{"id":331,"date":"2026-08-30T21:47:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T21:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/millys-cafe.com\/chill\/?p=331"},"modified":"2026-08-31T17:49:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T17:49:46","slug":"my-dad-installed-a-privacy-paranoia-starter-pack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/millys-cafe.com\/chill\/my-dad-installed-a-privacy-paranoia-starter-pack\/","title":{"rendered":"My Dad Installed a Privacy Paranoia Starter Pack"},"content":{"rendered":"
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My retired IT-support dad took one look at my browser and apparently decided it was an unsecured submarine. His solution was to install a collection of privacy extensions, tracker blockers, script blockers, password managers, and VPNs.<\/p>\n

Some are useful. Some overlap. A few are probably unnecessary for ordinary browsing. And installing two VPNs does not make you twice as safe\u2014it mostly makes your computer confused.<\/p>\n

This is my non-expert guide to what each extension does, whether I need it, and what I would keep.<\/p>\n

The privacy toolbox<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Extension<\/th>\nWhat it does<\/th>\nKeep, remove, or reconsider?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Startpage<\/strong><\/td>\nA private search engine that returns Google-based results without directly creating a personal search profile. Its privacy extension can also show tracker information and block some trackers.<\/td>\nOptional.<\/strong> Useful if you prefer Startpage, but its search function is redundant with DuckDuckGo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NoScript<\/strong><\/td>\nBlocks JavaScript and other active web content unless a site or domain is trusted. This can reduce attack surface and tracking, but it can also make websites partially or completely break.<\/td>\nAdvanced optional.<\/strong> Keep if you are willing to learn it. Otherwise, it may create more frustration than protection.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
uBlock Origin<\/strong><\/td>\nA broad content blocker that blocks advertisements, trackers, malicious domains, and some scripts using filter lists.<\/td>\nKeep.<\/strong> This is the most generally useful browser extension on the list. Make sure it is the genuine extension by Raymond Hill.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DuckDuckGo<\/strong><\/td>\nProvides DuckDuckGo search and adds tracker, cookie, link-tracking, and related privacy protections.<\/td>\nOptional.<\/strong> Good if you want DuckDuckGo, but it overlaps with uBlock Origin, Disconnect, and Startpage\u2019s privacy features.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Disconnect<\/strong><\/td>\nBlocks known advertising, analytics, social-media, and fingerprinting trackers and can show what a page is trying to load.<\/td>\nProbably remove or disable.<\/strong> Firefox already uses Disconnect-maintained tracking lists for built-in Enhanced Tracking Protection, and uBlock Origin overlaps with much of its blocking. \ue200cite\ue202[addons.mozilla<\/a>]\ue202[support.mozilla<\/a>]\ue201<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Decentraleyes<\/strong><\/td>\nAttempts to replace requests to certain large content-delivery networks with locally stored copies of common web libraries.<\/td>\nUsually remove.<\/strong> It is a specialized and limited tool, and uBlock Origin or modern browser privacy protections may make it unnecessary. It can also cause compatibility problems. \ue200cite\ue202[chromewebstore.google<\/a>]\ue202[privacyinternational<\/a>]\ue201<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FoxyProxy<\/strong><\/td>\nManages proxy profiles and routes browser traffic through a selected proxy server.<\/td>\nRemove if unused.<\/strong> Without a proxy service and configuration, it provides no useful protection. A proxy is also not the same thing as a VPN.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CanvasBlocker<\/strong><\/td>\nModifies or blocks canvas-based browser fingerprinting, which websites can use to help recognize a browser.<\/td>\nProbably remove initially.<\/strong> Firefox has built-in fingerprinting protections, and extra fingerprinting defenses can make a browser more unusual rather than less identifiable.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Port Authority<\/strong><\/td>\nBlocks attempts by websites to use browser requests to scan local computer or network ports; it also targets certain tracking scripts.<\/td>\nOptional, but niche.<\/strong> It is not a normal ad blocker or antivirus. Keep it only if you understand its alerts and are comfortable allowing sites when something breaks. \ue200cite\ue202[blog.mozilla<\/a>]\ue202[github<\/a>]\ue201<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proton Pass<\/strong><\/td>\nStores and fills passwords, passkeys, usernames, and possibly two-factor authentication codes, depending on how you use it.<\/td>\nKeep if you are using it.<\/strong> A reputable password manager is more valuable than most of the tracker-blocking duplicates.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ProtonVPN<\/strong><\/td>\nEncrypts traffic between your device and Proton\u2019s VPN servers and hides your normal IP address from websites.<\/td>\nKeep one VPN.<\/strong> Use either ProtonVPN or Private Internet Access, not both at the same time.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Private Internet Access<\/strong><\/td>\nAnother VPN service that routes traffic through its own VPN servers.<\/td>\nChoose one.<\/strong> Uninstall or disable it if ProtonVPN is now your VPN.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The browser store describes uBlock Origin as an advanced content-blocking tool, while DuckDuckGo describes its extension as combining private search with tracker and cookie protections. Those are legitimate features, but they explain why installing both can produce overlapping controls. \ue200cite\ue202\ue202\ue201[chromewebstore.google<\/a>][addons.mozilla<\/a>]<\/p>\n

The biggest redundancies<\/h2>\n

Startpage versus DuckDuckGo<\/h3>\n

You do not need both search engines installed as extensions. Pick the one you prefer:<\/p>\n