The internet records every action you take, and your internet service provider can see the websites you visit, and advertisers follow your digital habits, and brokers even compile and sell your data. To be monitored online by so many people is intrusive and frustrating considering you never agreed to that.
Fortunately, you can take back some of your privacy with some simple online adaptations. You don’t have to be a trained digital privacy expert, just a little effort can go a long way.
Start With a VPN
A VPN covers your IP address and puts your web traffic behind encryption. Your internet provider cannot see what you are doing online. Many ad trackers also get less data about where you have been. Setup is usually quick. It is a steady first step toward more privacy.
Good picks to start with:
NordVPN
Surfshark
ExpressVPN
Switch to a Private Browser and Search Engine
Chrome tracks a lot. So does Edge. Try Tor instead. Tor wraps your web activity in layers of encryption and hides your IP address. It runs a bit slower, sure, but your data stays out of the wrong hands.
Also swap Google Search for DuckDuckGo. It doesn’t track what you search or build a profile on you. Small swap, big difference.
Use Encrypted Email and Messaging
Gmail stores your emails on Google’s servers. That is not ideal for privacy. ProtonMail is a smarter choice. It uses end-to-end encryption. Even the ProtonMail team cannot read your messages. It is based in Switzerland. Outside governments cannot make them share your data.
For texting, choose Signal. No ads. No tracking. Your messages are encrypted from end to end. It is free. It usually takes about two minutes to set up.
Anonymity vs. Privacy: Know the Difference
Many people mix these up. Privacy means you hide what you do. Anonymity means others can see what you do. They cannot see who you are. A whistleblower wants anonymity. Someone hiding their search history wants privacy. Both matter, and both need different tools to pull off.
Stop Oversharing Online
You may think this is an easy rule to follow, but it is easy to get lax about sharing personal information about yourself online, like addresses, contact numbers, and other sensitive information. Online apps often record your information and one unguarded sharing may cause a loss of personal security and even identity theft in the future.
Any amount of time away from social media increases your personal privacy. There are obviously levels to privacy and some are more sensitive than others. For example, if you are searching for free meet and fuck, you may want to keep that completely private. On the flip side there are those that couldn’t care less about people knowing that they search for casual sex online. However, all can agree that safety and security is important and this actually goes hand in hand with online privacy.
A Few More Easy Wins
Here are some other things worth doing right now:
Block third-party cookies in your browser settings
Use a password manager like 1Password to keep accounts secure
Check app permissions and remove access you don’t need
Stick to HTTPS websites only
Use a temporary email for sign-ups you don’t care about
Don’t click on strange emails or odd-looking links
Incognito Mode Won’t Protect You
A lot of people trust incognito mode to keep them private. It does not do that. All it does is clear your local browser history after you close the tab. Your internet provider still sees everything. Your IP address stays the same. It’s a small comfort at best.
Can You Be Fully Anonymous?
It is close to impossible to be completely anonymous online. Every device is traceable in some shape or form, but you can harness the right tools to get as close as possible. The use of a VPN with a private browser, in addition to encrypted email can cover some ground. The rest is up to your regular day to day activity. All these things considered, they add up to strong protection.
Keep it simple. Try one or two things from this list. You can expand as you go. You may not notice it, but even a small step can put you far ahead of most people online.