Check these privacy settings on your browser, now. (iStock)

Check these privacy settings on your browser, now. (iStock)

NEWYou tin at present heed to Fox News articles!

No affair which browser you lot cull, you're accessing the same cyberspace.

That is, of course, unless you're using Tor to trawl the Dark Spider web. Feeling curious most how to get there and what y'all'll find? Hither's the info — use it at your own risk.

Dark Web or not, it'due south surprisingly easy to stop upwardly on sketchy websites. Click 1 bad advertizing or visit a compromised site, and you, your data, and your tech could end up in a world of hurt. Tap or click here for signs that your reckoner or phone has been hacked.

Instead of waiting for issues to land in your lap, accept action. You tin make your browser of option — Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge — safer.

Keep your location, microphone or photographic camera to yourself

Most web browsers access your geographic location via your IP address to serve local search results. Your browser may also accept direct access to permission use of your device'due south built-in camera and microphone.

Information technology's certainly convenient, but it'southward a huge security gamble. With the right malicious software, hackers can use that access to their advantage. Caput off that possibility by limiting access to your location, photographic camera and microphone.

Instead, make the browser ask permission every time it attempts admission to them.

From your browser, get to Settings or Preferences, and look under Privacy or Privacy and security. Nether Location or Location Services, cull Deny without prompting or Inquire earlier accessing.

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Stop automatic downloads earlier they outset

Similar location services and quick access to your camera, your browser can download something the second yous click. Don't exist that person. Automatically opening downloads can create security problems.

Stop that with the steps below.

Chrome: Click the three-dot card, then Settings. Under the "Privacy and security" heading on the left, cull Site Settings. Under "Permissions," click on Automated downloads, and toggle the Ask when a site… switch to On.

Firefox: Click the three-line menu in the upper right, then cull Options. Select the "General" tab, and wait for the "Applications" header. With each content type listed, ensure the activeness is set to Ever inquire to preclude whatever file blazon from existence saved automatically.

Safari: Open Preferences. Under the General tab, click the File download location drop-down menu. Select Ask for each download.

Edge: Click the three-dot carte, so choose Settings. Look for the "Downloads" section on the left. Set the Enquire me what to practice with each download toggle to On.

Outsmart your smart tech: Yep, your devices are listening. Yes, you lot can finish it. Tap or click hither for half-dozen means to terminate your tech from listening.

Disable popular-ups and redirects

Pop-ups within websites are a normal role of surfing the spider web. But new windows that spam yous with notifications, ads or mysterious links to click are bad news. The same goes for redirects, sending you from the perfectly safety site you're visiting to ane with more nefarious purposes.

Have control, so none of this happens automatically.

Chrome: Click the three-dot menu, then Settings. Under the "Privacy and security" heading, click Site settings > Popular-ups and redirects. Toggle Blocked on.

Firefox: Click the three-line menu in the upper correct, then choose Options. Select the
"Privacy & Security" section on the left. Scroll down to "Permissions" and check the box for Block pop-upwards windows.

Safari: Open the Preferences and the Security tab. Check the box for Block pop-upwardly windows.

Edge: Click the three-dot menu, then choose Site permissions. Select Pop-ups and redirects and toggle on Block.

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Brand private browsing your friend

Let'southward go one affair straight: Using a browser's private or incognito mode does non hide everything y'all do from your ISP, family, employer or school.

Private windows don't save your browsing history, cookies, site information or course information. They can also proceed personalized ads that follow you effectually the web more than at bay.

You can open a private window via your browser's menu or with a keyboard shortcut.

Chrome: Click the three-dot carte du jour, then choose New incognito window. You can also hit Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + Due north on a Mac.

Firefox: Click the three-line bill of fare in the upper right, then New Private Window. Or type Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Command + Shift + P on a Mac.

Safari: Click File > New Private Window. Or blazon Command + Shift + N.

Border: Click the iii-dot menu in the upper correct, and then New InPrivate window. You can also hit Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Control + Shift + Northward on a Mac.

Insider tip: There are some great reasons to use incognito way, like shopping for gifts or avoiding autofill suggestions you don't want to encounter again. Tap or click here for six uses everyone should try.

Apply the latest version

Browser patches and updates contain fixes for weak spots in security, glitches and other common bug. Like your operating system, information technology'southward essential to brand certain your browser is always up to date.

Updates ordinarily happen automatically when you shut and reopen your browser. Yous can too manually check to be sure. If yous don't see annihilation post-obit the steps below, you're already on your browser's latest version.

Chrome: Click the iii-dot icon in the top right corner. Click Update Google Chrome, and then Relaunch.

Firefox: Choose the three-line menu button, click Help > Most Firefox. Firefox will check for updates and download them automatically. When the download is consummate, click Restart to update Firefox.

Safari: Click the Apple tree menu, and so App Store. Select Updates to scan your system. If an update is available, cull Update or Update All. You may need to enter your Apple tree ID and password and select Sign In.