How to Block Advertisers Creepily Tracking You with Firefox
In today’s digital age, online privacy is a growing concern, especially in New Zealand where internet usage is widespread. Advertisers use sophisticated tracking techniques to monitor your online behaviour, often without your consent. However, if you’re using Firefox, there are several robust features and settings you can utilise to block these invasive practices. This guide will walk you through the steps to enhance your privacy and keep advertisers at bay.
Understanding Online Tracking
Online tracking involves collecting data about your browsing habits, which advertisers use to create detailed profiles and target you with specific ads. This can include tracking cookies, social media trackers, and even cryptominers. These methods not only invade your privacy but can also slow down your browsing experience.
Enhanced Tracking Protection
Firefox offers a feature called Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP), which blocks many common trackers and harmful scripts by default. ETP is available in three modes: Standard, Strict, and Custom.
- Standard Mode: This is the default setting and provides balanced protection without compromising the performance of websites.
- Strict Mode: Blocks more trackers but may cause some websites to malfunction.
- Custom Mode: Allows you to choose which trackers and scripts to block.
To enable Enhanced Tracking Protection:
- Open Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security.
- Under Enhanced Tracking Protection, choose your preferred mode.
Do Not Track Feature
The Do Not Track feature sends a signal to websites indicating that you do not wish to be tracked. While not all websites honour this request, it’s still a useful tool.
To enable Do Not Track:
- Open Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down to Send websites a “Do Not Track” signal that you don’t want to be tracked and select Always.
Blocking Social Media Trackers
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter use trackers embedded in other websites to collect data about your browsing habits. Firefox blocks the most common social media trackers by default, but you can further enhance this protection.
To block social media trackers:
- Open Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security.
- Under Enhanced Tracking Protection, ensure that Social media trackers are blocked.
Using Privacy-Preserving Ad Measurement
Firefox has introduced a feature called Privacy-Preserving Ad Measurement, which is designed to help advertisers track ad performance without compromising user privacy. However, some users prefer to disable this feature to ensure maximum privacy.
To disable Privacy-Preserving Ad Measurement:
- Open Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down to Website Advertising Preferences.
- Disable Allow websites to perform privacy-preserving ad measurement.
Additional Privacy Tips
Here are some additional tips to enhance your online privacy:
- Use Private Browsing Mode: This mode does not save your browsing history, cookies, or site data. To enable it, click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and select New Private Window.
- Clear Browsing Data Regularly: Regularly clearing your browsing history, cookies, and cache can prevent trackers from accumulating data over time. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Clear Data.
- Install Privacy Extensions: Consider installing extensions like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger for additional protection against trackers.
By taking advantage of Firefox’s privacy features and following these tips, you can significantly reduce the ability of advertisers to track your online activities. This not only enhances your privacy but also contributes to a faster and more secure browsing experience. Stay vigilant and take control of your digital footprint to enjoy a safer online environment in New Zealand.