I've noticed that Chrome shows me weird ads based on what I look at online, even on different sites. It bothers me that my searches are being monitored. Is there a way to block all this tracking without completely disabling cookies?
I get it too - it's annoying seeing ads pop up for stuff you searched on a completely different site just a moment ago. I totally understand the frustration. Cross-site tracking is a real thing, and Chrome actually does have some tools to limit it, even if they're not perfect.
The most straightforward thing you can do is go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data and turn on "Block third-party cookies". That's the main culprit behind cross-site tracking - those cookies are used by ad companies to follow you from one place to another. Then, in that same section, check if you've already enabled "Advanced privacy" mode (there should be an option like "Incognito browsing with Privacy Sandbox"). If you want to be more aggressive about it, you can also clear your browsing data (Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data) and check "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" - that way you're getting rid of what Chrome has already collected. Just be careful though, because clearing cookies means you'll have to log back into your accounts on various sites.
Another option is to use "Incognito" mode for stuff you don't want tracked, or install an extension like uBlock Origin that blocks ad trackers, not just the ads themselves. It's not a perfect solution - tracking still happens at levels you can't completely control on your own - but combined with these settings it cuts down a lot of what companies are able to do.
Log into answer.
