the privacy and security of its users, in part by automatically blocking third-party ads, trackers, and autoplay videos. [12] X Research source

For example, Edge has three tracking prevention modes: Basic, Balanced, and Strict. Strict blocks most third-party trackers from loading, but it may have an impact on website functionality. Safari has an option to disable cross-site tracking in Safari preferences. Chrome allows you to enable “Do not track” requests as well as block third-party cookies. Firefox has two tracking prevention modes: Balanced, and Strict. Strict blocks most third-party trackers from loading, but it may have an impact on website functionality.

Access your router’s settings and check the encryption. Use WPA2 if it’s available. If your router doesn’t offer WPA2 as an option, it’s probably time to upgrade your router.

Avoid including identifying details in your router’s name, such as your own last name, because this information is available to anyone within range of your WiFi. Many people enjoy naming their routers with a clever pun or other joke. Set a complicated password that includes letters, numbers, and other characters allowed by your router. You’ll only have to enter this password once to access the network with a new device, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be easy to remember.

To check for updates, visit the manufacturer’s website. You may also be able to sign up for email notifications whenever an update is posted.

If you have frequent guests or family members who access your WiFi, you likely don’t want to do this. Entering all of those MAC addresses can be cumbersome, especially if your friends or family members frequently upgrade to new devices. Because hackers can mimic MAC addresses, you shouldn’t limit your security to this alone. However, it can provide added protection after you’ve come up with a secure name and password for your router.

Check the settings of your computer and router to make sure these firewalls are enabled and are functioning properly. Typically, you’ll find the firewall settings among your computer’s security settings. You may be able to set a separate password to protect your firewall so that no one without the password can make any changes to it. Other systems prompt you for the password you’ve used to lock your computer, so make sure that password is a strong one.

You can typically set up automatic updates for your computer and the apps that came with it. For apps that you installed on your own, you may be able to set up automatic updates or request a notification when an update is available. Each manufacturer is different.

Run a virus scan at least once a week. You can set your antivirus software up to do this automatically. If you’re installing anti-virus software on your computer yourself, go directly to the manufacturer’s website to download it. Make sure you use a secure connection when you download it.

Use the administrative account only when you need to do administrative activities on your computer, such as adjusting operational settings or deleting programs.

Various features that may be pre-configured for your convenience also introduce security vulnerabilities. Change the default settings as needed if they don’t conform to your needs as a computer user.

Most purchases and subscriptions include a disclaimer about using your information for marketing. Read it carefully before you check the box next to it. Sometimes the disclaimer is phrased as an opt-out of marketing, but it can also be phrased as an opt-in, so that checking the box means you want your information used for marketing or advertising purposes.

Use a different password for each device. The passwords should be long and complex, if possible, including numbers, upper- and lower-case letters, and other characters.

Make sure all updates have been installed for your OS and software, then run a virus scan. If you get a warning stating that the version of a particular program or OS you have is not currently supported, get a newer version as quickly as possible. If the version you’re running isn’t being supported, that means it’s no longer getting important security updates.