EVERY DOUBT, CLEARED

There is no single best browser. Choose based on your devices, how much you value privacy, the extensions you need and whether you prefer simplicity or customisation. Follow the one-week test drive in Step 3B.

Private mode stops your browser saving history, cookies and form data after the window closes. It does not hide your activity from websites, your employer, your school or your internet provider. Use it for shared computers and gift shopping, not for anonymity.

Not necessarily. A second browser is useful as a backup when a site misbehaves and for separating work and personal browsing, although profiles in one browser can do the same job. See Step 3D.

Leave automatic updates on and restart the browser when prompted, ideally the same day. Major browsers ship security fixes every few weeks.

They share the open-source Chromium code and the Blink engine, so websites behave similarly. They differ in privacy defaults, built-in features, account services and how much data they send to their makers. Step 3A explains engines.

Blocking third-party cookies gives most of the privacy benefit without logging you out of everything. Clear all cookies when troubleshooting a broken site or after using a shared computer.

Many are, but extensions can read the pages you visit. Install only from official stores, check the publisher and reviews, review permissions and remove extensions you no longer use. Step 3C has the full checklist.

Built-in password managers in modern browsers are a reasonable choice for most people, especially with a strong device password and two-factor authentication on your browser account. Dedicated password managers add cross-browser support and extra features.

Usually because the site relies on a feature not yet supported in every engine, or was only tested in one browser. Try disabling extensions first, then try another browser.

No. A VPN hides your IP address from websites and your traffic from your local network, but cookies, fingerprinting and account logins can still identify you. Use both layers if privacy matters to you.