Any · Security

Tighten up Chrome — the 10-minute pass

Out of the box, Chrome tracks more than it needs to and keeps running apps after you close it. Ten toggles fix most of it.

Before you start

Low risk. This change is reversible — you can return to the previous state without professional help or data loss.

Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies → 'Block third-party cookies' — kills cross-site tracking
Privacy and security → Security → Safe Browsing → pick 'Enhanced protection' for real-time threat checks, not just a known-bad list
Same page → Advanced → turn on 'Use secure DNS' (Cloudflare or your OS default) so your ISP can't read which sites you visit
Settings → System → turn off 'Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed'
myactivity.google.com/activity-controls → Web & App Activity → Auto-delete after 3 months — or switch it off entirely if personalization isn't worth the trail

Third-party cookies are blocked, Enhanced Safe Browsing is on, and Chrome no longer runs background apps after you close it.

A site breaks after the cookie block — allow that specific site's cookies in Site Settings rather than reverting everything.

Next stop: the related fixes below, or start a guided diagnosis.