How to Hide On the Internet

(ModernSurvival.org) – Becoming truly anonymous online is a tricky endeavor. Big tech, businesses, government agencies, and hackers are constantly collecting personal information. Whatever the reasons behind gathering this data, internet users have equally good reasons to protect their privacy online.

The internet was designed to record everything users do online. Data from each user normally passes through a number of different touchpoints, allowing businesses to gather information. Digital marketers, for example, capture analytics data such as demographics, location, age, and interests in order to tailor online ads and other offerings to users.

Wondering how it’s possible to hide on the internet? Read on.

Personal Data is Valuable

User data travels all over the world and can get into many hands before it reaches its intended destination. The risk of having private information collected and taken by hackers or nefarious parties is high. It’s common for individuals’ information to be hacked, then sold on the dark web.

These days, information is a hot commodity. It’s used to profit, censor, and even surveil citizens. The more data protection that can be put in place, the better.

Tips for Becoming Anonymous Online

While it’s not always possible to eliminate the risk of stolen data or identity theft, the risk can be dramatically reduced by becoming anonymous. This video from zSecurity outlines some critical steps to take in order to keep data and personal information hidden online:

According to zSecurity, it’s near impossible to completely hide online. However, there are ways to make it much more difficult for third parties to access personal information, such as location, IP address, and account information.

To remain anonymous online, here’s what zSecurity says you should do:

Ensure the internet connection is private. Consider getting the HTTPS Everywhere browser extension to make your browsing experience more secure. This extension encrypts the information coming to and from your computer, including browsing history.
Choose a network focused on maintaining anonymity. A secure browser alone doesn’t guarantee you’ll remain anonymous. The Tor network is one of the most popular encrypted networks available.
Get a VPN. A VPN masks your IP address and location, adding more privacy to the online experience.
Choose a more secure operating system. Operating systems like Windows and OS collect a large amount of user data. Some excellent options are Linux, Tails, and Qubes OS.
Select a secure email provider. Many email services aren’t focused on privacy. A provider such as ProtonMail is a better choice.

Don’t leave internet anonymity up to tech tools. It’s crucial to be cautious about any information shared online. Truly remaining anonymous on the internet means being smart about what is posted on social media, forums, and websites.

Wondering what kinds of information some scammers look to steal online? Take a look at our article here.

~Here’s to Your Survival!