The Silent Data Collection
By default, Google Chrome includes a feature called “Make searches and browsing better.” When this feature is enabled, Chrome silently collects the URLs of the websites you visit and sends them directly to Google’s servers. Google uses this anonymous telemetry data to improve its Safe Browsing malware database, track page load speeds, and refine its search indexing algorithms. While this data collection is technically anonymized and helps improve the internet as a whole, it represents a massive privacy concern for many users. If you are researching sensitive medical conditions, exploring confidential corporate domains, or simply don’t want a multinational technology corporation maintaining a real-time log of your web browsing habits, you need to turn this feature off.
How to Disable URL Telemetry in Chrome Settings
Turning off this data collection takes only a few clicks, and it will not negatively impact your day-to-day browsing experience or core security features.
1. Open the Google Chrome browser.
2. Click the three vertical dots (the “More” menu) in the top-right corner of the window.
3. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
4. In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on You and Google (or “Sync and Google services” on older versions).
5. In the main pane, click on Sync and Google services to expand the privacy options.
6. Scroll down to the section labelled “Other Google services.”
7. Look for the toggle switch labelled Make searches and browsing better. The sub-text explicitly states that this feature “Sends URLs of pages you visit to Google.”
8. Click the toggle switch to turn it Off (the switch will turn grey).
Once disabled, Chrome will stop transmitting your browsing history to Google’s telemetry servers. Your browsing activity will remain completely local to your device (unless you are actively syncing your history to your Google Account, which is a separate setting).
What About Safe Browsing?
It is important to note that turning off “Make searches and browsing better” does not disable Chrome’s Safe Browsing malware protection. Standard Safe Browsing works by downloading a list of dangerous sites to your computer and checking URLs locally. It only sends a URL to Google if you actually stumble onto a malicious site. Therefore, you can safely disable the general URL telemetry without compromising your browser’s security.