The internet provides unlimited access to useful information, but it also presents problems, including the protection of personal information and online identity. In this blog, we offer simple tricks to keep your online identity safe in the digital age.
With the prevalence of digital devices, anyone can access the wonders of telecommunications and information technologies that transmit information to remote parts of the world in seconds. However, these advancements often outpace the understanding of the average internet user, whose dependence on technology only continues to grow.
Digitalization is pervasive, from complex computers and smartphones to everyday household gadgets. Even the most basic tools now have modern versions that can communicate with each other, linking everything back to the owner. This includes modern homes and workplaces filled with Internet of Things (IoT) devices that collect, use, and transmit information connected to your identity. This is a treasure trove of information for giant tech companies that build software and hardware upon which we rely. Every tool that connects to your home LAN transmits packets to remote servers on the internet, which can be used to track you online.
While the desire and necessity to use these tools overshadow ongoing privacy violations, browsing sessions on computers and smartphones can be particularly damaging to online anonymity. In this article, we will focus on the dangers of having your identity tracked online and how to avoid it.
User-Agent Switcher
Tech companies can monitor many points of your digital identity to track your appearance under different circumstances. Randomizing as many segments of private information as possible will stop these businesses from connecting the dots and tracking your online identity so easily.
User-agents carry limited information, but when combined with other private data, the collection can be used to profile you, detect your appearance and behavior, and offer personalized suggestions and ads.
The party looking at your user-agent knows which browser version and operating system your device is running on. When changing a user-agent with a downloaded switcher or a browser extension, avoid outdated options if you want to maintain a stable browsing experience. Using multiple browsers achieves the same result, but if you prefer your customizations, bookmarks, and other settings, a user-agent switcher is more efficient.
Hide Your IP Address
There are many ways to hide your public address, which is your access point to the internet and network identity. VPNs are frequently advertised tools that change the direction of your entire internet connection to make sure it reaches the destination with a different IP address. VPNs are also great for avoiding surveillance on public networks because created tunnels encrypt transmitted information.
If you want more flexibility, change your IP address with proxy servers. With pre-built apps, browser extensions, or simply setting up changes in your device’s settings, you can choose which segments of your internet connection will travel through and adopt the identity of a proxy server.
To avoid tracking and hacking, avoid free proxy servers at all times! While free services are always more attractive, even with good location choices, you will use an overcrowded server that will blunt your internet speed and may expose you to blacklisted websites.
Only use datacenter proxies from legitimate proxy server providers. You can also choose more secure residential addresses to make sure nobody knows you are using a fake IP address.
If your browsing sessions use bots or other automated tools, try rotating proxies to keep adopting different IPs at predetermined intervals. With the market full of legitimate providers, you will have large pools of datacenter proxy addresses, and with the help of dedicated customer support, you will be able to enjoy the service to the fullest. While these tools will not eliminate all weaknesses for tracking, internet users that use them to hide segments of private data will enjoy a far more secure browsing experience that limits the exposure of their online identity and their personal data as well.