Trackers, ads and the other protections
Most of what travels between your browser and the web is invisible: ads, trackers, tiny images in emails and requests you never see. Minda has several protections for it. They are under Settings → Privacy & security, except the shield.
The ad blocker
Ad blocking is always on. It blocks targeted ads, YouTube video ads, trackers from Facebook, Google and others, and email-tracking pixels (not in Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo). Minda downloads the filter lists from their publishers about once a day, and the lists are applied on your computer.
If a site breaks without its ads, press the shield in the toolbar and turn blocking off for that site only. The shield's panel also shows what the page blocked.
Harmful-site warnings
Warn about dangerous sites checks pages against phishing and malware lists before they load. The lists are downloaded every 12 hours and matched on your computer, so no page address is sent anywhere.
Secure connections
Always use secure connections opens http:// addresses over HTTPS. If a site has no working HTTPS, Minda warns you first. Only Continue to site opens it over plain HTTP, and only until Minda restarts.
Secure DNS looks up site names over an encrypted connection. The DNS provider you pick still sees the lookups, so choose one you trust.
Signals to sites
Tell sites not to sell or share my data sends Global Privacy Control, and it is on for a new profile. It is a request, not a guarantee: some privacy laws require sites to honor it, and others may ignore it.
Also send "Do Not Track" is an older request that most sites ignore. It is off until you turn it on.
Cookie pop-ups
Reject cookie pop-ups declines optional cookies on pop-ups Minda recognizes, or hides the pop-up. It never accepts for you. It is off by default, but pages the AI agent works on always reject cookie banners.
YouTube
Minda Player opens YouTube videos in the privacy-enhanced player.
What to check first
Leave ad blocking as it is and keep the dangerous-site warning on. Consider turning on secure connections and Secure DNS. If you switch on one more thing, make it Reject cookie pop-ups.