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How much does a website know about you?
Your Internet browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, etc.) and almost every website you visit with it collects information about you such as who you are, where you’ve been, and even what you did. The browsers may also 'remember' this information, which may be useful for future use but may also become an invasion of your privacy. There are several options for controlling how much information a browser collects, shares, and how long it saves that information.
While your browser stores some of this data to make your browsing experience faster and more convenient, keeping too much of it could compromise your privacy and security. Here is a breakdown of what your browser tracks, how it affects you, and how to stay in control.
- History, or ‘browsing history’ is a continuous timeline of every website you visit and link you click. By default, most browsers remember your browsing history for several days or weeks. Anyone with access to your device (or a synchronized browser account) can see this history.
- Cookies are how websites ‘know’ you. These are small files downloaded to your device that allow websites to "remember" you, keeping you logged in or saving your shopping cart. While they enrich and personalize many of the websites you visit, they can also pose a risk to security and privacy. By default, most browsers accept and store cookies indefinitely.
- Extensions and Plugins are programs that your browser installs from websites you visit that, similar to cookies, may store information about you and also used interact with the websites you visit. Some websites will require you to have an extension or plugin of some kind in order to view them properly, or at all. Because they are programs, Extensions and Plugins themselves can present security risks. Only install extensions from trusted developers, regularly audit your installed add-ons, and remove anything you no longer use. Visit the ITS support page for browser security for more information on managing and securing plugins and other browser software.
- Pop-ups and Pop-up Blockers are often enabled by browsers to prevent pop-up advertising, which most users have grown to dislike. Some websites, however, require that pop-ups be allowed and will ask to permit them. These ‘allowed web sites’ are stored by the browser indefinitely unless you delete them.
- Auto-Fill Data and Saved Passwords are data that you have typed into a website or ‘form’ that the browser has saved so you don’t have to fill them in each time you visit the website. Most browsers ask if you’d like to ‘save’ information for future use. It is strongly recommended that you do not permit data and/or password saving for websites and that this information is regularly cleaned or deleted if it is there. Consider using a password manager instead.
While all browsers have settings that allow customization for privacy and security, Colby ITS currently recommends Mozilla Firefox, which offers excellent options for secure, private browsing.
Manage your privacy settings
Instructions on managing the privacy and security settings that control these elements for most major Internet browsers are listed below. Please note that deleting saved browser data will result in websites no longer ‘knowing’ who you are, and that your preferences, settings, and identity data will no longer be there. Browser plugins and add-ons are not affected by general settings, and other browser preferences, including bookmarks, are not changed in this process.
Mozilla Firefox—Settings for Privacy and Browsing History, and Global Privacy Controls
Google Chrome—Chrome safety and security settings
Apple Safari—Safari Privacy Settings
Apple Safari for iOS (iPhone, iPad)—iOS Safari Web Settings
Microsoft Edge—Edge Privacy Settings
Lastly, always make sure that your web browser and related software are a current, up-to-date version. More information on Internet Browser security can be found in the ITS support page on Browser Security.
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