Advanced Privacy Setup for Atlas Browser

Complete guide to protecting your privacy with extensions, settings, and best practices

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Tutorial Overview

Time: 45-60 minutes
Difficulty: Beginner
Focus: Privacy & Security

Introduction

Every website you visit, every search you make, and every link you click creates a digital footprint. Advertisers, data brokers, social media platforms, and even governments track your online behavior to build detailed profiles of your interests, habits, and identity. This tracking happens through cookies, browser fingerprinting, pixel trackers, and sophisticated cross-site tracking techniques that most users never see.

The good news: you don't need to accept constant surveillance as the price of using the internet. With proper browser configuration, strategic use of privacy extensions, and informed browsing habits, you can dramatically reduce tracking while maintaining a functional, enjoyable web experience. This guide will show you how to implement a multi-layered privacy defense that protects your data without breaking websites or requiring technical expertise.

Privacy vs. Anonymity

This guide focuses on privacy (preventing companies from tracking your behavior and building profiles) rather than anonymity (hiding your identity from everyone, including websites you visit). For complete anonymity, you would need tools like Tor Browser. Most users need privacy, not anonymity—the ability to browse without being tracked across the web while still accessing personalized services when desired.

Understanding Privacy Levels

Privacy setup isn't one-size-fits-all. Choose a level based on your threat model and tolerance for website breakage:

Basic Privacy Recommended for Most Users

Blocks obvious trackers and ads while maintaining website compatibility. Suitable for everyday browsing with minimal setup. Prevents ~70% of tracking with virtually no website breakage.

Moderate Privacy Balanced Approach

Aggressive tracker blocking, third-party cookie prevention, and fingerprinting protection. Occasional website issues (login, videos, comments) requiring manual exceptions. Prevents ~90% of tracking.

High Privacy Maximum Protection

Comprehensive blocking of all tracking, fingerprinting, and cross-site data sharing. Frequent website breakage requiring per-site configuration. Prevents ~95% of tracking but demands ongoing maintenance.

This guide will implement Moderate Privacy as the default, with instructions for adjusting to Basic or High levels as needed.

Step 1: Browser Privacy Settings

Chrome/Edge Privacy Configuration

1 Navigate to Settings > Privacy and security (or chrome://settings/privacy in Chrome, edge://settings/privacy in Edge)

2 Configure core privacy settings:

Screenshot: Chrome Privacy Settings with recommended configurations highlighted

3 Navigate to Site Settings > Additional permissions and configure:

4 Disable unnecessary features in Settings > Advanced:

Trade-offs to Understand

Blocking third-party cookies breaks some legitimate functionality: embedded videos may not load, social media comments won't appear, and some login systems using third-party authentication might fail. You can allow cookies on specific sites by clicking the lock icon in the address bar > Site settings > Cookies > Allow.

Step 2: Installing Privacy Extensions

Essential Privacy Extensions

5 Install these foundational privacy extensions from the Chrome Web Store:

uBlock Origin (Content Blocker)

Purpose: Blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites using community-maintained filter lists

Why it's essential: Most comprehensive blocker with minimal performance impact (~3% memory overhead). Prevents network requests to tracking domains before they load, unlike extensions that just hide ads with CSS.

Installation: Search "uBlock Origin" in Chrome Web Store (ensure it's by Raymond Hill, not imitations)

6 Configure uBlock Origin for optimal protection:

! Custom uBlock Origin filters (add to "My filters" tab) ! Block specific annoyances example.com##.newsletter-popup example.com##.sticky-header ! Allow specific elements that filters break @@||cdn.example.com/widget.js$script,domain=example.com

Privacy Badger (Automatic Tracker Blocker)

Purpose: Learns to block trackers algorithmically based on their behavior rather than predefined lists

Why it complements uBlock: Catches new trackers that haven't been added to filter lists yet. Developed by Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a respected privacy advocacy organization.

Installation: Search "Privacy Badger" in Chrome Web Store

7 Privacy Badger works automatically, but you can review its decisions:

HTTPS Everywhere (Encryption Enforcer)

Purpose: Forces websites to use encrypted HTTPS connections instead of unencrypted HTTP

Why it matters: HTTP traffic can be intercepted and read by anyone on your network (coffee shop WiFi, ISP, etc.). HTTPS encrypts data so only you and the website can read it.

Installation: Search "HTTPS Everywhere" (also by EFF)

8 HTTPS Everywhere configuration:

Screenshot: Browser toolbar showing uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, and HTTPS Everywhere icons with active protection indicators

Advanced Privacy Extensions (Optional)

9 For Moderate to High privacy levels, add these extensions:

Decentraleyes (CDN Request Reducer)

Hosts popular JavaScript libraries locally to prevent tracking through CDN requests. Many sites load jQuery, Bootstrap, and other libraries from Google or Cloudflare CDNs—these requests can track you across sites. Decentraleyes intercepts requests and serves files locally.

ClearURLs (URL Parameter Cleaner)

Removes tracking parameters from URLs (e.g., ?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=xyz). These parameters track where you came from and can link your browsing across sites. Also prevents accidental sharing of tracking info when copying links.

Cookie AutoDelete (Automatic Cookie Cleaner)

Automatically deletes cookies when you close a tab or browser. Whitelist sites you want to stay logged into (email, banking) while purging cookies from sites you visit once. Prevents long-term tracking without the inconvenience of constantly re-logging in.

Step 3: Fingerprinting Protection

What is Browser Fingerprinting?

Even with cookies blocked, websites can identify you through browser fingerprinting—collecting details like screen resolution, installed fonts, timezone, language settings, plugins, and hardware capabilities to create a unique identifier. Your specific combination of these attributes is often unique among millions of users.

10 Test your current fingerprint uniqueness at:

The Fingerprinting Paradox

Installing unusual extensions or changing too many settings can actually make you more unique and easier to fingerprint. The goal is to blend in with the most common configuration: Chromium browser on Windows/macOS with standard resolution and no unusual extensions. Privacy extensions like uBlock Origin are common enough not to raise flags.

11 Reduce fingerprinting surface area:

Step 4: Search Engine Privacy

Switching to Private Search

12 Replace Google/Bing with privacy-respecting alternatives:

DuckDuckGo (Recommended for Most Users)

Startpage (Google Results Without Tracking)

Brave Search (Fully Independent)

Screenshot: Search engine settings showing DuckDuckGo set as default

Step 5: Email Privacy

Email Tracking and Protection

13 Install email tracking blocker:

Ugly Email (Tracking Pixel Detector)

Shows which emails contain tracking pixels that report when you open them. Works with Gmail in browser. Installs a 👁️ icon next to tracked emails. Doesn't block tracking (that's hard without breaking images), but awareness helps you make informed decisions.

14 Set up email aliasing to protect real address:

SimpleLogin / AnonAddy (Email Aliasing Services)

Step 6: Password and Authentication Privacy

Password Manager Setup

15 Install a privacy-focused password manager:

Bitwarden (Recommended)

16 Configure Bitwarden for privacy:

// Bitwarden Settings > Options // Security ✓ Lock vault on browser restart ✓ Lock vault after: 15 minutes of inactivity ✓ Use Two-step Login: Enable authenticator app (Authy, Google Authenticator) // Privacy ✓ Disable browser icon notification badge (prevents extension from querying vault constantly) ✓ Clear clipboard: 60 seconds (auto-clear copied passwords) // Password Generator (defaults are good) Length: 14 characters minimum ✓ Include numbers ✓ Include special characters Avoid ambiguous characters: Enable (prevents confusion)

Two-Factor Authentication

17 Enable 2FA on critical accounts using authenticator apps (never SMS):

Step 7: Social Media Privacy Hardening

Container Tabs (Firefox) or Site Isolation

18 Isolate social media tracking:

Social media sites track you across the web through "Like" buttons, embedded posts, and analytics pixels. Even if you don't click, Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn know you visited that page.

Multi-Account Containers (Firefox Only)

Chrome Alternative: Session Box Extension

19 Audit and minimize social media permissions:

Step 8: Network-Level Protection

VPN Basics

20 Understand VPN capabilities and limitations:

What VPNs Actually Do

VPNs encrypt your connection and route traffic through their servers, hiding your browsing from your ISP and local network (coffee shop, hotel, office). Your ISP sees "connected to VPN" but not which sites you visit.

What VPNs Don't Do

VPNs don't make you anonymous. Websites still see your browser fingerprint, cookies, and behavior patterns. VPN providers can see all your traffic—you're shifting trust from your ISP to the VPN company. If logged into Google/Facebook, they track you regardless of VPN. VPNs don't block ads or trackers (use uBlock Origin for that).

21 If you choose a VPN, select carefully:

DNS-Level Blocking

22 Set up private, encrypted DNS:

Standard DNS queries are unencrypted and visible to your ISP. DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) encrypts DNS lookups.

Browser-level DNS (Chrome/Edge):

System-level DNS (affects all apps):

Step 9: Privacy Auditing and Maintenance

Regular Privacy Checkups

23 Perform monthly privacy audits:

24 Automated privacy tools:

// Privacy Badger Export/Import // Backup your Privacy Badger learning data Privacy Badger > Settings > Manage Data > Export user data // Restore on new machine/browser Privacy Badger > Settings > Manage Data > Import user data // Share filter lists with team (if applicable) uBlock Origin > Dashboard > My filters > Export (Share file, then others Import on their browsers)

Troubleshooting Common Privacy Issues

Site Login Problems

Problem: Can't log in after blocking third-party cookies

Solution: Some sites use third-party authentication (OAuth via Google/Facebook). Click the lock icon in address bar > Site settings > Cookies > Allow. Or temporarily disable "Block third-party cookies" for that session.

Videos Won't Load

Problem: YouTube, Netflix, or embedded videos show errors

Solution: uBlock Origin might be blocking CDN requests. Click uBlock icon > Pause blocking on this site > Refresh page. Check if HTTPS Everywhere is forcing HTTPS on a site that doesn't support it—disable for that site.

Website Layout Broken

Problem: Missing images, broken menus, or incomplete pages

Solution: Overly aggressive filtering is breaking necessary resources. Open uBlock Origin dashboard > My filters > Remove any custom rules for that domain. Try "Medium mode" instead of "Hard mode" in Privacy Badger for that site.

Search Results Worse Quality

Problem: DuckDuckGo isn't finding what you need

Solution: Use !bangs to search Google when needed: "!g your query". DuckDuckGo's results are improving but still lag Google for very specific technical queries. For privacy-critical searches, use DuckDuckGo. For finding rare technical documentation, use Startpage (Google results privately) or !g bang.

Expected Outcomes

After implementing this privacy setup, you will have achieved:

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will these privacy settings break most websites?
A: With the Moderate Privacy configuration in this guide, ~95% of websites work perfectly. The remaining 5% (mostly sites with embedded social media widgets, third-party logins, or aggressive DRM) may require you to click "Allow cookies" for that specific site. Banking, email, shopping, and news sites work fine. Social media sites work but may complain about "blocking content"—ignore or allow cookies per-site.
Q: Can I still use Google services with this setup?
A: Yes. Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar all work fine. You're blocking Google's tracking on third-party sites (when you visit other websites), not blocking Google's own services. If you're logged into Google account, Google still sees your activity on their own sites—there's no way around that while using their services. Consider using alternative services (ProtonMail instead of Gmail, Nextcloud instead of Drive) if you want complete Google independence.
Q: Should I use Incognito/Private Browsing mode?
A: Incognito mode only prevents your browser from saving history, cookies, and site data locally—it doesn't make you invisible to websites, advertisers, or your ISP. You still get tracked through browser fingerprinting and IP address. Incognito is useful for preventing tracking within your own browser (e.g., searching for gifts without ruining targeted ads), but for real privacy, use the extensions and settings in this guide. Incognito + these privacy tools provides maximum protection.
Q: How do I know if my privacy setup is working?
A: Test your protections: 1) Visit coveryourtracks.eff.org to check fingerprint uniqueness and tracker blocking. 2) Open uBlock Origin dashboard and check "Since install" statistics—you should see thousands of blocked requests. 3) Search for something unusual and check if you get targeted ads for it later (you shouldn't). 4) Visit browserleaks.com to test for WebRTC leaks, DNS leaks, and other exposures. 5) Check email tracking by installing Ugly Email and seeing which senders track opens.
Q: What's the single most important privacy tool?
A: uBlock Origin is the highest-impact single tool. It blocks the majority of trackers, ads, and malicious sites with one extension and minimal configuration. If you could only choose one privacy enhancement, install uBlock Origin and enable additional filter lists. That said, privacy is layers—combining uBlock with Privacy Badger, HTTPS Everywhere, secure DNS, and good browsing habits provides far more protection than any single tool.

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