Browser Extensions for Internet Privacy (Ghostery, Privacy Badger, Search Encrypt, Disconnect)

Ghostery

Ghostery detects tracking on websites you visit and then blocks the tracking to speed up page load times. It eliminates clutter while protecting your data. Ghostery recently deployed artificial intelligence which should greatly improve its already strong ad-blocking and tracker blocking. This extension is also the ad-blocker of choice for Edward Snowden.

Privacy Badger

This one is similar to Ghostery in that it blocks tracking. However, rather than blocking all content, it only blocks the tracking scripts that follow you from one site to another. When Privacy Badger detects a source that is tracking you across different websites, it tells your browser to stop loading the content from that source. Although, Privacy Badger has one feature that really sets it apart. If the content that is tracking you is essential to a page’s functionality, Privacy Badger will allow it to load with the tracking capabilities blocked.

Disconnect

Disconnect offers many browser extensions for mobile and desktop. Its main browser extension is called Disconnect Private Browsing. Disconnect works by blocking third parties from tracking the webpages you visit. Whenever a site makes a network request to connect to anything besides the site you’re visiting, it won’t be able to load that extra content.

NoScript Security Suite

NoScript is an extension for Mozilla Firefox that blocks malicious scripts that could be used for tracking purposes. It blocks scripts, plug-ins and other code that could attack your system. Edward Snowden endorses NoScript Security Suite as a tool to fight Surveillance States.

ScriptSafe

ScriptSafe is like NoScript, but works for Google Chrome and other browsers. It has solid reviews and positive responses from its users online. It allows users to easily switch the blocking on and off, if they want to temporarily allow some feature to load. It has recently updated to be more intuitive and user-friendly. ScriptSafe also uses a privacy by design model, which means it uses a “block first, ask later” approach. So some websites you may visit regularly may be blocked by default.

Search Encrypt

Obviously, no list of ours would be complete without Search Encrypt. Search Encrypt is a tool that helps keep your search data private. It intercepts any tracked searches you may try. This is helpful if you are consistently using search engines that track you. You can easily avoid those searches with our extension. We use industry standard AES-256 encryption, and your search history expires so that it is invisible to anyone who may use your computer. Try Search Encrypt at https://www.searchencrypt.com