When you use the web without protecting your browsing information, you expose yourself to ISPs, website owners, government and other unwanted people online. But, anonymous browsing allows you remain untraceable from such elements as much as possible.
In this post, we will help you how you can remain anonymous while browsing the internet online.
Why should I browse Anonymously?
There are different reasons that suggest you should browse the internet anonymously. If you reside in a country where you cannot use the internet freely, you should mask your online surfing habits to bypass blocks in the right way.
Similarly, if you want to know about a particular medicine but you don’t wish the sites to trace your email address or other information so they can send you emails regarding new medical products, you should rely on anonymous web browsing.
How do the Websites Track Your Activities?
The websites track your location by tracing your IP address to display their customized versions for your geo-location. Following are some of the techniques used by the websites to keep a check on your location and web activities:
IP address
The most basic way to locate your geo-location is to trace your IP address. Many of the users may not be aware of the fact but every time they visit their favorite website, their IP address is tracked and their geo-location is easily determined.
Cookies
Cookies are small log files that are stored in your computer by certain websites. The cookies help the websites keep the settings and your login details saved. For example, if you are using your online banking, you will not have to enter the login details, the website will automatically fill in the details.
User Agent
Your browser sends user agents every time you connect to a website. The user agents give away the details of your browser, operating software and other information which is then used to display the ads based on your browsing activities.
What are different anonymous browsing options?
You can take various steps to stay secure and untraceable while using the internet. These steps are:
- Connect to a VPN service before surfing the web
- Use a secure search engine
- Delete cookies
- Don’t use public Wi-Fi networks
Connect to a VPN service before using the web
A VPN is an excellent anonymous browsing software that helps you spoof your online location from anywhere. It replaces your actual IP address with an alternate IP address right away. Furthermore, it encrypts your internet traffic through industry standard encryption. By doing so, surveillance actors such as ISPs, hackers and others cannot keep an eye on your browsing activities.
You can subscribe to PureVPN, which is a certified no-log provider that offers 2000+ servers worldwide alongside 256-bit encryption, 5 multi-logins, 31 days customer support including live chat and 31 days refund policy.
Use a secure search engine
You can use a search engine like DuckDuckGo that blocks ads trackers and makes your search history unidentifiable. On the other hand, other search engines may sell your web surfing data to third-party marketers that target you with several kinds of ads campaigns.
Delete cookies
As mentioned above, you should delete cookies because websites can trace your online whereabouts and access to your crucial financial information without any hassle.
Don’t use public Wi-Fi networks
Undoubtedly, public Wi-Fi networks are honeypot for snoopers as they can retrieve your personal details and use them for their evil purposes.
Other ways to remain anonymous online
Apart from the above-listed practices, you can use these following uncommon tips to protect your digital footprints that are:
- You should use a disposable email account or secure email service
- You must avoid providing your actual payment information when you shop online instead, use virtual cards
- Use anonymous social media sites and refrain yourself from using instant messaging apps as well
- You can set up your phone by the help of fake GPS location to deceive trackers
- You can use a virtual phone number to make anonymous phone calls
- Don’t use proxies as they do not provide complete online anonymity to their users
- Don’t subscribe to free VPNs as they can sell your data to advertising companies
FAQs
What do you mean by anonymous browsing?
Anonymous Browsing differs from the usual browsing activities as it hides your traceable information with the help of online security tools such as VPNs and anonymous web browser Tor.
What is the best anonymous browser?
There are a handful of anonymous browsers that allow you surf different sites anonymously that include:
- Epic browser – Compatible with Windows and Mac
- TOR browser – Supports Windows, Mac and Linux
- Comodo Dragon browser – Compatible with Windows and Mac
- SRware Iron – Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux and Android
- Tenta- Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
How can I be anonymous on Google?
You can remain anonymous on Google provided that you have signed out from your Google account. Besides, you should block trackers, third-party cookies and clear your browsing history on a regular basis.
How can I browse the internet anonymously free?
You can browse the internet anonymously without spending the single penny through proxies and anonymity browsers like TOR (The Onion Router). However, these options does not offer the required level of anonymity to their users. Hence, you should use a premium VPN service to get complete online freedom.
Wrapping Up
The anonymous browsing activity has become need of the hour. If you want to hide your history then a private browsing option should be your top priority. But in case you wish to achieve complete anonymity and do not want the spies, hackers and agencies interfere in your web activities, get a VPN service like PureVPN.