# Switch to Brave Browser Reason #25: Get tracker blocking by default before installing extensions

Protection delayed until you find, install, and maintain an extension leaves ordinary browsing exposed.

2026-08-30
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Switchboard Tech Services


![Switch to Brave Browser Reason #25: Get tracker blocking by default before installing extensions](https://switchboardtechservices.com/static/images/defaults/guides.webp)

## Why this matters

Protection delayed until you find, install, and maintain an extension leaves ordinary browsing exposed. Privacy is easier to defend before this information is collected than after it has spread.

## The protection

Shields is built into Brave and enabled by default.

## Take action

Start using the browser with its protections on; review settings before adding extensions, which can themselves need broad access. Brave reduces common tracking, but a site you sign in to still knows what you do there. Ordinary browsing also reveals your IP address to the destination.

## Sources

[Brave Shields](https://brave.com/shields/).

- Categories:
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- Tags:
  [#privacy](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/privacy/), [#Brave Browser](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/brave-browser/), [#Digital Self-Defense](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/digital-self-defense/), [#Security Settings](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/security-settings/)

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Canonical URL: https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/switch-to-brave-browser-reason-25/

Language: en-us

Content type: guide

Author: Switchboard Tech Services

Published: 2026-08-30T08:53:13+00:00

Description: Why get tracker blocking by default before installing extensions matters for privacy and security.