1How to Stop Being Tracked Online
2Every time you browse the internet, dozens of companies are watching. Websites track you with cookies. Advertisers follow you across the web with invisible pixels. Your ISP logs every domain you visit. Social media platforms track you even on sites that have nothing to do with them. The result is a detailed profile of your interests, habits, location, and behavior — all built without your meaningful consent.
3The good news: you can dramatically reduce tracking with a few practical steps. Here is how.
4Understand How Tracking Works
5Before you can stop tracking, you need to understand the methods:
7Cookies — small files websites store on your device. Third-party cookies let advertisers follow you across different websites 8Browser fingerprinting — websites identify you by your unique combination of browser settings, installed fonts, screen size, and hardware. Check your fingerprint with our Browser Fingerprint tool 9IP address tracking — your IP address reveals your approximate location and ISP. Every website you visit sees it 10Tracking pixels — invisible 1x1 images embedded in emails and web pages that report back when loaded 11DNS logging — your ISP can see every domain you request through DNS. Check for DNS leaks with our DNS Leak Test 13Step 1: Fix Your Browser Settings
14Your browser is the primary battleground. These changes make an immediate difference:
16Switch to Firefox or Brave — both have strong built-in tracking protection 17Enable "strict" tracking protection in your browser settings 18Block third-party cookies entirely 19Install uBlock Origin — it blocks ads, trackers, and malicious scripts 23A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your real IP address from every website you visit. It also prevents your ISP from logging your browsing activity. Read our VPN guide to understand how they work and choose one.
24Important: not all VPNs actually work properly. After connecting, always verify that your real IP is hidden and your DNS requests are not leaking. Our Privacy Checkup tests all of this automatically.
25Step 3: Switch Your DNS
26Your default DNS provider (usually your ISP) can see every website you visit. Switch to a privacy-focused DNS provider that does not log your queries. Check our Best DNS Servers guide for recommendations.
27Step 4: Manage Cookies and Storage
29Set your browser to clear cookies when you close it 30Use container tabs (Firefox) to isolate websites from each other 31Regularly clear local storage and site data 32Reject non-essential cookies on consent banners — do not just click "Accept All" 34Step 5: Reduce Your Digital Footprint
36Use a search engine that does not track you (DuckDuckGo, Startpage) 37Do not sign into Google or Facebook while browsing other sites 38Use email aliases instead of your real email address for signups 39Opt out of data broker sites that sell your personal information 40Review and tighten privacy settings on social media accounts 42Step 6: Protect Your Email
43Email tracking is pervasive. Most marketing emails contain tracking pixels that report when you open them, what device you use, and your approximate location.
45Disable automatic image loading in your email client 46Use an email provider with built-in tracking protection 47Never click links in emails from unknown senders 49Step 7: Verify Your Protection
50After making these changes, test everything:
52Run our Privacy Checkup — it tests your IP exposure, DNS leaks, WebRTC leaks, and browser fingerprint in one scan 54Test for DNS leaks — make sure your DNS queries are going through your VPN or privacy DNS 57Start by understanding your current exposure. Run our Privacy Checkup to get a comprehensive score of your privacy posture. It takes seconds and shows you exactly where you are vulnerable. Then work through the steps above, starting with browser settings and a VPN — those two changes alone eliminate the majority of everyday tracking.
58Last updated: April 2026