How to Use Privacy Tools in Microsoft Edge

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Microsoft EdgeWindowsMacLinuxPrivacySecurityToolsTracking PreventionInPrivateFeaturesSettingsData Protection

Privacy and security have become important considerations for everyone who uses the Internet. With the growing number of data breaches and privacy concerns, web browsers have developed privacy tools to help users maintain their online safety. Microsoft Edge, a widely used web browser developed by Microsoft, offers a number of privacy features designed to protect users' data and provide a safer browsing experience. This guide will explain how to use the privacy tools in Microsoft Edge to ensure that users can browse with confidence while protecting their personal information.

What are privacy tools?

Privacy tools in web browsers like Microsoft Edge are features and settings that help protect your personal information while you browse the Internet. They can block trackers, manage website permissions, control cookies, and more, giving you more control over your online activities and data.

Why use a privacy tool?

Using privacy tools in your web browser can help with the following:

• Protect your personal information from being tracked by advertisers and third-parties
• Increase security by preventing unauthorized access to your data
• Enhance your browsing experience by blocking unwanted content and ads
• Block online threats like malware and phishing attacks

Set up privacy tools in Microsoft Edge

Getting started with privacy tools in Microsoft Edge is easy. Here's a complete step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge

Launch the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer. You can do this by clicking the Microsoft Edge icon from your desktop or taskbar. Make sure your browser is up to date by checking for any pending updates in the Settings menu. Using the latest version of Edge ensures you have access to the latest features and security updates.

Step 2: Access the Settings

In the upper-right corner of the Edge window, click the three horizontal dots (also called ellipsis) to open the menu. From this menu, select "Settings" to open the Settings panel where you can configure various options in Edge.

Privacy, Search, and Services

In the Settings panel, you'll find a number of privacy-related options under the "Privacy, Search, and Services" tab. Click this tab to access privacy tools.

Step 3: Manage tracking prevention

Trackers are scripts or codes that websites and third-party services use to collect information about your online behavior. Microsoft Edge includes a feature called "Tracking Prevention" that helps you control which trackers you're exposed to.

Tracking Prevention provides three levels of protection:

• Basic: Allows most trackers from all sites. This option offers the least privacy protection, but ensures all websites can function as expected.
• Balanced: Blocks trackers from sites you haven't visited, while allowing trackers from sites you visit regularly. This is the recommended option because it balances security and compatibility with web features.
• Strict: Blocks most trackers, regardless of their source. While this setting provides maximum privacy, it may prevent some websites from displaying properly or working optimally.

To select a tracking prevention level, choose your preferred level by clicking the radio button next to it.

Step 4: Clear browsing data

Clearing your browsing data is another important aspect of maintaining privacy. Browsing data can include cookies, cached images, browsing history, and more. Clearing this data helps ensure that your past activities remain private and can also free up storage space.

To clear browsing data:

1. In the "Privacy, search, and services" section of Settings, look for "Clear browsing data."
2. Click "Choose what to clear."
3. Select the type of data you want to clear. Options include browsing history, cookies and other site data, and cached images and files.
4. Select a time frame (from last hour to all time).
5. Click the "Clear Now" button to delete the selected data.

Step 5: Control cookies

Cookies are small files that are stored on your computer by a website. They can track browsing habits and store information such as login credentials and preferences. Depending on your privacy needs, you can manage cookies in Microsoft Edge:

Under "Privacy, Search, and Services," find the "Cookies and site permissions" section. Here you can control how cookies are handled:

• Allow all cookies: Allows all cookies to be stored and used.
• Block third-party cookies: Blocks cookies from third-party sites. This prevents trackers from storing data on your computer without interfering with the functionality of the website you visit.
• Block all cookies: Prevents any cookies from being stored. This can lead to corrupted websites or the need to manually enter login details on each visit.

Additionally, you can manage individual site permissions by clicking "Manage and delete cookies and site data." This allows you to view and delete specific cookies and configure site-specific settings.

Use InPrivate Browsing

InPrivate in Microsoft Edge provides another level of privacy by not saving your browsing history, cookies, or cached files after you close a browsing session. To open a new InPrivate window:

1. Click the three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner of the Edge window.
2. Select "New InPrivate Window" from the dropdown menu.
3. A new window will open, marked by the InPrivate label, allowing you to browse without leaving any traces on your local device.

Configuring site permissions

Adjusting site permissions lets you control how websites interact with your computer, including access to your location, camera, microphone, and more. To configure site permissions in Microsoft Edge, follow these steps:

1. Go to “Cookies and site permissions” in the settings panel.
2. Browse the “Site Permissions” section to see the different types of permissions you can manage, such as “Location”, “Camera”, “Microphone” and “Notifications”.
3. Click a specific permission (e.g., location) to see which sites have asked for or been granted access.
4. Manually add sites to be blocked or allowed using the "Add" button.

Take the time to review and customize permissions to suit your needs. Restrict access to sensitive features like camera and location unless necessary.

Privacy with extensions

Extensions add features and functions to Edge, but can also access your browsing data. Therefore, it is important to use only trusted extensions, as malicious extensions can compromise your privacy.

1. Access the extensions menu by clicking the three horizontal dots in the upper right corner, then selecting “Extensions.”
2. In the Extensions menu, you'll see a list of installed extensions. Review and manage each extension's access and permissions.
3. You can disable or uninstall extensions that you no longer use or don’t trust.

Other Useful Privacy Features

Additional privacy and security features in Microsoft Edge include:

• Password Monitor: Identifies when your saved passwords appear in online data breaches and suggests changing them.
• SmartScreen: Provides protection against phishing and malware by blocking potentially harmful sites and downloads.
• Do Not Track Requests: Sends Do Not Track requests to websites, although not all sites honor these requests.

Best practices for maintaining online privacy

In addition to using Microsoft Edge's privacy tools, consider these practices to increase online security:

• Update your browser regularly to take advantage of the latest security features.
• Whenever possible, use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
• Be cautious when sharing personal information online.
• Constantly review browser permissions and remove any that seem unnecessary or risky.
• Consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to mask your internet traffic for added privacy.

Conclusion

By following this comprehensive guide, you can make the most of the privacy tools available in Microsoft Edge. Taking control of your online privacy is crucial in today's digital world, and with the highlighted steps and features, you're better equipped to protect your personal information while enjoying a safer browsing experience. Remember, constant vigilance and adopting best practices go hand in hand with using these tools, ensuring maximum security and peace of mind when navigating the web.

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