The Internet can be a scary place, and if you're going to spend time on it, you'd best come prepared. These free browser extensions will help you safeguard your browsing experience. I'll start with some extensions that are available for both Firefox and Chrome, and I'll also show you some that are only officially supported by the privacy-conscious Firefox browser. If you use a different browser, you might find equivalent functionality, either as a built-in or through an add-on. Part of the purpose of this article is to describe, not just the tools, but the problems the tools are designed to address, which should give you a better idea of the dangers faced by the casual Internet user.

Keep in mind that the first thing you should do after installing any operating system, browser, or other software is to apply all pending software patches and upgrades. Stay aware, and keep your system up to date.

Chromium and Mozilla

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials

For those who don't already know about DuckDuckGo: It is the number one choice of privacy-centric search engines and should be your default search engine if wish to stay on the low. DuckDuckGo eliminates ads and trackers and does not store your personal data.

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