Without a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and a few other tricks, cybercriminals and companies could be tracking your moves while browsing the internet.

The digital era quickly shifted to the privacy era. People are now much more aware of their privacy online – and if they have it. No one can be faulted for wanting to stay anonymous online. With cookies capturing clicks and search query, it’s easy to want a break from the unsolicited ads that know exactly what you want.

How to browse the web anonymously
It’s fairly simple to stay anonymous while browsing the internet. Using private browsers, connecting through a VPN, and practicing good digital hygiene are all effective ways to keep your online activity anonymous. Here’s how to slip under the radar online and help keep your identity and activity hidden from hackers, advertisers, and others who may be snooping on your network:

1. Use a VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the best ways to keep your online activity private. It hides your IP address by assigning a unique one, making it harder for companies and hackers to track your location or browsing history. VPNs like Norton VPN also encrypt your internet traffic with bank-grade protection, which is especially useful when using public Wi-Fi. This helps prevent cybercriminals from intercepting your personal information and blocks advertisers from monitoring your online behavior.

2. Switch to Private Browsing
Using Incognito Mode (Chrome) or Private Browsing (Firefox) stops your browser from saving cookies, history, and temporary data. This means your online activity won’t be recorded once you close the session. For added privacy, consider using DuckDuckGo, a search engine that doesn’t track or store your search history. Unlike Google or Bing, DuckDuckGo displays the same results to all users, offering a more private and untracked browsing experience.

3. Try a Privacy-Focused Browser
Mainstream browsers collect significant amounts of data through cookies and trackers. Privacy-focused browsers like Tor or Brave offer stronger anonymity by automatically blocking trackers and concealing your location. Tor goes further by routing your traffic through multiple servers, making it extremely difficult to trace. However, since Tor can also lead to the dark web, it’s best to use it cautiously and stick to legitimate sites.

4. Use Disposable Email Addresses
Email addresses are often tied to your personal information, making them valuable to hackers and advertisers. When signing up for one-time offers, newsletters, or unfamiliar sites, consider using temporary email services such as Guerrilla Mail or Temp-Mail. These generate short-term email addresses that automatically expire after a set time. This protects your primary inbox from spam and reduces the risk of your data being collected or sold.

5. Protect Your Digital Footprint
Norton Benefit Solutions offers benefit plans that include Norton VPN, Norton Password Manager, and other privacy tools designed to help safeguard employees’ personal information. These solutions enhance online privacy by encrypting internet traffic and keeping browsing activity anonymous, even on public Wi-Fi networks.

Learn more about anonymous browsing by visiting uk.Norton.com.

Norton Benefit Solutions offers a digital wellness benefit that helps empower employees with protection for their identity, devices, and online privacy.

 

Related Companies