Browser Hardening for Normal People

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TEC347: Browser hardening sounds like something only IT professionals do — but it’s really just locking the windows and doors of your digital house, not building a bunker with guard towers on the corner. Dom Bettinelli and Tom Grelinger break down practical, low-effort browser security settings that make everyday browsing safer for normal people — the kind of advice you can actually pass along to your parents, your kids, or anyone in your life who isn’t a tech head.

For most people, the web browser is the internet — even email often lives inside it — so it’s also where most of the risk lives: phishing, malware, excessive tracking, and deceptive links. Dom and Tom organize the whole topic around three simple principles: keep your browser and devices updated (and turn on automatic updates), lean on the strong protections already built into modern browsers before buying anything extra, and remember that less is more — fewer extensions, fewer exceptions, fewer custom tweaks.

They go browser by browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge — pointing out which settings to switch on (Enhanced Safe Browsing, HTTPS-only connections, blocking third-party cookies, Intelligent Tracking Prevention, SmartScreen, typosquatting protection) and which features to leave off. They also clear up one of the most common misconceptions in tech: what incognito (private) mode actually does. The short version — it clears your local history and cookies when you close the window, but it does not hide you from your ISP, your employer, your school, or the websites you visit.

The conversation then turns to two of the highest-value moves you can make. DNS filtering — using a service like NextDNS, Cloudflare Family, or OpenDNS at your router — blocks dangerous sites for every device on your network before the browser even loads them, and it’s cheap and easy to deploy. And extension hygiene: every extension you install can read and change the pages you visit, so stick to reputable ones, uninstall anything your browser flags, and never trust an add-on that promises to “speed up your computer” or hand out free coupons.

Along the way they get into passkeys and password managers, multi-factor authentication, iCloud Private Relay versus a true VPN, mobile browsing (where most of us actually spend our time), and how to set up a safer browser for a non-techie family member. The throughline: perfect privacy isn’t the goal — finding the balance of security and convenience that’s good enough for you is.

Plus, the week’s tech picks: a budget-friendly Philips 24-inch monitor and iBreviary, a free app for praying the Liturgy of the Hours.

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Disclaimer: Hosts, panelists, and guests may have a financial interest in the companies discussed through investments or other means. Their opinions and recommendations are not affected and do not present a conflict of interest. We offer this statement in the interest of full disclosure.

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