Your private browsing reset

0 of 7 steps checked

Turn on tracker blockingEnable your browser's built-in tracking protection. It can reduce cross-site tracking before an advertiser gets a chance to recognise you. Block third-party cookiesKeep useful first-party sign-in cookies while making it harder for ad networks to follow you between unrelated sites. Review site permissionsRemove old camera, microphone, location and notification permissions. A site should ask again when it genuinely needs access. Remove extensions you do not trustExtensions can read more of your browsing than an ordinary web page. Keep only the ones you recognise and still use. Let your browser update automaticallySecurity updates close real holes. Delaying them leaves you exposed to problems that may already have a fix. Use a password manager and unique passwordsUnique passwords contain a breach to one account. Generate one locally with our password generator. Use a VPN on networks you do not controlA VPN protects the network path and changes the public IP sites see. It complements, rather than replaces, browser privacy settings.

This checklist has no account, analytics, storage or network calls. Closing or refreshing this tab clears the ticks.

What this checklist can and cannot do

Privacy is a set of layers. Browser settings reduce what a website can learn and retain. Strong passwords reduce the damage if one service is breached. A VPN encrypts traffic between you and the VPN server, particularly useful on public Wi-Fi, and replaces your public IP address.

No checklist can make a logged-in account anonymous, and blocking every signal can sometimes make a browser stand out. Aim for sensible defaults you can keep using, then check what your browser still reveals with our browser privacy check.

Make the changes stick

Take this one browser at a time. The settings names differ between browsers, but tracker blocking, cookie controls, permissions and automatic updates are common themes. Revisit extension and permission lists every few months, especially after installing new software.

Privacy settings checklist

Your private browsing reset

What this checklist can and cannot do

Make the changes stick

Privacy settings protect your browser. ROOT protects your connection.