How Browsers Track You
Cookies
Track sessions and identity across visits
CommonFingerprinting
Canvas, WebGL, audio context fingerprints
AdvancedLocal Storage
Persistent storage like "super cookies"
CommonReferrer Headers
Sites see where you came from
BasicBrowser Recommendations
| Browser | Privacy | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tor Browser | Excellent | Anonymity | Best for sensitive browsing |
| Firefox (Hardened) | Very Good | Daily use | Requires configuration |
| Brave | Good | Easy privacy | Built-in protections |
| LibreWolf | Very Good | Pre-hardened | Firefox fork |
Hardening Firefox
Essential about:config Settings
firefox-hardening
# Disable telemetry
toolkit.telemetry.enabled → false
# Disable WebRTC (prevents IP leaks)
media.peerconnection.enabled → false
# Enable tracking protection
privacy.trackingprotection.enabled → true
# Resist fingerprinting
privacy.resistFingerprinting → true
# First-party isolation
privacy.firstparty.isolate → true
Essential Extensions
uBlock Origin
Blocks ads, trackers, and malware. Essential for all browsers.
Cookie AutoDelete
Automatically removes cookies when tabs close.
Multi-Account Containers
Isolate sites in separate containers (Firefox).
NoScript
Block JavaScript by default, whitelist trusted sites.
Warning: Too many extensions can increase fingerprint uniqueness. Stick to essential, well-known extensions.
Best Practices
- Use separate browsers/profiles for different purposes
- Clear cookies and cache regularly
- Don't stay logged into sites
- Use private/incognito mode for one-off searches
- Block third-party cookies
- Use DuckDuckGo or Startpage as search engine
- Disable autofill
- Don't sync browser data to cloud