Guide: How to Use Tracking Prevention in Edge Browser
Multiple trackers track your activities when you surf online. In addition to websites that want nothing more than to track you and monitor your browsing activity, a lot of scripts are loaded. Most of the time, the goal is to target you with personalized ads. But you never know what else they will do with that data. That’s why the built-in tracking prevention feature in the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge is so useful. It has three levels of protection – Basic, Balanced and Strict – that can help you thwart web trackers and malicious scripts online. But what level of tracking prevention works best? Should you use it in the first place? Why not just have a content blocking extension installed instead? Let’s find out the answers to these questions below.
Multiple levels of tracking prevention
Tracking Prevention is baked into Microsoft Edge Chromium on both the PC and Mac. You can also find it in the mobile versions (iOS and Android) of Microsoft Edge. And it has three separate levels – Basic, Balanced, and Strict – that you can easily switch between.
Basic
The basic setting doesn’t block the ads, analytics, or social trackers on websites, which is useful if you don’t mind personalized ads. Suppose you search for something and suddenly related ads are displayed up on the websites you visit. Well, it won’t stop them. But it will stop malicious scripts. Sketchy sites often run malicious code that uses your device’s resources to mine cryptocurrencies. Not only do they slow down web browsing, but they also damage battery life. The basic setting helps to prevent this. In addition, it blocks fingerprint scripts that use device-specific information to track you.
Balanced
Balanced is the default tracking prevention setting used by Microsoft Edge Chromium. If personalized ads are deceiving you, this setting should do you a lot of good. It blocks most ad trackers right away so you don’t see that toaster you just searched in Google, for example. up all over in ads!
The Balanced setting is also a good way to avoid the negative impact of anti-tracking. It doesn’t block trackers that are essential to a site’s functionality so you don’t get caught up with broken site elements.
Strict
The Strict Tracking Prevention setting blocks almost all trackers from loading alongside websites. Yes – even the ones needed for a site to function properly. Don’t worry – most sites will still be listed up fine. But expect strange quirks, such as faulty social media plugins or embedded videos that don’t play properly. Tracking Prevention isn’t advertised as an ad blocker, but the Strict setting also helps to load fewer ads, which is likely due to the lack of third-party trackers. The strict level even improves the site’s performance; this is possible because most trackers – ads, analytics, social media, etc. – are not allowed to use system resources. This also applies to the Balanced setting, but to a lesser extent.
What level of tracking prevention works best
It depends what you want. If you prefer personalized ads without being exposed to cryptominers and privacy-infringing fingerprints, then the basic level of tracking prevention should work like a charm. But if you hate personalized ads, use the Balanced setting. It strikes a great balance (no pun intended) of protecting your privacy while still giving sites the means to pay their bills. It is also the default setting and the level recommended by Microsoft. If you’re very aware of your privacy and don’t mind a few sites breaking in the process, go for Strict. It also blocks most ads. But you can always use the built-in exceptions list to add sites you support or trust, or sites that don’t work.
Should you use tracking prevention
There’s no reason you shouldn’t. At the very least, you should use Basic Tracking Prevention as it blocks dangerous tracking scripts and malicious code from running on your desktop or PC. mobile If you have seconds of thoughts, you can always check Tracking Prevention in action by clicking the padlock icon on the address bar and then pointing to Trackers. And it will list many blocked trackers, which will change depending on the level of Tracking Prevention used.
Tip You can also turn off tracking prevention for a site from the padlock menu – useful when using the strict level of tracking prevention. But the idea is that these trackers reign supreme if they aren’t blocked. If your privacy matters, you should use Tracking Prevention.
Change the level of tracking prevention
Tracking prevention is turned on by default in Microsoft Edge. And it uses the balanced setting. If you want to switch to another level, open the exceptions list, or disable functionality completely (not recommended), here’s how to find the Tracking Prevention settings on your desktop or mobile
Windows / macOS
Step 1: Open the Edge menu and click Settings.
Step 2: Switch to the Privacy and Services tab.
Step 3: Select the required level of protection – Basic, Balanced or Strict – using the controls under the Tracking Prevention section. Or use the toggle next to Tracking Prevention to turn off the functionality.
To exclude a website, click Exceptions and add the site URL. Tip Turn on the toggle next to ‘Always use’ Strict ‘Tracking Prevention when browsing InPrivate’ to increase your privacy in InPrivate mode, regardless of the level of Tracking Prevention used for normal web browsing.
iOS / Android
Step 1: Bring up the Edge menu, then tap Settings.
Step 2: Tap Privacy and Security. On the next screen, tap Tracking Prevention.
Step 3: Switch to the required level of tracking prevention. Or turn off the switch next to Tracking Prevention to turn off the functionality.
Tap Exceptions to add the URL of the site you want to exclude.
Tracking Prevention vs Ad Blockers
The Microsoft Edge Add-ons Store has many content blocking extensions that can also help protect your privacy. Extensions like uBlock Origin can block trackers better than the integrated Tracking Prevention module. However, extensions are also their share of privacy related issues as they can access your browsing activity. In fact, some content blockers in the Microsoft Edge Add-ons Store look a bit sketchy! Extensions also consume additional system resources and can slow down the browser.
Tracking Prevention, on the other hand, is already integrated into Microsoft Edge, causes fewer performance issues, and is generally more secure. Note: The mobile versions of Microsoft Edge as well feature a built-in content blocker by Adblock Plus (Edge Settings> Content Blockers). You can use it instead, but Tracking Prevention gives you more control when blocking trackers.
Protect your privacy
Tracking Prevention is an incredibly useful functionality. The folks at Redmond have done a great job of making their browser more secure without leaving it up to the user to find means to protect his or her privacy. Good job, Microsoft. The next up: Microsoft Edge Chromium features unprecedented support for progressive web apps (PWAs). Here is how to install and remove them.
How to Use Tracking Prevention in Edge Browser: benefits
Faq
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