Surfing the web typically doesn’t involve a lot of concealment for the average computer user. It could be a malicious hacker attempting to steal your information if it’s not an ad agency specifically targeting you. But it is much difficult than it was before; it is best to remain online anonymous.
How to Stay Anonymous Online: Practice these Easy Tips to be Protected
The government may be one of the most significant denominators when it comes to prying into your credentials online. Still, you should not also ignore the large companies such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and more. They typically collect your data so they can serve specific ads to your table.
The facts above are why you are encouraged to stay anonymous online, or whatever the reason is; there is nothing wrong with wanting to remain anonymous online.
Follow these easy tips on How to Stay Anonymous Online:
1. Utilize Firewall
It would help if you always had a router on your local network that should counteract that with its integrated firewall. A router uses Network Address Translation (NAT) to assign an IP address to each device on your home network, which is available only on that network. Direct attacks can be stopped instantly right there often. Plus, you still need a router to access your Internet connection and Wi-Fi.
The modems of some ISPs are equipped with a built-in router, so this should help your protection. Firewall software installed on your device could also be used. Windows 10 comes with a reasonably good approach called Windows Firewall; you got it. Firewalls can be used as part of the security suites too.
According to PCMag’s security expert Neil J. Rubenking states, if you’re using the one which comes with Windows, you wouldn’t even need a firewall.
2. Protected Surfing
Try to ensure you don’t collect too much personal information in your browser. Turn off the browser’s capacity to gather the credentials you are using for visiting websites and utilities in the settings menu. That can be a burden because you should get a unique password for every system you use. The safest alternative is using a password manager.
Browsers store data like videos, search history, what you installed, and cookie files that can retain information convenient, such as settings and passwords. Bring down the data frequently.
Most of the browsers commonly used have anonymous surfing methods. For example, In Google Chrome, you have to hit Ctrl + Shift + N to open the browser, and it’s called the Incognito tab.
In Mozilla Firefox, you have to hit Ctrl + Shift + P, and it’s called Private Browsing. There is also Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge that can be accessed with a shortcut like Firefox.
When you use such private browsing, information such as downloads, cookies, passwords, and other cached data won’t be saved in your browser.
However, do not forget that using such a private browser won’t totally make you anonymous. Still, it will certainly minimize or prevent sites from prying into your devices, especially the cookies that can be scanned by another website to see you are browsing.
3. Operate Anonymous E-mail
Your IP address can be hidden from prying eyes by using proxies, VPNs, and TOR, but sending emails provides a differing security challenge. Let’s say you want to send an email to someone, but you don’t want your email address to be disclosed to them. There are two methods to go about this.
The first method is practice using an alias. An alias is a forwarding address in nature. The receiver can only see your forwarding address and not your specific address when you send mail via an alias.
This method will keep your actual email address confidential as all mail has been sent to your standard inbox, but it will not, however, keep you from getting spammed.
The second method is utilizing a disposable email account, and it can be done by two means:
You can certainly generate and use a new email account with a fake account for the length of your purposes, or you could use a disposable email account.
These platforms operate by generating a disposable forwarding address that is removed after a certain period of time, so they are perfect for signing up for services on sites you don’t trust and stopping spam from entering your inbox.
4. Read App Permissions
Everybody may agree that reading app permissions can be tedious, but you need to read them carefully. Why? Most mobile apps, either for Android or iOS, might ask for permission more than they should be asking. For example, prying into your personal details or accessing your location and too many to mention.
If you think about it, they have the power to unveil your privacy. Why would an app need to access your location? Why would they need your personal details?
Why would they need to access the microphone? The best thing to do is, go to your setting and, one by one, turn off the unnecessary permissions you might have allowed for the app to access.
5. Think Before You Share
Privacy is about confidentiality, the idea that you want to share what you want to share and keep what you want to keep private in private. If there’s something going on in your life, anything that you don’t want every single people to know about, then sharing about it on social media might not be the greatest option for everyone in the world to see.
The first generations are not open in posting or sharing what they do in public, while the present generations may tend to be sharing too much but remember that there’s a time and place for anything.
There is meaning in the active sharing of things that you want the world to see clearly. Once you’ve shared something on social media, it is already permanent. There are various ways to save something, even If you’ve already deleted it, that is why, relax, think before you share.
6. Use Fake Information
When you’ve visited a site, and you think the details they are asking is fishy, there are various websites where you can generate data or do it your own. It is essential to be mindful of the sites you’re visiting, especially when it asks about your details.
You will never know where you might end up.
For example, if they are asking for a phone number, you can go to PhoneGenerator.This link is a website the generates fake phone numbers for various countries. So, you may be rest assured that whatever information you’ve put into it will not affect you. You will be anonymous once you’ve used these fake phone numbers.
Always remember that the internet can be a helpful and dangerous tool at the same time. You should always be wise when dealing with it. Protect yourself.
The tips presented are things you can practice. There are still various ways you can stay anonymous online they either need a lot of time, effort, and being well versed in the technical universe, but why not if it will certainly guard your privacy?