Written by: Jay H.
Digital privacy is a major hot topic nowadays. Your digital presence is tracked and logged with every click, so it might feel invasive when ads seem to know too much about you. However, there are ways to maintain a degree of privacy if you prefer to avoid being tracked online.
Clear Your Browsing Data
Wiping your recorded browser history is simple. In both Chrome and Edge, click the three dots in the top right-hand corner, then select Settings. From there, choose Clear browsing data, and you will be able to delete your browsing history and other saved data, such as cookies.
In Firefox, click on the three lines in the top right-hand corner, then Options. Click on Privacy & Security and then go to History. From there, you can clear your browsing history. To remove your site data, find the Cookies and Site Data section and erase it from there.
With Safari, deleting your browsing history is as easy as clicking on History and then Clear History.
Go Incognito
A simple way to surf the web without leaving footprints behind is to use an incognito window, as Chrome calls it. It’s known as a private window on Firefox or Safari, and on Edge, it’s InPrivate. Regardless of how you name it, an incognito window blocks your browser from recording your search history and usually disallows cookies that can track your activity.
However, if you log into a site such as Amazon or Facebook, these websites will record your account’s activity. Also, your employer and Internet Service Provider can still view your activity even in an incognito window.
To create an incognito window in Chrome, Safari, or Edge, do Shift+Ctrl+N on Windows or Shift+Cmd+N on macOS. In Firefox, Shift+Ctrl+P on Windows and Shift+Cmd+P on macOS will create a private tab.
Use a VPN
A VPN (virtual private network) masks your location by pretending you’re accessing the web from a different address. As such, it is more difficult to trace your activity back to you. We recommend you use a VPN, as this can also deter cybercriminals from attacking you. However, using a VPN means trusting the vendor to keep your data private, so using a service provider with a strong reputation is a must.
Use Tor Browser
If maximum privacy is what you’re after, using the Tor browser is a step towards achieving that. The browser masks your IP address (similar to a VPN) using servers around the world to hide your address. Tor makes it extremely hard to link your activity back to you.
Also, Tor scans websites for web code and plug-ins that may reveal your location. As a result of this extra protection, your browsing will be a little slower, but you may find it worth the slower performance depending on your needs.
Avoid Being Tracked Online
Even with all of these privacy tools, keep in mind that logging into a website will allow it to record your activity even if there is no trace left on your device. Otherwise, these methods will enable you to avoid being tracked online. We strongly recommend using a VPN to protect yourself, and we offer VPN configuration services to secure your network.
To learn more about cybersecurity topics, click here.
Comments are closed.