Understanding Web Tracking: The Modern Baba Yaga
Web tracking, like the mythical Slovak Baba Yaga lurking at the edge of the digital forest, is ever-present yet elusive. Analytics scripts, cookies, fingerprinting, and IP logging are the enchanted objects of today’s witches—tools used by sites to follow your journey, harvest your data, and predict your next step. To navigate this world safely, you must equip yourself with the right talismans and rituals.
Browsers: Choosing Your Shield
| Browser | Default Tracking Protection | Fingerprint Resistance | Open Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefox | Strong | Moderate | Yes | Customizable, supports privacy extensions |
| Tor Browser | Very strong | High | Yes | Routes traffic via Tor network |
| Brave | Strong | Moderate | Yes | Blocks ads, trackers by default |
| Chrome | Weak | Low | No | Extensive tracking by Google |
| Ungoogled Chromium | Moderate | Moderate | Yes | Strips Google services |
Recommendation:
For most, Tor Browser is the Čarovný klobúk (magic hat) of anonymity. Firefox with privacy extensions is a strong, more usable alternative.
Private Browsing Modes: Not a Silver Bullet
Private or incognito modes mainly prevent local history and cookies from being stored. They do not hide your IP or prevent fingerprinting.
Example:
Opening a private window in Firefox (Ctrl+Shift+P), then visiting https://amiunique.org/ will still reveal a unique browser fingerprint.
Essential Browser Extensions: Amulets Against Trackers
Must-Have Privacy Extensions
| Extension | Purpose | Browser Support | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| uBlock Origin | Blocks ads/trackers | FF, Chrome | https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock |
| Privacy Badger | Blocks trackers dynamically | FF, Chrome | https://privacybadger.org/ |
| HTTPS Everywhere* | Forces HTTPS connections | FF, Chrome | https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere |
| Decentraleyes | Local CDN resources | FF, Chrome | https://decentraleyes.org/ |
| Cookie AutoDelete | Auto-removes cookies | FF, Chrome | https://github.com/Cookie-AutoDelete/Cookie-AutoDelete |
| NoScript | Script blocking | FF | https://noscript.net/ |
*Note: HTTPS Everywhere is now largely redundant as browsers enforce HTTPS by default.
Slovenská tradícia:
Much like hanging a sprig of rasca (caraway) over a cradle to ward off evil, these extensions act as protective charms for your browser.
Search Engines: Avoiding the Vodník’s Lure
| Search Engine | Logs IP? | Tracks Queries? | Hosted In | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuckDuckGo | No | No | US | https://duckduckgo.com/ |
| Startpage | No | No | Netherlands | https://www.startpage.com/ |
| Searx | No | No | Varies | https://searx.space/ |
| Yes | Yes | US | https://www.google.com/ |
Pro Tip:
Configure Firefox to use DuckDuckGo or your own Searx instance as the default search engine.
DNS Privacy: The Invisible Thread
Default DNS queries expose your browsing to your ISP and sometimes third parties. Switch to DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) or DNS-over-TLS (DoT) for privacy.
Firefox: Enabling DNS-over-HTTPS
- Open
about:preferences#general - Scroll to “Network Settings” > “Settings…”
- Enable “Enable DNS over HTTPS”
- Choose a provider (Cloudflare, NextDNS, or custom)
CLI: Using dnscrypt-proxy (Linux)
sudo apt install dnscrypt-proxy
sudo systemctl enable --now dnscrypt-proxy
Resource: https://dnscrypt.info/
VPN and the Shadow Cloak
A VPN masks your IP address and encrypts your traffic—but your trust shifts from ISP to VPN provider. For maximal privacy, choose a no-logs provider based outside 14 Eyes jurisdictions, e.g., Mullvad or IVPN.
WireGuard Example (Linux)
sudo apt install wireguard
sudo wg-quick up wg0
(Configuration file from VPN provider required)
The Tor Network: Walking the Forest Paths Unseen
Tor provides strong anonymity by routing traffic through several volunteer-run nodes. Slower but effective against most tracking.
How to Use Tor Safely
- Download only from https://www.torproject.org/
- Avoid logging into personal accounts
- Do not install additional browser extensions or plugins
- Refrain from resizing the window (prevents fingerprinting)
Cultural note: In Slovak tales, those who stray from the path are often lost forever. In Tor, straying (e.g., installing addons) can break your anonymity.
Browser Fingerprinting: The Čert’s Mark
Sites combine subtle clues (fonts, screen size, OS, extensions) into a unique “fingerprint.” Defenses include:
- Use Tor Browser, which standardizes most browser features
- In Firefox: Set
privacy.resistFingerprintingtotrueinabout:config - Avoid uncommon extensions and customizations
Check Your Fingerprint:
Visit https://amiunique.org/ or https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/
Blocking Third-Party Cookies
Firefox
- Go to
about:preferences#privacy - Set Enhanced Tracking Protection to “Strict”
Chrome
- Go to
chrome://settings/cookies - Set “Block third-party cookies”
Script Blocking: The Modern “Závoj”
Scripts collect data and load trackers. Blocking them is like wearing a magical veil (závoj) in legend.
- Use NoScript (Firefox) or uMatrix (archived but usable)
- Only whitelist scripts essential for site functionality
Email Aliases and Disposable Addresses
Websites can track you via email addresses. Use:
- SimpleLogin
- AnonAddy
- ProtonMail (for end-to-end encrypted email)
Additional Rituals and Folk Wisdom
- Clear Cookies and Site Data: Regularly purge browser data.
- Block WebRTC: Prevents IP leaks (see WebRTC Control for Chrome)
- Disable JavaScript where possible: Especially on unknown sites.
- Avoid Social Logins: Don’t use “Log in with Facebook/Google.”
Summary Table: Layered Defenses
| Threat | Defense | Slovak Folklore Analogy |
|---|---|---|
| IP Tracking | VPN, Tor | Magic cloak (plášť) |
| Cookies | uBlock Origin, Cookie AutoDelete | Garlic at the window |
| Fingerprinting | Tor Browser, privacy.resistFingerprinting | Mark of the čert |
| DNS leaks | DNS-over-HTTPS, dnscrypt-proxy | Secret forest path |
| Email tracking | Aliases, ProtonMail | Change of name by the stream |
| Scripts/Trackers | NoScript, uBlock Origin | Závoj (veil) |
| Search engine logging | Searx, DuckDuckGo | Avoiding the vodník |
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