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How to Stop Websites from Tracking You Online

~/sheets/how-to-stop-tracking.md
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You Are Being Tracked More Than You Think

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Every website you visit collects data about you. Advertisers build profiles spanning hundreds of data points. Data brokers buy and sell your browsing history. In 2026, tracking is more sophisticated than ever — but so are the tools to fight it.

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How Websites Track You

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Cookies: Small files stored in your browser that identify you across visits. Browser Fingerprinting: Your browser configuration creates a unique identifier — check yours with our fingerprint tool. IP Tracking: Your IP address reveals your location and ISP. Tracking Pixels: Invisible images in emails and web pages that report when and where you view content. Cross-site trackers: Scripts loaded from ad networks that follow you across different websites.

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Step 1: Use a Privacy-Focused Browser

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Firefox with Enhanced Tracking Protection (strict mode) blocks most third-party trackers automatically. Brave browser blocks ads and trackers by default. For maximum privacy, use the Tor Browser — it standardizes your fingerprint and routes traffic through multiple nodes.

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Step 2: Install Essential Extensions

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uBlock Origin blocks ads, trackers, and malicious scripts. Privacy Badger (from EFF) learns which domains track you and blocks them. HTTPS Everywhere ensures encrypted connections. Cookie AutoDelete removes cookies when you close tabs.

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Step 3: Use a VPN

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A VPN hides your real IP from every website you visit. Without one, your IP address reveals your approximate location to every site. Test whether you are currently exposed with our proxy detection tool. Recommended: NordVPN, Surfshark, or Mullvad.

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Step 4: Block DNS Tracking

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Your DNS queries reveal every domain you visit. Use encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS) or a privacy-focused DNS provider like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Quad9. Verify your DNS is private with our DNS leak test.

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Step 5: Limit Data Sharing

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Use email aliases for website signups. Never use "Sign in with Google/Facebook" buttons — they link your activity across services. Disable location services for apps that do not need them. Opt out of personalized ads in your OS settings.

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Measure Your Privacy

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Run our Privacy Checkup to get a score showing how trackable you currently are. It tests your VPN, DNS, WebRTC leaks, fingerprint uniqueness, and connection encryption in under 30 seconds.

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Last updated: April 2026