Protecting Your Online Privacy: How to Identify and Block Tracking Pixels and Scripts

President Joe Biden signed a bill on April 24 that could potentially lead to the banning of TikTok in the United States if the popular social media app does not divest its American operations to a U.S.-owned company. The primary concern behind this move is data privacy, as TikTok, being a Chinese-owned company, raises fears that it could be compelled to provide user data to the Chinese government.

While you may think that not having a TikTok account keeps you safe from data tracking, the reality is far more complex. Data brokers can embed tracking tools like cookies, scripts, and tracking pixels on various websites and even emails, allowing them to gather valuable information about your online activities. This means that even if you have never used TikTok or Facebook, you could still be vulnerable to tracking from these services.

The two main methods of online data tracking are cookies and tracking pixels. Cookies are small packets of information that websites use to store data, while tracking pixels operate similarly but use images to track user activity on a website. With the impending demise of cookies due to privacy concerns, data brokers have turned to more sophisticated methods like tracking pixels to gather user data.

To combat online tracking, there are tools available that can help you identify and block trackers. Feroot PageScanner is a free Chrome extension that notifies you in real-time when your data is being tracked and provides detailed information about the trackers active on a webpage. Ghostery and uBlock Origin are other popular tools that can help you restrict trackers and block ads on websites.

Privacy Badger is another tool focused on blocking trackers, learning to block new trackers over time to enhance user privacy. Additionally, using a reputable VPN service can help hide your browsing data and protect your online activities from prying eyes.

It’s important to be aware of the potential for tracking pixels in emails as well. By following best practices like disabling image loading in emails, you can further protect your online privacy. With the increasing concerns over data privacy and online tracking, utilizing these tools and practices can help safeguard your personal information in the digital age.