It is undeniable that nowadays, your life on the Internet is increasingly intertwined with your life outside the Internet. What you do in here can have a greater impact on reality, from what you see in the ads they show you to the job opportunities they offer you.
This, to some extent, doesn’t sound bad at all, but the big problem is that This interconnectedness also makes you vulnerable to surveillance and data collection. Companies, governments and other people collect a lot of data about you, which can be used to track your movements, predict your interests and manipulate your behavior.
That is why many search for something that is impossible: to be anonymous on the Internet.. Despite being a dream, the truth is that it is almost a utopia, since cell phones, cards, browsers and everything you do online, WiFi networks and everything you can think of, use identifiers that can be linked to your activity.
However, What is in your power is the possibility of reducing this “control” as much as possible and, at least, achieving a certain anonymity online..
Tips for privacy as anonymous as possible on the Internet
Block trackers
Trackers are small files that companies place on your device to track your online activity. They can be used to collect information about the websites you visit, the products you view, and the searches you perform..
To block trackers, you can use an ad-blocking web browser, such as Brave or DuckDuckGo, or install a tracker-blocking browser extension, such as Ghostery or Privacy Badger.
Choose services that are somewhat more respectful of privacy
There are a number of services that collect less data about you than others. For example, instead of using Google Chrome, you can use a more “private” web browser, such as Brave or Firefox.
On the other hand, instead of using Gmail, you can use an email service that offers end-to-end encryption, like ProtonMail or Tutanota. Additionally, it is advisable to delete all data stored on your device regularly: clear your browser history, cache, and cookies.
Be careful what you post on social networks
What you post on the Internet can clearly be used to identify you. Therefore, it is essential to be careful with what you share.. Avoid posting personal information, such as your address, phone number, or date of birth.
If you’re looking to “remove yourself” from the Internet, you can also delete old social media posts and accounts you no longer use.
Use Superman-style masked identities
When you sign up for an online service that needs your personal information—such as X, Instagram, or even TikTok— use an alternate email address or pseudonym in your profile.
As you can see, these are just tips to reduce your digital footprint as much as possible and be more anonymous on the Internet, but if you need a higher level of anonymity, you can take more extreme measures. For example, you can install a privacy-focused operating system, such as Tails or GrapheneOS, or use advanced security and encryption tools.
