From tracking to localization: here’s how to protect your privacy on Chrome and surf safely
We leave thousands of sensitive information on the Internet every day, most of the time without even realizing it. Browsers are undoubtedly the main vector with which we disclose our personal data. It is therefore essential to be able to protect security and privacy.
Disseminating personal data freely on the net can also be very dangerous in some cases. Careless use of browsers, for example, can hand over our geographical location to some malicious person. And not only. The information collected is mainly used to know our internet habits and to tailor advertisements. And the rule on which the internet is based. The problem is that by cross-referencing all this sensitive data, an attacker can trace, as it has been proven, not only the computer but also the person who made a certain search. Therefore, you need to know how to defend your personal sphere.
Of the numerous browsers, Chrome is one of the most widely used. We will explain how to protect security and privacy on Google’s browser.
Location
We have already mentioned that browsers can track our location. Or rather they can allow other sites to locate us, information that is then used to personalize the internet experience offered. If we want to safeguard privacy on Chrome, all we need to do is disable localization. It is a very easy process. First, open the browser and then click on the three vertical dots icon in the top right corner. Next, press on “Settings” and scroll down the page until you see the “Advanced” option. Now from “Privacy and Security” select the “Content Settings” option and finally from the next menu all you have to do is block tracking.
Tracking
We quickly talked about this point earlier as well. Many sites track internet traffic, that is, they collect information through elements called cookies about our online behavior. The reason for this is quite simple. The data is used to show more targeted advertisements. On Chrome you can protect yourself against tracking. Again from “Advanced” and “Privacy and Security” enable “Send a “Do not track” request with your browsing traffic”. That’s it.
Third Party Cookies
Many websites may allow third parties, i.e. external websites, to use cookies to track us. To prevent this from happening, just get your hands on Chrome’s settings. Once again, open “Content Settings” (again from “Privacy and Security”) and then click on “Cookies”. Finally, just disable “Allow sites to save and read cookie data (recommended choice)” and you’re done.
Alternative Search Engines
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that has a special feature: it does not collect information about users’ internet traffic. But there are others, just do a little research. As well as it can be useful to install extensions, whose function is to block the tracking of websites.
Password
Now let’s move on to security. Chrome, as well as other browsers, allows you to save passwords. It is a convenient system, but also dangerous. Someone could, in fact, find a way to get hold of these credentials. The advice is to use an offline password manager, which undoubtedly offers a higher level of protection.
Synchronization
As you know, Chrome lets you synchronize a lot of information, such as history and passwords, between multiple devices. You can always control this feature by logging into Chrome (using a Google account) and then going to “Settings” and “Sync”.