How to Stop Websites from Following You Around the Internet (2025)

NOTE

Ever searched for hiking boots and then seen boot ads on every site you visit? That’s behavioural tracking at work. Below are simple steps to vanish from advertisers’ radar.

Online ads feel psychic because websites hand off your visits to giant ad networks that follow your clicks across the web. Luckily, you can break this data hand-holding with built-in browser settings and a few lightweight tools—no subscription required.

Table of Contents
1. How Tracking Works in 60 Seconds
2. Fastest Fixes at a Glance
3. Step-by-Step: Block Third-Party Cookies
4. Turn On Built-In Tracking Protection
5. Add a Trusted Content Blocker
6. Go Cookie-less with Privacy Search & Email
7. Advanced: Fight Fingerprinting
8. Common Pitfalls
9. Troubleshooting
10. Going Further
11. Conclusion

1. How Tracking Works in 60 Seconds

Site loads tracking scripts (Google, Facebook, etc.).
Scripts drop third-party cookies or fingerprint your device.
Ad network builds a profile and shows “relevant” ads everywhere.

Stopping any one of these steps can derail the whole process.

2. Fastest Fixes at a Glance

Action	Difficulty	Time	Effectiveness
Block third-party cookies	⭐	1 min	High
Enable browser Tracking Protection	⭐	1 min	High
Install uBlock Origin	⭐⭐	3 min	Very High
Use Privacy-centric Search (DDG)	⭐	1 min	Medium
Swap to Brave/Firefox	⭐⭐	5 min	Very High

3. Step-by-Step: Block Third-Party Cookies

Chrome → Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies → select Block third-party cookies.
Edge → Settings → Privacy → choose Strict.
Firefox defaults to strict tracking protection—just keep it updated.

TIP

Blocking third-party cookies alone stops many ad retargeting campaigns.

4. Turn On Built-In Tracking Protection

Safari and Firefox protect you out of the box, but here’s how to double-check:

Safari (Mac/iOS) → Preferences → Privacy → ensure Prevent cross-site tracking is ticked.
Firefox → shield icon next to URL → set to Strict.
Edge: as above, choose Strict mode.

5. Add a Trusted Content Blocker

Install uBlock Origin or AdGuard (Chrome/Firefox/Edge). They:

Block ads, trackers, malware domains.
Let you whitelist sites that rely on ads.

Setup:

Visit extension store, click Add to browser.
Pin icon to toolbar; by default it blocks known tracker lists.

Use DuckDuckGo or Startpage—they don’t log search terms.
Route newsletters through email alias services (SimpleLogin) to cut tracking links.

7. Advanced: Fight Fingerprinting

Even with cookies blocked, some scripts read your device specifics. Mitigations:

Firefox → about:config → set privacy.resistFingerprinting to true.
Use Brave—it randomises fingerprint bits and blocks known scripts.
Run Tor Browser for maximum anti-fingerprint protection.

8. Common Pitfalls

Mistake	Consequence
Disabling all JavaScript	Many sites break completely
Installing sketchy blockers	May sell data or inject ads
Staying logged into Facebook while browsing	FB still tracks via first-party cookies

9. Troubleshooting

Issue	Fix
Site asks to enable cookies	Allow first-party cookies only, refresh
Videos or comments not loading	Click blocker icon → Disable on this site
Increased CAPTCHAs after Tor	Switch to standard browser for non-private tasks

10. Going Further

Use DNS blockers (NextDNS, Pi-hole) at router level.
Schedule cookie auto-deletion every time you close the browser.
Check trackers live via EFF Privacy Badger to understand what’s blocked.

11. Conclusion

Stopping websites from tailing you doesn’t mean going off-grid. A few slider switches—third-party cookie blocking, strict tracking protection, and a reputable content blocker—shatter most digital breadcrumbs. Layer on private search or Tor when needed, and enjoy ad-free, quiet browsing.

Browse freely and keep your clicks your own! 🕶️🚫

Table of Contents