How to block cookies
The cookies are small database stored on computers that allow Web sites to keep track of identity and user preferences. They are those that allow us, for example, to connect to Google and not to have to log into our account every time and to keep the items in our Amazon shopping cart. They are divided into two categories: first-party cookies and third-party cookies. Those of first parties are installed on the PC directly from the sites we visit, while those of third parties concern services external to the sites we access, often of an advertising nature.
Both are very useful, but they are sometimes used in a scam way to track our online activities without permission. So how can you defend yourself? Simple: going to block cookies. There are two possible ways to do this: the first is to block cookies from all websites except trusted ones, the second is to rely on the function called “Do Not Track” which is supported by all major browsers and communicates to Internet sites the user’s will not to be tracked.
But be careful: unless you know where to put your hands, I advise you not to completely block cookies as you would lose all the useful functions mentioned above. A good compromise could be to block only third-party cookies while leaving the others active, but it’s up to you to choose the solution that best suits your privacy needs. I’ll just show you how to adjust each of these settings on computers, smartphones and tablets. Clear? Well, then ban the chatter and let’s take action!
Index
- How to block third-party cookies
- How to block cookies: PC and Mac
- Block cookies on Chrome
- Block cookies on Firefox
- Block cookies on Edge
- Block cookies on Internet Explorer
- Block cookies on Safari
- How to block cookies: Android and iPhone
- Block cookies on Chrome
- Block cookies on Firefox
- Block cookies on Edge
- Block cookies on Safari
How to block third-party cookies
Before getting to the heart of the tutorial, going to explain, in detail, how to block cookies by adjusting the settings of the Web browser used to browse the Net, there is some preliminary information, regarding the possibility of blocking profiling cookies, therefore those of third parties, which it is my duty to provide to you to allow you to have perfectly clear ideas on the matter.
As I said at the beginning, third-party cookies concern services external to the sites we access and are often of an advertising nature. In the current state of affairs, they can be blocked in a very simple way: just select the appropriate option in response to the warning that appears on Web pages when they are visited.
How to block cookies: PC and Mac
At this point, I would say that we can finally get to the heart of this guide and find out how to block cookies by acting from PC and Mac, using the most popular browsers, that is: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer and Safari. You can find everything explained in detail right below. Enjoy the reading.
Block cookies on Chrome
If you want to find out how to block cookies on Chrome, the first fundamental step you need to take, both on Windows and on macOS, is to start the browser on your computer, then click on the button with the three vertical dots located in the part in top right of the window displayed and select the Settings item from the menu that appears.
In the screen that is shown to you, press on the Privacy and security item located in the side menu and click on the wording Cookies and other website data located on the right, then choose the option to block the cookies you prefer among: Block cookies third parties in the incognito mode, Block third-party cookies and Block all cookies (not recommended).
You can also set exceptions by clicking the Add button next to Sites that can always use cookies, typing the website address, deciding whether or not to include third-party cookies and pressing the Add button. If you think about it, click on the button with the three vertical dots that you find next to each site added to the list and choose the item Remove from the menu.
You can also decide to leave cookies active, by choosing the Accept all cookies option and block them only for some sites, by pressing the Add button located next to the item Sites that can never use cookies.
If, on the other hand, you want to send a request to the Internet sites you visit not to keep track of your activities, you can do so by turning ON the switch that you find next to the item Send a request “Do not track” with your browsing traffic.
Block cookies on Firefox
To block cookies in Firefox on Windows and macOS, you must start the browser, click on the button with the three horizontal lines located in the upper right part of the window and select the Settings item from the menu that appears.
In the screen that is proposed to you, select the wording Privacy and security in the left sidebar, choose the Custom option located on the right and, in the menu that appears, make sure that there is a tick in the box next to the item Cookies ( otherwise you provide).
From the adjacent drop-down menu, then indicate which cookies to block, choosing from: Cross-site cookies, including social media cookies, Cookies from unvisited websites, All third-party cookies (some sites may not work properly) or All cookies ( some sites will not work correctly).
You can also add exceptions, by clicking on the Manage exceptions button that you find in correspondence with the wording Cookies and website data, by typing the URL of the website in the appropriate field, by pressing the Block button, Allow for the session or the Allow button, according to your needs and clicking on the Save changes button. If you think about it, select the sites from the list and press the Remove website button, while to remove them all click the Remove all websites button.
Note that when the browser is set to block unknown trackers, Firefox automatically prompts sites not to track anything by default. If you want to change this behavior and make sure that the block is always enabled, just choose the Always option that you find in correspondence with the item Send a “Do Not Track” signal to websites to ask not to make any tracking.
Block cookies on Edge
Let’s see, now, how to block cookies on Edge, both from Windows and from macOS. First, start the navigator, then click on the button (…) located in the upper right part of the window of the same and select the item Settings from the menu that opens.
In the screen that you see at this point, select the item Cookies and site permissions in the left sidebar (if it is not visible, to remedy it, first click on the button with the three horizontal lines at the top left), then click on the word Manage and deletes cookies and site data on the right.
After completing the above steps, if you want to completely block cookies, turn OFF the switch next to the option Allow sites to save and read cookie data (recommended) . Alternatively, you can choose to block only third-party cookies, setting to ON the previous option and bringing to ON also the switch next to the item Block third-party cookies.
If you wish, you can also set exceptions. If you leave cookies enabled, you can block only some sites by pressing the Add button in the Block section, typing the URL of the site, deciding whether or not to include third-party cookies and pressing the Add button. If you disable cookies, however, you can create a white list by clicking on the Add button in the Allow section. If you think about it, to remove a site from the list click on its button (…) and choose the Remove option from the menu.
If you then want to send the request not to keep track of your activities to the sites you visit, you can do so by selecting the item Privacy, search and services from the left sidebar and turning ON the switch located next to the option Send requests Do not track present on the right.
Block cookies on Internet Explorer
Do you use a PC with Windows, surf the Net with the now obsolete Internet Explorer and would you like to hope how to block cookies? Then start the browser and, in the screen that appears on the desktop, click on the button with the gear wheel located at the top right and select Internet Options from the menu that appears. In the window that opens, choose the Privacy tab and click on the Advanced button.
At this point, put the check mark on the box next to the item Replace automatic cookie management (if present) and select the Block option both under the heading Cookies of the websites displayed and under that Third-party cookies (or, if you prefer, block only those of third parties). If there is a check in the box next to Always accept session cookies, remove it. To finish, click on the OK button.
If you want to add exceptions, that is if you want to authorize cookies on specific sites, press the Sites button, present in the Privacy tab of the Internet Options window opened previously, type the address of the site you want to add to the exceptions in the field under the heading Address website and click on the Allow button.
To activate Do Not Track, however, click the icon with the d ‘wheel gear in the upper right of the main browser window, select the entry Security from the menu that pops up and then the Activate Do Not Track requests, or that Activate Do Not Track requests and press the Activate button in the window that opens.
Block cookies on Safari
If you are using macOS and you have the habit of surfing the Net with Safari, to block cookies all you have to do is start the browser, select the Safari menu at the top left and choose the Preferences item from the latter.
In the window that appears, go to the Privacy tab and check the box next to Block all cookies. Then confirm what your intentions are by clicking the Block All button.
You can also decide to activate the option to avoid monitoring by websites. To do this, check the box next to the wording Prevent monitoring between websites and that’s it.
How to block cookies: Android and iPhone
Now let’s move on to smartphones and tablets and let’s find out how to block cookies on Android and iPhone (as well as on iPad, there is no difference), using the most popular web browsers on these platforms: Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. To find out more, read on: find all the information you need below.
Block cookies on Chrome
If you use the Chrome browser on your Android smartphone or table, you can block cookies by starting the relevant app on your device, by tapping the button with the three vertical dots present at the top right of the navigator screen displayed and, from the menu that appears by selecting the Settings item.
On the next screen, touch the Site Settings item, then select the wording Cookies and choose the option to block the cookies you prefer among: Block third-party cookies in incognito mode, Block third-party cookies and Block all cookies (not recommended).
If you then want to set exceptions, you can do this by touching the Add exceptions for a site at the bottom, typing the website address, choosing whether or not to include third-party cookies and tapping the Add item. If you think about it, you can delete the site by selecting it from the list.
To send a request to the Internet sites you visit not to keep track of your activities, go back to the main Chrome settings screen, select the wording Privacy and security, tap the Do not track option and turn the relevant switch to ON.
As for the Chrome app for iOS / iPadOS, at the moment no specific option is offered for blocking cookies.
Block cookies on Firefox
If you use Firefox to browse online from your smartphone or tablet, the instructions you must follow to block cookies are the ones you find in this step. If you are using Android, tap on the button with the three vertical dots present at the bottom right and choose the Settings item from the menu that appears.
On the next screen, select the Advanced Tracking Protection item, then the Custom option and, in the menu that appears, make sure that there is a check in the box next to the Cookie item (otherwise you can do it yourself).
From the drop-down menu below, then indicate which cookies you want to block, choosing from: Cross-site cookies, including social media cookies, Cookies from unvisited websites, All third-party cookies (some sites may not work properly) or All cookies (some sites will not work properly).
As for the version of the app for iOS / iPadOS, the blocking of cookies at the time of writing this guide is not available.
Block cookies on Edge
Let’s see, now, how to block cookies on Edge by acting from mobile. If you are using Android, start the app on your device, then click on the (…) button at the bottom and select the Settings button in the menu that opens.
In the screen that is now proposed to you, select the wording Site permissions and then that Cookie, then if you want to block all cookies, turn OFF the switch that you find next to the item Cookies. You can also leave the cookie switch ON and only prevent third-party sites from saving and reading cookie data by checking the box next to Block third-party cookies.
If you want to send an anti-tracking request to Internet sites, go back to the main Edge Settings screen, touch the word Privacy and security, then the Do not track option and turn the appropriate lever to ON.
If you are using Edge on iOS / iPadOS, start the browser app, press the button (…) located at the bottom, touch the Settings button attached to the menu that appears and, on the next screen, tap the word Privacy and security. Then press on the item Cookies and choose the option Block all cookies or that Block only third-party cookies, according to your needs.
Block cookies on Safari
If you don’t know how to block cookies in Safari on iOS / iPadOS, don’t worry, it’s very easy. All you have to do is select the Settings icon (the one in the shape of a gear wheel ) that you find on the home screen and/or in the device’s App Library and select the Safari item in the screen that opens.
Next, locate the Privacy and security section and turn the switch located next to Block all cookies to ON, then confirm your intentions by pressing the Block all button in the box that opens on the screen.