Question about website trackers.

[CrispyQ]

Are website trackers the same as cookies? Do they track you via your IP address or via the browser you're using? What exactly do they do? Will trackers I pick up in Chrome follow me if I open Firefox?

[ManiacJoe]

1. Cookies can be used for tracking.

And they often are.
There are also lots of other ways to do the tracking also.
The pieces of data used to define "you" have gotten very sophisticated over the years.

Chrome and Firefox used to different sets of trackers due to them being to different browsers. However, the folks doing the tracking can probably link the two on their end due to having enough info about "you".

[bucolic_frolic]

2. There are add-ons to block just about anything

sorting out what to block is another matter. I run Adblocker Ultimate and uBlock Origin. I'm generally very satisfied. Most websites work perfectly, most popups are gone. Lists of blocked elements from other users can be added. But I haven't really found a way to get all graphics or Twitter posts on DU to show. And over time, there become so many exceptions, I don't really know what's being blocked. Googleanalytics for example, and doubleclick seem active in uBlock.

I don't think trackers mover from browser to browser.

A lot of people use StartPage for searches. It's a site committed to privacy, and it's free. From Europe I think.

[ancianita]

3. Here. All you need to know. Trackers move across all browsers. But they can be minimized.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie

[CrispyQ]

4. Thank you!

That was very helpful. I didn't realize that cookies and trackers are the same thing, or that there are so many different types of cookies.

[ancianita]

5. Sure!

Every site in America that uses cookies has to tell you that it does. DU does. Every site does.

One thing I do every night is, before shutting down (because who lets their car run indefinitely, right? same for computers; plus each startup activates internal cleanups and other good things for your computer) I erase my history and delete my cookies. You can find out how to do the latter on YouTube, which has info for every kind of OS.

If you try this, the upside is that your browser should run a little faster; downside is that you'll also have to re-log into sites like DU. I consider that the small cost of easier browsing and less data mining, because though site owners gotta make a buck, I don't have to help them more than seems fair to me. I also donate alot to not get ads and to make up for shutting down their cookies.

Everyone who knows about cookies deals with them differently, so please understand I'm not telling you what to do, just how I do.

[CrispyQ]

6. Thanks.

I use a cleaner app every day on my system before turning it off. I can tell the days I'm on FB—lots more trackers.