There was a time when clearing cookies protected your privacy.
You could delete tracking data, browse fresh, and reasonably assume you'd covered your tracks online. However, in this technically advanced world, this advice doesn't hold up as well as it used to.
How cookies work
Cookies were originally designed for user experience. First-party cookies keep you logged in, save your cart items, and remember things like language preferences.
However, the problem is with third-party cookies, which let advertisers follow you across entirely different websites. These tracking files built behavioural profiles, monitoring users as they move from site to site.
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Not to mention, Google, Facebook and Instagram are essentially advertising tools, so it's no wonder that your accounts can track you. Each builds your profile, even after clearing cookies.
Now, one tech expert, Gavin Phillips, has revealed that while clearing cookies does erase some data, there are more steps to take to prevent data leakage. If your goal is to minimise tracking, you need to 'limit the data your browser leaks in the first place.'
How to stop data tracking
Like most privacy matters, digital protection requires multiple layers.
Use a privacy-focused browser
Google Chrome dominates browser market share but prioritises features over privacy, Phillips said.
Instead, browsers like Brave and Firefox specifically protect privacy without destroying your browsing experience. They include cookie partitioning, script isolation and automatic fingerprinting blocks.
Use encrypted DNS
The Domain Name System (DNS) converts text URLs into numerical IP addresses. Each lookup sends a DNS request, but these typically travel in plaintext, letting your ISP or network admin see your activity.
Phillips recommends using an encrypted DNS to 'protect the data being sent from and received on your system.'
Change your browser settings
If switching browsers isn't an option, the cybersecurity expert advises users to tweak their settings. Both Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome offer a number of privacy settings or extensions to keep you covered.
While none of these steps can make you 'invisible' online, they can 'reduce your surface area, and provide fewer unique signals from your devices,' Phillips assured.
Automatically reject cookies
You're probably already aware of the relentless cookie prompts that appear on almost every website you visit. Thankfully, there are extensions out there that automatically reject these pop-ups, saving you precious time.
Today's trackers monitor browser behaviour, what information it reveals, and your linked accounts. With these changes, you can dramatically reduce the personal data collected about you, the expert concluded.