Website Tracking: Can They See Your History?

TL;DR

Yes, websites can track your browsing history on other sites, but it’s not as simple as directly reading everything you do. It usually involves cookies, trackers, and fingerprinting. You can limit this with browser settings and extensions.

How Websites Track You

1. Cookies: These small files store information about your visit to a website. First-party cookies (from the site you’re on) are generally less concerning, but third-party cookies (from other domains) can track you across multiple sites.
   • Example: A shopping site might use a cookie to remember items in your basket. An advertising network uses a cookie to show you ads for that same product on other websites.
2. Trackers: These are bits of code embedded in websites (often by third parties) designed to collect data about your browsing habits.
   • Common trackers include those from advertising networks, social media platforms, and analytics companies.
3. Fingerprinting: This creates a unique profile of your browser based on things like your operating system, installed fonts, extensions, and hardware.
   • Even without cookies, websites can often identify you with surprising accuracy using fingerprinting.

How to Limit Tracking

1. Browser Settings: Most browsers allow you to block third-party cookies and limit tracker activity.
   • Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data. You can choose ‘Block third-party cookies’ or ‘Block all cookies’.
   • Firefox: Go to Settings > Enhanced Tracking Protection. Set it to ‘Strict’ for maximum protection, or customize your settings.
   • Safari: Go to Preferences > Privacy and check ‘Prevent cross-site tracking’.
2. Privacy Extensions: Browser extensions like Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin, and Ghostery can block trackers and cookies automatically.
   • These are often more effective than browser settings alone.
3. Use a Private Browsing Mode: This prevents your browser from saving history, cookies, and other data during that session.
   • However, it doesn’t hide your activity from websites or your internet service provider (ISP).
4. VPNs: A Virtual Private Network encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address. This makes it harder for websites to track your location.
   • Note that a VPN doesn’t block cookies or trackers directly, but adds an extra layer of privacy.
5. Regularly Clear Cookies & Cache: Removing stored data can reduce tracking over time.
   • In Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Select ‘Cookies and other site data’ and ‘Cached images and files’.

Checking for Trackers

You can use tools to see which trackers are present on a website.

• Privacy Badger: Shows you the trackers it’s blocking.
• BuiltWith: https://builtwith.com/ – Reveals technologies used on a site, including tracking tools.