Staying anonymous online is a major concern for all Internet users, especially today. Criminals may steal users’ data and use it in destructive ways. IP theft, identity theft, doxxing, and tracking are the most obvious. The best way to avoid becoming the victim of such crimes is not to be targeted in the first place. And it’s generally a good idea to not let anyone you don’t personally trust know who you are on the internet. Here are some easy ways to safeguard your anonymity online.
Don’t Leave Tracks
The best way to stay anonymous online is to not leave an online footprint. First, avoid using your real name, address, and phone number. If you must use email, create temporary (or “burner”) accounts and delete them after use. Naturally, don’t use any real information about yourself when creating them.
When browsing the Internet, don’t accept cookies if possible, and clear them together with browser history after each session. There are several browsing extensions that automatically block cookies, like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger, but do a manual double-check just in case. Additionally, use “incognito” or “private” mode when browsing to avoid data sharing.
Search engines usually track your searches to collect data for interested parties. So, if you have to look something up, use anonymous search engines, such as DuckDuckGo or StartPage. They don’t track and store your search data, letting you find what you want without being bombarded with recommendations and having biased search results afterward. And, of course, your data won’t be sold to the highest bidder.
Use a VPN
Today, ads for VPN (Virtual Private Network) services are everywhere. They are quite effective at concealing users’ identities by encrypting their Internet connection, hiding IP addresses, and routing traffic through servers in different countries. This multi-level protection ensures that bad actors won’t be able to access the user’s identity and data. Choose the service that suits your needs and doesn’t put too much strain on the budget, and enjoy your online anonymity.
Use the TOR Network
The Onion Router, or TOR for short, is another way you can stay anonymous online. By using this network, your traffic will be encrypted and redirected via multiple servers. This “onion” of protection ensures your privacy and anonymity on the Internet, making you virtually impossible to track. TOR Browser is completely free and works like any other web browser. The only downside of TOR is that you’ll have to sacrifice your comfort, as encryption takes a long time and will slow down your Internet speed to a crawl.
Use Anonymous Browsers
Aside from the TOR browser, there are several alternatives. While they don’t operate via The Onion Router, they still offer secure online anonymity without sacrificing Internet speed. The most popular free alternative is Brave Browser, which offers the same functions as Chrome but with extra features good for those who don’t want to leave online footprints. Another great example of a browser that offers full anonymity is OctoBrowser. It supports every popular type of proxy, both standard and third-party, allowing you to juggle IPs with ease. OctoBrowser automates many anonymity procedures, such as cookie and online “fingerprint” management. It works with all websites, preventing them from tracking your device. You are free to use multiple browser profiles at the same time and run as many accounts as your device’s resources allow. OctoBrowser works on every OS and can be set up in one click. Buy the version that suits your needs and enjoy complete anonymity with zero hassle.
Staying anonymous online is easy as long as you are willing to put in extra effort. Always clear your browsing data and leave as little online footprint as possible. Use browsers that prevent tracking, like OctoBrowser or TOR. To be extra sure of your anonymity, use a VPN. By staying anonymous online, you don’t let anyone access your data and don’t attract the attention of bad actors.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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