How to opt out of websites collecting and selling your data

Whenever you’re browsing the internet, it’s almost certain that some company behind your screen is collecting your data – including what you’ve searched for and every website you’ve ever visited. And they may be reselling it to hundreds of other companies you’ve never heard of.

This is a problem. The more data that companies collect, and the more companies hold that data, the more likely it is that consumers’ information will get exposed in a breach or a hack. Consumers are more likely to become the victim of identity theft or hyper-targeted scams if a con artist already knows certain facts about a person.

How can you protect your data?

One way to protect your privacy online is to download a universal opt-out mechanism, such as the Global Privacy Control. Universal opt-out mechanisms make it easier to opt-out of data collection and sales because they automatically tell websites not to collect your data. Some states with data privacy laws, like Montana, now require that websites listen to opt-out signals from universal opt-out mechanisms.

What is a universal opt-out mechanism and how do I get it?

A universal opt-out mechanism is a piece of technology that helps you automatically opt-out of data collection online. Once you’ve downloaded the tool, the mechanism will broadcast to every site you visit that you don’t want your data collected or sold. That way you don’t have to individually contact every website you visit to opt out.

You will, however, need to do a bit of work to get the tool working.

How to use the Global Privacy Control

The Global Privacy Control is currently the most widely recognized version of universal opt-out mechanism. There are a number of tools available that incorporate the Global Privacy Control (GPC).

Find your web browser below for our recommendations of tools that include GPC signals.

Global Privacy Control in Google Chrome

To automatically opt-out of data collection on websites while using your Chrome browser, you need to download a special browser extension. You have a couple of options.

• Our favorite is Privacy Badger made by our friends at Electronic Frontier Foundation. You can download Privacy Badger from the Chrome Web Store here. Once you download it, Privacy Badger will do the rest, and you shouldn’t have to take any more steps. We like this one because it has other privacy tools that will further protect your data built in, and it won’t disrupt your browsing experience.
• Another good option is DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials. You can download DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials from the Chrome Web Store here. In addition to using the GPC, this extension will change your default browser to DuckDuckGo. DuckDuckGo collects a lot less data about you than Chrome, but some people may not want to make the switch.

Global Privacy Control in Apple Safari

To automatically opt-out of data collection on websites in Safari, you need to download a special browser extension. Apple currently doesn’t allow our favorite tool – Privacy Badger – in Safari, but there is another option you can use.

• DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials. You can download it from the Apple App Store here. In addition to using the GPC, this extension will change your default browser to DuckDuckGo. DuckDuckGo collects a lot less data about you than Safari, but some people may not want to make the switch.

Global Privacy Control in Microsoft Edge

To automatically opt-out of data collection on websites in Edge you’ll need to download a special browser extension. You have a couple of options:

• Our favorite is Privacy Badger made by our friends at Electronic Frontier Foundation. You can download Privacy Badger from the Microsoft store here. Once you download it, Privacy Badger should do the rest, and you shouldn’t have to take any more steps. We like this one because it has other privacy tools that will further protect your data built in.
• Another good option is DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials. You can download DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials from the Microsoft store here. DuckDuckGo collects a lot less data about you than Edge, but some people may not want to make the switch.

Global Privacy Control in Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is the only major browser that has a GPC signal built into it automatically, so you don’t have to download any special tools. But you do have to go turn it on.

How to enable GPC on Firefox

1. Make sure you have a recent version of Firefox. Firefox started carrying the GPC in November 2023. If you haven’t updated your browser since then, do that first.
2. In FireFox, click the menu button that’s 3 horizontal lines stacked on top of each other
3. Go to Privacy & Security
4. Scroll down to “Website Privacy Preferences”
5. Click “Tell websites not to sell or share my data”
6. Then close out of your Settings page. The change is saved automatically

Learn more