Block Browser Trackers

Software to use to protect against trackers
Here are a few ways to deal with cookies: If you wish to rid you computer of cookies completely:
 * 1) Regularly delete cookies from browser (only takes a minute).
 * 2) Decide what level of access to give your cookies. Keep in mind that allowing access to cookies will give companies the go-ahead to see what you do online.
 * 3) Check the privacy policy of the sites you regularly visit. These sites should have a disclaimer, disclosing that they use cookies to track users.
 * 1) You can set your browser to delete cookies after each session, or you can delete them manually.
 * 2) Some cookies have an “opt out” option, which allows you to..well..opt out of being tracked.
 * 3) Downloadable software in the form of browser extensions, which will block cookies for you. (See more about this below).

Browser extensions
Ghostery

A browser extension which allows users to block tracking programs, said to block approximately 1,000 trackers. According to their site, Ghostery can help speed up browser, since trackers can “weigh down” your system and cause pages to take longer to load.

Downside: the company is known to sell data they already have to advertising groups.

 

Collusion

This is another Chrome and Firefox browser extension which allows users to view who is tracking them online. Collusion also breaks down your internet activity into diagrams, displaying which sites you have visited and which of those sites provided information about your visit to a third-party.

Downside: "Unfortunately, Collusion can do little to change or limit these third party connections. However, the visualization provided by Collusion may prove to be unsettling for privacy advocates ."

''' Do Not Track Plus

As a Microsoft product, Do Not Track Plus is the default tracker blocker on Internet Explorer. It is available for Mac and PC along with Chrome, Firefox and Safari web browsers. DNT is intended to block advertisers and other online data collection companies from tracking user’s online behavior and is said to block approximately 600 trackers. “Once DNT+ is installed, you’ll see a notification button appear on your browser toolbar. When you visit a new webpage, the button will show you a number that indicates how many trackers were blocked on that particular page.”  This extension also allows users to see which sites are tracking them.

Downside: This extension does not always work.