Resources
REV. 2026–08
FAQ
Why can't I just use Chrome?
Chrome is free because Google's business is advertising, and your browsing history feeds that business. It ships without built-in tracker blocking, and its Manifest V3 changes weakened some ad/tracker blockers. You can use it if you must, but see Set Up Your Browser for the minimum steps to limit the damage.
What about VPNs?
A VPN hides your IP address and encrypts traffic from your ISP, which is useful, but it does nothing about cookies, fingerprinting, or the tracking scripts a site loads once your traffic arrives. A VPN and a hardened browser solve different problems — you likely want both.
Is private/incognito browsing enough?
No. Private browsing only stops your device from saving history and cookies locally. It does not stop your ISP, the sites you visit, or fingerprinting techniques from tracking you. Treat it as a local-privacy feature, not a real anonymity tool.
Do I really need more than one browser?
No, one hardened browser is a fine starting point. A 2–3 browser lineup is a further step for people who want to separate risk (shopping, coupon extensions) from what matters (banking, work, main accounts). See Choose Your Browser.
Will any of this break the sites I use?
Occasionally. Ad blockers and strict tracking protection can break a video player, login button, or payment form on rare sites. The Troubleshooting Guide covers the common cases and how to whitelist just one site instead of turning protection off entirely.
GLOSSARY
An organization your browser trusts to verify that a website is who it claims to be. A compromised or untrustworthy CA can undermine that trust for every site it vouches for.
Chrome's current extension platform. It limits how much content-blocking extensions can do compared to the older Manifest V2, which is why some ad blockers ship a "Lite" version for Chrome.
A browser signal that tells websites "don't sell or share my data," recognized under some state privacy laws. Brave, Firefox, and LibreWolf support it; Safari and stock Chrome don't.
A browser technology for real-time audio/video that can, if misconfigured, leak your real IP address even behind a VPN.
Identifying a device from a combination of details like screen size, fonts, and timezone — without needing cookies at all. See Advanced Configurations.
Encrypts the lookups that turn a domain name into an IP address, so your ISP can't easily see which sites you visit just by watching DNS traffic.
WHAT'S CHANGED
Added the full Browser Privacy Guide (Choose, Set Up, Advanced Configurations, Test & Verify), a site-wide Troubleshooting Guide, and this Resources page.
Safari added uBlock Origin support and on-by-default fingerprinting protection under "All Browsing" mode.
Chrome's Manifest V3 rollout disabled the full uBlock Origin for most users; uBlock Origin Lite became the Chrome-compatible fallback.
CURATED LINKS
- Privacy Guides — community-maintained recommendations for privacy tools and services.
- PrivacyTools.io — browser hardening and encrypted software guide.
- PRISM Break — opt out of global data surveillance programs, by platform.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) — digital rights nonprofit behind Privacy Badger and Cover Your Tracks.
- Dig Deeper — deep dive on cybersecurity, hacking, and privacy.
- Have I Been Pwned — check if your email has appeared in a known data breach.