Enable Do Not Track: A Guide for Every Browser
Understanding the Limitations of “Do Not Track”
Previous discussions have highlighted that the “Do Not Track” setting isn't a foolproof method for preventing online tracking. Despite this, individuals concerned about their online privacy can still utilize this feature to signal their preferences to websites.
Enabling “Do Not Track” within your web browser allows you to communicate your desire for reduced tracking. It’s important to understand that this functions as a preference indication, rather than a binding instruction.
How “Do Not Track” Works
Google has proactively improved the clarity surrounding “Do Not Track” functionality in upcoming Chrome releases. These updates will explicitly explain the implications of activating the setting.
When you activate “Do Not Track,” you are essentially conveying a request to websites. However, websites retain the discretion to either honor or disregard this expressed preference.
Key takeaway: “Do Not Track” is a signal, not a guarantee of privacy.
Expressing Your Privacy Preference
Despite its limitations, enabling “Do Not Track” remains a viable option for users who wish to articulate their privacy concerns. It allows individuals to actively demonstrate their opposition to being tracked online.
While compliance isn't mandatory, the widespread adoption of “Do Not Track” could potentially encourage websites to adopt more privacy-respecting practices.
Mozilla Firefox
To activate the Do Not Track feature within Firefox, begin by clicking the Firefox menu button. From the dropdown menu, select the 'Options' setting.
A new tab will open, presenting you with Firefox’s configuration settings.
Navigate to the 'Privacy' tab. Here, you will find the option to signal your tracking preferences to websites.
Select the checkbox labeled 'Tell websites I do not want to be tracked'. This action instructs Firefox to include the 'DNT: 1' HTTP header in all subsequent website connections.
By enabling this setting, you are requesting that websites respect your privacy and refrain from tracking your browsing activity.
The 'DNT: 1' header serves as a signal to websites that you prefer not to have your data collected for tracking purposes.
Google Chrome
At the time of this writing, Google was preparing to integrate the Do Not Track feature into the official release of Chrome.
For Chrome 23 and subsequent versions (which were unstable builds at the time), enabling Do Not Track involved navigating through the browser’s settings.
Users were required to click the “Show advanced settings” link located at the bottom of the Settings page.
Following this, the “Send a ‘Do Not Track’ request with your browsing traffic” checkbox needed to be activated.
For users of Chrome 22 and older (the current stable version at the time of writing), the Do Not Track functionality was implemented through a browser extension.
This extension could be installed directly from the Chrome Web Store.
Internet Explorer
Within Internet Explorer, the process begins by clicking the Tools button, which is represented by a gear icon.
From the dropdown menu, navigate to Safety and then select Tracking Protection.
Enabling Do Not Track
To activate Do Not Track, choose Your Personalized List.
Following this selection, click the Enable button to proceed.
Do Not Track functionality is now active; Internet Explorer will transmit the Do Not Track signal whenever any tracking protection list is enabled.
This signal is sent regardless of whether the selected list contains specific entries or remains empty.
Opera
To configure Do Not Track in the Opera browser, begin by clicking the Opera menu button. Navigate to Settings within this menu, and then choose Preferences.
The Preferences window will open. Within this window, select the Advanced tab.
Security Settings
After selecting the Advanced tab, choose the Security category. Locate and enable the "Ask websites not to track me" checkbox.
Enabling this option sends a request to websites, signaling your preference not to be tracked. This feature aims to enhance your privacy while browsing.
The browser will then attempt to honor your request, though website compliance is not guaranteed. It's important to note that this setting relies on websites respecting the Do Not Track signal.
Refer to the images provided for visual guidance on locating these settings within the Opera interface.
The first image illustrates the initial steps of accessing the Preferences menu. The second image highlights the specific location of the "Ask websites not to track me" checkbox within the Security settings.
Safari
To configure Do Not Track in Safari, begin by accessing the application's settings. This is done by clicking the gear-shaped button and then selecting "Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
Next, navigate to the "Advanced" tab within the Preferences window. Ensure the checkbox labeled "Show Develop menu in menu bar" is activated.
With the Develop menu visible, click on it. Then, select "Develop" from the menu bar at the top of your screen.
From the Develop menu, choose the option to "Send Do Not Track HTTP Header". This will signal your preference to websites.
This setting, when enabled, instructs websites that you do not wish to have your browsing activity tracked. It's important to note that websites are not legally obligated to honor this request.