Surfing the web typically doesn't come with much invisibility for the average computer user. If it's not a public agency trying to target you, it might be an evil criminal looking to steal your passwords. While it's significantly harder than it once was, staying anonymous online is still possible.
It's not only about spying on the government; it's also about how big corporations like Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, and Microsoft have gathered to deliver targeted ads. (Not to mention how much of your data in all breaches and hacks is scooped up.)
What are the benefits of browsing anonymously?
If you're like other people, you certainly don't like it when others are unannounced to violate your privacy. So, browsing anonymously mainly benefits from preserving your privacy. A lot of other related benefits stem from that benefit.
When you are searching for a new job, you sometimes use your office computer to browse through job ads. The surest way to block your current employer from spying from the company servers on your web searches is to browse anonymously.
If you're looking for prescription drugs online, some eCommerce stores monitor your IP, collect your email without your permission, and sends you spam email. Anonymous browsing should prevent them from accessing your account no matter how they try to.
Many countries have strong and restrictive Web policies that allow you to only use anonymous browsing to duck or bypass.
It's cool to browse in the knowledge that nobody spies on you. Perhaps there are sites that you frequently visit but wouldn't want your family member to find out.
All of us are under constant surveillance by government snoops like the FBI or NSA. How better to hide from them than anonymously browse through them?
If you're a traveler searching for flight rates and travel destinations on the web, travel companies may know how desperate you are to fly and decide to jack up prices. Blocking them from viewing the history of your search is vital to your travel budget.
How to surf the internet anonymously?
Is it possible to take care of your online privacy? In the end, the only way to remain truly anonymous online is not to go online at all. For most of us, that's not exactly an option. Here's a rundown of what you should do to mitigate hacking, targeted advertising, and theft of IDs as you explore the online world.
Use a VPN
Purchase a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and defend your data from hackers, government officials, and rogue internet service providers. VPN hides your IP address so that any surveillance can not detect your web traffic.
Browse through an incognito window
You may not be interested in keeping hackers or government scrutiny at bay. What you want is to conceal sensitive information from members of your family or colleagues. They happen to have access to your browsing history. Browsing on an incognito browser means your computer does not save your search queries. And if someone in your past goes searching for them, they won't find them.
Using anonymous proxies
There are anonymous proxy servers to block spies from viewing your IP address. Every page you download on your browse passes through a remote server for the first time, so page administrators on the other end won't track you beyond the remote server.
Never use public Wi-Fi
Just stop using Wi-Fi at hotel lobbies, public buses, restaurants, airports, as tempting as it may be, you name them. You can never be sure who installed the Wi-Fi. If the establishments are fond of monitoring behind-the-scenes traffic, the best thing to do is stay safe than sorry.
