Online Anonymity Life Hacks
Every week, new stories emerge about how internet companies track your data everywhere, so it's no surprise that we're looking for ways to be anonymous online. Although achieving complete anonymity is extremely difficult, privacy is an ongoing process. By making more informed decisions, you can limit the amount of personal data collected and distributed about you. This directly affects the confidentiality of your online surfing. And this article will help you find services and tools that maximize your online privacy with minimal inconvenience.
Anonymous Web Browser
Your browser has access to a vast amount of data, from your browsing history and IP address to the make and model of your device. As soon as the browser obtains these data, it can share them with websites and other online trackers. To find out what data your browser collects (and potentially shares), visit webkay. Given the high level of access, your choice of browser can have a huge impact on online privacy.
Tor Browser
It encrypts your traffic three times, then routes it through three separate servers. Each one removes the outermost layer of encryption. Thus, only the first knows your real IP address, and only the third knows which website you are visiting. Tor also allows you to access special .onion sites, which are harder to track and shut down than regular websites. Tor is safe to use and an ideal choice for those who prioritize privacy above all else. However, there are downsides: it is complex to set up, does not work with all web site features, and is slower than a standard internet browser.
Firefox
The second most popular browser in the world. It has advanced privacy features such as Enhanced Tracking Protection. This makes it harder for online trackers to follow your internet activity, thereby hindering the collection of personal data.
Brave
This is an open-source browser that by default blocks all ads and trackers. You can even access the Tor network using its private tab (similar to the "Incognito" tab in Brave). Finally, for iOS and macOS users, the Safari browser also has several strong privacy protection features.
Google Chrome
The most popular browser in the world, unfortunately, is the least secure. However, you can adjust the activity settings in your Google account and at least limit the amount of data that Chrome can collect.
Browser Extensions That Protect Your Privacy
Choosing a privacy-focused browser is a good start on the path to a more anonymous internet, but there are still several steps to take. Even browsers with good data protection, such as Firefox, can share information about your location and device with online trackers. That's why browser extensions are so important. They can enhance the browser's protection and hide some of the information it might share. One of the simplest privacy tools is Privacy Badger. It is developed by the nonprofit organization Electronic Frontier Foundation and learns over time which services and cookies are trying to track you and blocks them. You just need to download it, and it will do everything on its own. uBlock Origin (available for Chrome) performs a more thorough job of blocking trackers. It has several comprehensive lists of trackers and cookies to block. Advanced users can customize these lists and add new services they want to block. Most importantly, uBlock Origin works efficiently and blocks elements much faster than similar programs. To prevent your browser from sharing data about your location, system, and device, use NoScript (also available for Chrome). It allows plugins such as Java or Flash to run only from trusted sources. While this protects your data, it takes some time to figure out which plugins to allow, so as not to disrupt the functioning of some websites. By the way, Tor already includes HTTPS Everywhere and NoScript.
Reliable VPN
When it comes to online security, a VPN service is indispensable. It redirects your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, preventing your internet service provider or malicious actors from monitoring your online activity. It also routes your traffic through a VPN server, hiding your IP address and the physical location of your device from websites. VPN ensures high connection speed, works with any browser, and allows users to watch videos and exchange files over P2P networks. However, when you connect to a VPN server, the VPN provider can see the same types of data that your internet service provider could see if you weren't using a VPN, including your online activity and your IP address. Therefore, it's crucial to use only reliable VPN services. Shiva VPN has a strict no-logs storage policy, which means it does not record any of your online activities. Shiva VPN is also equipped with advanced security features, such as a Kill Switch, which immediately disconnects your internet connection if you are disconnected from your VPN server.
