What Are Trackers?

Trackers on the internet are technologies, typically scripts or cookies, used by websites or third parties to collect and monitor user activity. They gather data such as browsing habits, clicked links, time spent on pages, and personal information like location and device details. This data helps companies deliver targeted advertising, analyze website performance, and personalize content. While some trackers are necessary for website functionality like remembering login details, others are used for behavioral profiling, raising privacy concerns. Common types of trackers include cookies, pixel tags, and fingerprinting technologies, which can operate across multiple sites without the user's explicit knowledge.

Online trackers are tools used by websites and third parties to monitor your behavior and activities online. They collect data such as the sites you visit, the links you click, your search queries, and even your location and device information. By gathering this information, trackers build a detailed profile of your interests, preferences, and behaviors. This profiling enables companies to target you with personalized ads and content, increasing the likelihood of purchases. Beyond advertising, the collected data can be used for analytics, improving services, or sold to other entities. The practice raises privacy concerns because it often occurs without explicit user consent, potentially exposing sensitive information and diminishing online anonymity.

To stop trackers, start by adjusting your browser settings to block third-party cookies, which are commonly used for tracking across websites.

Install privacy-focused browser extensions like Ghostery or uBlock Origin to automatically block known trackers and those contained in ads.

Consider changing your browser to one with built-in privacy features, such as Mozilla Firefox or Brave, which offer enhanced tracking protection.

Employ a VPN (virtual private network) to encrypt your internet connection and mask your IP address, making it harder for trackers to associate your activity with your identity.

Regularly clear your browsing data, including cookies and cache, to remove stored tracking information.

Use a private search engine like Brave Search or DuckDuckGo that prioritize user privacy and do not track search queries.

Be cautious with website permissions, and limit the use of social media plugins that can monitor your activity.

Finally, keep your software updated to protect against vulnerabilities that trackers might exploit.

When Safari notifies you that it has prevented trackers from profiling you, it means the browser has actively blocked cross-site trackers, third-party tracking technologies from collecting your browsing data. Safari uses a feature called Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) to identify and restrict trackers like cookies and scripts that websites and advertisers use to monitor your online activities across different sites. By doing this, Safari stops these entities from building a detailed profile of your interests, behavior, and personal information. This enhances your privacy and reduces targeted advertising, ensuring that your browsing habits remain more confidential. Learn how to avoid being tracked on the internet by reading our guide.

Yes, blocking trackers is recommended to protect your online privacy and reduce targeted advertising. Trackers collect data about your browsing habits, which can compromise your personal information. To block them install a privacy-focused extension like Ghostery to automatically block known trackers and ads. Ghostery also blocks trackers on non-private search engines like Google or Bing. Whotracks.Me, operated by Ghostery uncovers the identities behind every tracker and relationship to organizations owning them.