Stop Sites from Tracking You in 5 Clicks (Without a VPN)
👀 You’re Being Tracked—Even If You’re Not Logged In
Visited one site and suddenly ads follow you everywhere?
Yep, that’s tracking. But here’s the good news: you don’t need a VPN to fight back.
In fact, with just a few built-in browser settings and tools, you can stop most trackers in their tracks (pun intended).
Let’s fix it in 5 clicks or less.
1️⃣ Turn Off Third-Party Cookies
Why: These are the biggest culprits behind cross-site tracking.
How (Chrome):
- Go to
chrome://settings/privacy - Click Cookies and other site data
- Choose Block third-party cookies
🔐 This blocks cookies from advertisers, not the site you’re actually visiting.
2️⃣ Send “Do Not Track” Requests
Why: While not enforceable, many legit websites honor it.
How:
- Go to
chrome://settings/privacy - Scroll down to Send a “Do Not Track” request
- Toggle it ON
🧠 It’s like putting up a “No Soliciting” sign. Won’t stop everyone—but helps.
3️⃣ Block Fingerprinting Scripts
Why: Sites can track you via your browser settings, fonts, and even screen size (called “fingerprinting”).
How:
If you use Brave, it’s built-in.
On Chrome, install an extension like:
Or
🔎 These block fingerprinting libraries and known tracking scripts.
4️⃣ Use Privacy-Focused Search Engines
Why: Google tracks. Period. Use a search engine that doesn’t.
Try These:
How to Set It in Chrome:
- Go to
chrome://settings/search - Change the default engine to one above
💬 Jake Says: Try it for a week. You’ll barely notice a difference—except fewer creepy ads.
5️⃣ Clear Site Data Automatically When You Close the Browser
Why: This wipes cookies, trackers, and logins when you close your browser.
How:
- Go to
chrome://settings/privacy - Click Cookies and other site data
- Enable Clear cookies and site data when you close all windows
⚠️ You’ll need to log in again—but it’s a privacy trade-off worth making.
🧠 Bonus: Use “Incognito Mode” Smarter
Incognito doesn’t block trackers—it just doesn’t save data locally.
Still, it’s useful for:
- Searching without history influence
- One-time logins
- Comparing prices anonymously
🧢 Jake’s Rule: Use incognito like sunglasses, not a mask. It hides, but doesn’t protect.
🔐 Jake’s Privacy Checklist – No VPN Required
| Setting | Clicks | Stops |
|---|---|---|
| Block third-party cookies | 2 | Ad trackers |
| Do Not Track | 2 | Honest trackers |
| Fingerprint protection | 1 (with extension) | Script-based tracking |
| Private search engine | 2 | Search profiling |
| Auto-clear cookies | 3 | Persistent tracking |
🧢 Jake’s Final Word
Online privacy doesn’t require a tinfoil hat or a $10/month VPN subscription.
You just need to change a few browser settings and be smarter about how you search.
Try these 5 tweaks today. You’ll browse lighter, cleaner, and with way fewer ads following you around.
