How to protect your privacy Online: Best Tools to block trackers in 2025

Every time you browse the web, various entities collect information about your habits. This data is used to create a detailed profile of your preferences and behaviors.

According to a recent study, knowing just the top four websites a person visits is enough to identify them with 95% accuracy.

🔍 Tools to Detect and Block Online Tracking

📌 1. Browser Extensions

• ✅ uBlock Origin (Free)
  Efficiently blocks ads and trackers without consuming excessive system resources.
  👉 Available for: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.

• ✅ Privacy Badger (Free)
  Developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, this tool automatically detects and blocks invisible trackers that secretly collect your data.
  👉 Available for: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.

📌 2. Privacy-Focused Browsers

• ✅ Brave Browser (Free)
  This browser blocks trackers and intrusive ads by default and even offers a built-in VPN on mobile devices.
  👉 Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.

• ✅ Mozilla Firefox (Free)
  Firefox offers advanced privacy settings, including blocking fingerprinting and cross-site tracking.
  👉 Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
  

📌 3. VPNs to Hide Your Online Activity

• ✅ ProtonVPN (Free and Paid)
  A highly secure Swiss-based VPN with a strict no-logs policy.

• ✅ NordVPN (Paid)
  One of the most popular VPNs known for its fast speeds and a global network of over 6,000 servers.

• ✅ Mullvad VPN (Paid)
  A privacy-respecting VPN that doesn’t require an account and offers anonymous payment options.

📱 4. Mobile Apps to Protect Your Privacy

Your privacy isn’t just at risk on desktops—smartphones are treasure troves of personal data. These must-have apps help limit tracking and prevent data leaks on Android and iOS.

✅ Apps for Android and iOS:

• DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser (Free)
  A highly secure mobile browser that blocks trackers, enforces HTTPS, and doesn’t store your search history.
  👉 Available on: Android | iOS

• Brave Browser Mobile (Free)
  Enjoy the same protections as on desktop: ad and tracker blocking, plus a built-in VPN for mobile devices.
  👉 Available on: Android | iOS

• Proton VPN Mobile (Free and Paid)
  Perfect for securing public Wi-Fi connections and hiding your location while traveling.
  👉 Available on: Android | iOS

• Exodus Privacy (Free, Android only)
  Scans installed apps and reveals which trackers and permissions they use. Great for identifying intrusive apps.
  👉 Available on: Android

• 1Blocker (Freemium, iOS only)
  Efficiently blocks trackers, ads, and tracking scripts in Safari. Very popular among Apple users concerned about privacy.
  👉 Available on: iOS

🚀 Bonus Tip:

• On Android: Go to Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager to restrict app permissions.

• On iPhone: Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking to disable ad tracking by apps.

🛡️ Best Practices to Protect Your Privacy

• Use unique and complex passwords (Tip: Try password managers like Bitwarden or KeePass).

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on all sensitive accounts.

• Limit sharing personal data on social media and online forums.

• Keep your apps and devices updated to benefit from the latest security fixes.

✅ Conclusion

Your online privacy is valuable but constantly under threat. By using these tools and adopting smart habits, you’ll regain control over your personal data and navigate the web more securely and confidently.