Tracking Protection Lists

Control what third-party sites can track you while you’re online.

Questions and Answers

What are Tracking Protection Lists?

Tracking Protection Lists are like “Do Not Call” lists for third-party content on a website. By adding a Tracking Protection List or “Tracking Protection List,” you can control whether your information is sent to third parties listed on the Tracking Protection List.

How do they work?

The websites you visit often contain content from third parties. In order to load this content, certain information about your computer, including your IP address and the address of the webpage you’re viewing, is sent to each of the third parties. If a site is listed as a “do not call” site on a Tracking Protection List, Internet Explorer 9 will block third-party content from that site, unless you visit the site directly by clicking on a link or typing its web address. By limiting “calls” to third-party websites, Internet Explorer 9 limits the information these third-party sites can collect about you.

Do Tracking Protection Lists only block third-party calls?

Tracking Protection Lists can include “do not call” or “OK to call” entries that permit calls to specific third-party sites. Please be aware that if there are conflicts between “do not call” and “Ok to call” Tracking Protection Lists, the “Ok to call” rules will govern. You should review carefully the Tracking Protection Lists that you choose to download to ensure that you want to allow calls to each of the sites included in any “Ok to call” list.

What is Microsoft’s relationship with Tracking Protection Lists?

Tracking Protection Lists are developed and maintained by their respective authors, who are solely responsible for their content. Microsoft makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, with respect to the completeness, accuracy, reliability, timeliness, suitability, or availability of Tracking Protection Lists.

What if a Tracking Protection List doesn’t work as I expected?

Tracking Protection Lists can be useful privacy tools but they cannot provide absolute privacy or protection online. Web sites that collect information are responsible for their privacy policies and compliance. Any reliance you place on Tracking Protection Lists is strictly at your own risk. Microsoft is not liable to you (whether under contract, tort or otherwise) in relation to the Tracking Protection Lists offered for download for any direct, indirect, special or consequential loss; or for any business losses, loss of revenue, income, profits or anticipated savings, loss of contracts or business relationships, loss of reputation or goodwill, or loss or corruption of information or data. Please review our complete Terms of Use, which govern your use of Tracking Protection Lists