Chrome is the most popular web browser on the planet. Which means that if you’re using it too, you’re a prime target for identity theft and other nasty detritus of the information age. While Google isn’t known for being the most privacy-forward company out there, its latest addition to Chrome is a definite point in its favor. The new “Privacy Guide” interface is essentially an old-school user wizard to help you tighten down your browser’s privacy vulnerabilities.
Privacy Guide will be presented as a card when users go into the “Privacy and security” section of the Chrome settings menu. In just a couple of minutes it will allow you to see what the browser is saving locally and syncing to your Google profile, with a somewhat sanitized explanation of the user benefits for each feature you’re using (or not). The Privacy Sandbox, Google’s controversial proposal for replacing tracking cookies for the purpose of advertising, gets a starring role.
Privacy Guide will roll out worldwide “in the coming weeks” for Chrome version 100 and later, presumably on all supported platforms. But if you’re seriously concerned about privacy, you might want to check out browser alternatives like Brave.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.