First thing is to change your default search engine to DuckDuckGo. This is found in settings. Change it in both normal browsing and private browsing settings.
But wait, there is another place where Google is hiding – Manage alternative search engines. I changed it to wikipedia.
Under AI Controls I block all AI enhancements. Under data collection I turn off everything and only allow crash reports to be sent only after asking.
Two must have extensions are uBlock Origins (ad blocker) and Privacy Badger (blocks trackers).
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Jay Forrest
Jay Forrest is a long‑time Linux enthusiast who switched to Ubuntu in 2008 after a Windows XP virus convinced him to embrace open‑source software. A former host of the Linux User Podcast, Jay has worked in technical support for AOL, EarthLink, and Route 66 Casino, built his first 486 in the 90s, and has provided web design for businesses and nonprofits. He works with HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and basic PHP, and enjoys exploring open‑source software. As a former Fedora Ambassador, Jay is dedicated to sharing why Linux—secure, stable, and open—remains his platform of choice.
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