Enable Do Not Track in Chrome: A Privacy Guide
Understanding and Enabling Do Not Track
The Do Not Track (DNT) feature is now standard in several popular web browsers, including Windows 8’s Internet Explorer 10, Firefox, Safari, and Opera.
Initially, a notable omission existed – Google Chrome. However, the functionality has since been integrated, and this article details how to activate it.
What Does Do Not Track Do?
The Do Not Track setting sends a signal to websites requesting that your browsing activity not be tracked. It's a privacy preference that allows users to express their wishes regarding data collection.
It’s important to understand that DNT is a request, not a guarantee. Websites are not legally obligated to honor the signal, though many do.
Enabling Do Not Track in Chrome
Here’s how to enable Do Not Track within the Google Chrome browser:
- Open Chrome’s settings menu.
- Navigate to the “Privacy and security” section.
- Select “Send a ‘Do Not Track’ request with your browsing traffic.”
Once enabled, Chrome will include a DNT header with every request it sends to websites. This informs those sites of your preference.
Browser Support and Considerations
While widely supported, the effectiveness of Do Not Track relies on website compliance.
Users should also consider utilizing other privacy-enhancing tools, such as ad blockers and privacy-focused search engines, for a more comprehensive approach to online privacy.
The availability of this feature across major browsers demonstrates a growing awareness of user privacy concerns.
Activating Do Not Track in Chrome
To begin, the initial step involves selecting the "Customize and control Google Chrome" button, typically represented by three vertical dots.
Following this, choose the "Settings" option from the presented menu.
Upon accessing the Settings page, locate and click the "Show advanced settings" link, positioned near the bottom.
With the advanced settings now visible, you’ll find the Do Not Track option. Simply check the box to activate this feature.
An informational message explaining the function of Do Not Track will then appear. Confirm your choice by clicking the "OK" button.
After enabling the setting, a test was conducted using a local HTTP debugging proxy to observe changes in network packets. The results showed that the browser now includes a new cookie, named "DNT", with a value of 1 in all web requests.
It is important to remember that website adherence to the DNT cookie is voluntary. Further details on its operation can be found in this related article. This completes the process.
