Personal Information Protection: The 5 Best Ways to Browse Privately on Google Chrome

Online privacy is essential for preventing third parties from tracking your browser activity, cookies, and IP address. With a few tools and adjusted settings, you can ensure your personal information is secure.

Below, we’ll cover your private browsing options on Chrome and the benefits they offer.

Use a VPN for Enhanced Privacy

VPNs, or virtual private networks, make it harder for websites and third parties to track your online behavior. They create a secure encrypted tunnel between your device and its servers, routing all your data through a private connection.

Their strong encryption protocols scramble your data, making it unreadable at home or on public Wi-Fi networks. Connecting to a VPN replaces your IP address with the server’s address, stopping websites and advertisers from discovering your location and activity. Using a VPN Chrome extension is a quick and straightforward way to maintain your privacy when browsing.

Use Incognito Mode for Anonymous Browsing

Chrome’s Incognito Mode prevents saved browsing history, cookies, and cached files. Your browsing activity won’t be tracked or stored on your device or appear in your browser’s history. When you close your Incognito window, the site data and cookies are deleted alongside the tab.

While Incognito mode helps avoid cookies and use a shared device, it doesn’t provide complete anonymity against websites tracking your activity. Websites tracking your activity will be able to see your IP address, and your location and activity will also be visible to your internet service provider or employer.

Install Privacy-Focused Chrome Extensions

You can install privacy extensions onto your browser to limit the personal data collected by websites as your browser. Ad blockers filter out ads, pop-ups, and trackers loaded onto websites, with the bonus of faster page loading times and a cleaner browsing experience.

Script blockers prevent or restrict the execution of scripts related to ads and tracking, blocking them from reading and writing cookies or accessing your data without your consent. They also help reduce the risks of security vulnerabilities that arise from malicious scripts.

Adjust Chrome’s Privacy Settings

Chrome’s settings allow you to manage ad privacy and site permissions. You can also control what features specific sites can access, such as your location or microphone, and choose whether they are automatically blocked or require a request before accessing these features.

You can delete your browsing history in settings or block cookies. By sending a ‘Do Not Track’ request, you’ll inform websites that you don’t consent to them tracking your activity, but remember that it’s not universally respected. A combination of these settings can significantly reduce the amount of data collected while you use Chrome.

Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Browsing

Connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks is risky. Hackers can intercept your online activity, including your login credentials, over unencrypted networks. They may also use public networks to distribute malware like viruses and ransomware to get into your device.

Don’t shop online or log into accounts with sensitive information while using public Wi-Fi. Online transactions involve sharing personal and financial data, which hackers can access. The same goes for filling out applications and downloading files. If you need public connections when commuting regularly, use a VPN to protect your device and privacy.