TECHNOLOGY
Tor
Browsers typically log each website you visit, storing information about what information you entered anonymizer network, which hides your IP address, making you less likely to be identifi ed and targeted by advertisers or cyber criminals. There are other alternatives to Tor, but this is perhaps the best known.
TECHNOLOGY
Seven ways to keep your online browsing private
Use temporary email addresses
Disposable Email Addresses( DEAs) are anonymous and temporary. They allow users to create new email addresses quickly, as and when they’ re needed, after which they can be forgotten and never used again.
This is particularly useful to avoid spam one might receive after fi lling in forms on potentially dodgy websites that require an email address to be able to compete( and submit) a form.
All that said, if you must put an email address in a form on a website that you don’ t consider truly legit, you are playing with fi re.
VPNs
Virtual Private Networks( VPNs) are an effective way of guarding your online privacy, as they hide your IP address – your unique online identifi er – and run all your online data via a secure and encrypted virtual tunnel, which can keep websites from tracking your online activity, or even knowing which country you’ re browsing from.
VPN works by using proxy servers across the world, so your identity – or location – can never be fully known.
Tor
If you are particularly concerned about being tracked, you could use the Tor
Browsers typically log each website you visit, storing information about what information you entered anonymizer network, which hides your IP address, making you less likely to be identifi ed and targeted by advertisers or cyber criminals. There are other alternatives to Tor, but this is perhaps the best known.
Tor is a network of“ virtual tunnels” that allows people and groups to improve their privacy and security on the internet. Tor’ s anonymity network allows access to the‘ deep’ web, where websites can be created anonymously and individuals can communicate privately with one another.
Private browsing mode
Most modern browsers have private browsing modes you can use to make sure the websites you visit don’ t appear in your browsing history( note, this does not‘ erase your footprints’ on the internet itself – just the records on the machine you’ re using).
Browsers typically log each website you visit, storing information about what information you entered. With private mode, you are basically telling your browser not to record which websites you’ re visiting, and telling it not to use or download any cookies.
Encrypt your web chat
WhatsApp and Apple’ s iMessage are endto-end encrypted, but there are some other options available too, especially for desktop communications.
These are some of the current recommended tools and techniques you can use to protect your anonymity and privacy on the internet. Keep an eye out for future posts on newer options.
10 LIFE TODAY MAGAZINE Issue 2, No. 003 / 17 / March 2017