Turbocharge your web browsing!

Take Control of
Your Browser

Your web browser is the gateway to a vast array of information and apps. This book helps you master this essential app, finding the best browser for your needs and configuring it to work just the way you want.

This product has been discontinued.

For most of us, the one app we couldn’t possibly live without is a web browser. You can do almost anything in a browser these days…but are you browsing with one hand tied behind your back? It’s easy to get into inefficient browsing habits, but you might be surprised at what a little know-how about this everyday tool can do for your efficiency and happiness.

Take Control of Your Browser, by veteran tech writer Robyn Weisman, helps you discover your browser’s hidden talents, increase browsing speed, solve many common problems, and configure settings and extensions for maximum efficiency. If you’re troubled by ads, frustrated by ineffective searches, or confused by inscrutable error messages, this book will help you overcome your problems. Beginners will find lots of practical how-to advice, and even power users will learn tips and tricks for better browsing.

This book answers many common questions, including the following:

  • What are the similarities and differences among browsers—and how can I choose the right browser (or more than one!) for my needs?
  • What makes Chrome, Firefox, and Safari the “big three” browsers and why should I care?
  • Is Internet Explorer still a good choice for Windows users? (Spoiler: no!) What about Microsoft Edge?
  • When should I consider less-popular browsers such as Brave, Opera, Tor, and Vivaldi?
  • What are my options if I accidentally close a tab or window (or lots of them) in my browser?
  • How do I address the common problem of tab overload?
  • What are the quickest ways to navigate through browser tabs and windows?
  • Are bookmarks even a thing anymore? Should I use them always, never, or only on occasion?
  • Which search engine should I use, and how can I find exactly what I’m looking for in a web search?
  • How can I protect my privacy and security while browsing the web?
  • How do web cookies work, and what can I do to block the ones I don’t want?
  • Is there some way to stop the endless curse of autoplaying video?
  • Are private browsing modes truly private?
  • How can I safely make purchases in my browser?
  • My browser is doing something annoying (autoplaying videos, showing tons of ads, pestering me with notifications, etc.). How can I fix it?
  • What can I do if a page just won’t load properly?
  • Are there any tricks I can use to make my web browsing quicker and more efficient? (Yes!)
  • Should I be using extensions to add features to my browser? If so, which ones?
  • How can I sync my bookmarks, tabs, and other browser data across all my devices?
  • What should I be aware of when using a browser on my iOS/iPadOS or Android device?

This book covers popular browser for both Mac and Windows, along with an introduction to browser basics for iOS/iPadOS and Android.

Version 1.1 updates information about Safari related to the fall 2019 upgrade to Safari 13 on macOS and iOS/iPadOS. It also addresses a few changes related to Chrome and Firefox. Here are a few of the more significant changes:

  • Added several new sidebars with details on specific topics:
    • New Tab Features in Safari 13
    • New in Firefox: Privacy Protection Report
    • Know When to Swap Out Extensions
    • You Can’t Browse Safari Extensions in the Mac App Store?
    • Safari for iPadOS 13: Even More Like the Desktop!
    • Where the Heck Is My EPUB (or PDF or Other File)?
  • Included instructions for enabling the hidden Reader Mode in Chrome 75 and later; see "Read Easier, Free of Junk"
  • Revised "On Safari for New Extensions" to cover Safari’s evolving ways of handling third-party extensions
  • Updated "Ad and Tracking Blockers" with current information
  • Overhauled "Safari for iOS and iPadOS: New Features, a Few Adjustments" to reflect the latest mobile versions of Safari

January 13, 2021—We currently have no plans to update this title in the future.

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