To take action : 10–20 min · Depending on your devices and accounts
How websites follow you around
Reduce tracking without confusing encrypted DNS with anonymity.
PatchYourself · Last editorial revision : · Sources
Fictional example: an everyday situation
After viewing a product, Eli sees similar advertisements elsewhere. He reviews browser tracking settings and advertising permissions rather than adding several unknown extensions.
The problem
Sites and services connect visits and interactions using signed-in accounts, cookies, pixels and technical characteristics. They may infer interests. A relevant advertisement does not prove your phone is listening through its microphone.
A cookie stores information in the browser. A pixel triggers a request when content loads. Fingerprinting combines browser characteristics to try to recognize it. These techniques do not all identify people perfectly.
What to do now
Step 1: Enable browser protections
Review tracking and third-party-cookie protection. Choose a setting you understand and test your usual sites. See the browser module for compatible extensions.
Step 2: Understand DNS before changing it
DNS translates a domain name into a network address. A request can reveal the requested domain, but not page contents or search terms typed into a search engine.
DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) or DNS-over-TLS (DoT) encrypts the path to the resolver. The resolver still receives the requests. Networks may still observe IP addresses and other metadata: encrypted DNS does not hide all browsing.
Step 3: Configure it only for an understood need
Review secure-DNS options in your browser or device. In Firefox, find “DNS over HTTPS” and read about the chosen protection level, including any fallback behavior. Changing only a DNS server address does not encrypt requests.
On work, school or parentally controlled devices, check applicable rules before changing settings. A change may bypass intended filtering or stop internal names from resolving.
Step 4: Limit shared data
Decline optional cookies if unwanted, review phone advertising settings and remove unnecessary access. Clearing cookies can sign you out and does not delete data already held by services.
Go further
A trust decision
Changing resolvers moves trust to another service. Compare its retention policy, filtering and operation. “Private” does not mean “no data is accessible to anyone”.
Tool limitations
A blocker does not stop every tracker. Signing into an account often identifies you directly. Combine settings with decisions about what you publish and which services you use.
Sources and verification
References used for this revision. Menus and offers can change; consult the provider’s help for your version.