On the internet, all your data and activities can be tracked. But is it possible to become anonymous so that websites and apps don’t know your behavior?
Achieving anonymity online and preserving privacy demands effort and the adoption of specific measures on the Web. In this text we explain some parts of the process to become anonymous on the internet, some measures being more demanding of technical knowledge and others being simpler to adopt. The fact is that, by not adopting new usage patterns on the internet, your data and information will be used by companies or even scammers.
How to become anonymous on the internet
Table of Contents
How websites and apps know what you’re doing
The invasion of online privacy is a complex reality, in which companies, websites and applications have the ability to closely monitor our behavior, accessing our data and preferences. This practice is driven by mechanisms such as cookies, tracking pixels and scripts on web pages, which form a digital trail during our online activities.
Many users may not be aware, for example, that voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa have the ability to capture and process information that is shared verbally. These assistants use data from previous interactions to personalize recommendations and content choices to improve the user experience. However, this practice raises concerns about privacy, as it involves constant listening and interpretation of conversations.
But why do companies care so much about this information? Machine learning algorithms are used to anticipate our interests and future behaviors, refining companies’ ability to personalize their offers and advertisements. Therefore, if you enjoy a video showing a sneaker from a brand on social media, it is very likely that ads for that same sneaker will start appearing to you at other times during your browsing experience. Social networks play a crucial role, sharing data across platforms and generating targeted ads based on our interactions and previously recorded preferences.
While many of these practices aim to improve the user experience, they raise serious privacy and security concerns.
In addition to online privacy concerns for businesses, there is a growing threat of how scammers can exploit data shared across the web to perpetrate more sophisticated and invasive fraud. A disturbing example involves the manipulation of personal data to make fraudulent calls. Scammers can collect publicly available voice data, such as interviews, lectures or even phone call recordings, to create deep fakes of realistic voices. This makes it possible to create fake calls, where the scammer, using the voice of a known person — such as a relative — requests money under misleading pretexts.
Another rising threat is related to the use of images and videos to create deep fakes that can compromise personal integrity. For example, photos of children shared on social networks can be subject to manipulation. With deep fake technology, scammers can create fake images that appear to be compromising, such as montages that feature nudity.
How to protect your data on the internet
Whether to avoid scammers or to prevent harassment from companies, protecting your data on the internet is crucial to avoid possible risks to privacy and security. Therefore, implementing online security measures, such as those mentioned below, is essential to protect personal information against possible problems.
Block cookies and trackers
Protecting your data on the internet is essential in the face of constant online tracking, often driven by the advertising industry and large technology companies, as in the case of the implementation of cookies and trackers. Cookies and trackers function as information feeders so that companies know which product or service to recommend to you so that your experience is more personalized.
However, trackers and cookies – yes, those that you click “accept” or “do not accept” when accessing a page – present on websites and applications can follow your steps across the web, in an invasive way, exposing personal information. Having your data exposed to cookies allows third parties to monitor your online activities. This creates a detailed profile about your browsing habits, which can be used in ways you wouldn’t approve of.
Furthermore, collecting data through cookies can create opportunities for cyber attacks. If data is poorly protected, hackers can access sensitive information such as passwords and financial details.
Browser extensions such as Ghostery and Privacy Badger, are useful features to block trackers and improve protection against unwanted ads. In the context of mobile devices, it is crucial to disable personalized ads and delete the advertising ID on Android devices. Just like, for iOS users, disabling app and website tracking in your privacy settings is an important measure. In short, blocking cookies and trackers is essential to strengthen defenses against invasions of online privacy.
Know the terms and conditions of each website or app.
The importance of understanding the terms and conditions of websites and applications lies in safeguarding personal privacy in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape. By automatically accepting terms without careful consideration, we risk allowing indiscriminate access to our data, exposing ourselves to threats such as invasive advertising and unauthorized information sharing.
In addition to preserving privacy, reading the terms and conditions is a defense against online scams. Many scammers exploit people’s haste and lack of attention by accepting unfamiliar terms, leading to fraudulent activities. By being aware of the established rules, you can identify potential malicious schemes and protect yourself against deceptive actions.
Terms and conditions also act as a guide on how platforms protect our data. Understanding these security practices is essential to evaluating the reliability of an online service. By knowing the measures taken to protect personal information, users can make informed choices about the reliability of the platform and the security of their data.
In addition to the practical implications, terms and conditions constitute a digital contract that users sign when agreeing. A clear understanding of these terms is vital to avoid potential legal consequences in the future, providing an additional layer of protection against misuse of personal information.
Be extra careful with posts.
With social networks increasingly present in our daily lives, it is extremely important to exercise extra care when sharing posts, photos and personal information online. Uncontrolled data exposure can open the door to a series of dangers, from invasions of privacy to more advanced risks, such as content manipulation through deep fake technology.
The indiscriminate sharing of personal data on social networks creates fertile ground for malicious exploitation. Hackers and cybercriminals can use publicly available information to facilitate targeted attacks. It’s crucial to exercise conscious caution when deciding which personal details are appropriate to share publicly and which should be kept private.
How to create images from text with artificial intelligence
The rise of deep fake technology adds an additional layer of risk to online exposure. Photos, videos and audio can be manipulated in a convincing way, creating fictional situations that appear to be real. Excessive sharing of personal content provides valuable material for the creation of deep fakes, potentially resulting in damage to reputation and trust.
Furthermore, scams linked to obtaining personal information have become a recurring threat. A scam where malicious individuals seek to obtain sensitive data, such as credit card details, for example, can simply occur with your contact number in the hands of the scammers. These scammers, often disguised as legitimate entities, use text messages or calls to persuade victims to share confidential information.
In short, taking extra care when sharing personal information on social networks is vital to protect privacy and prevent scammers and hackers. By adopting a mindful approach, users can enjoy the benefits of social media without compromising the security and authenticity of their online presence.
Consider privacy systems
In a digital landscape permeated by privacy risks, careful consideration when choosing systems becomes an essential safeguard. The Onion Router, popularly known as Tor, offers an approach optimized for browsing, although it does not guarantee absolute anonymity. Tor has become famous for being used both by journalists seeking confidentiality and by malicious individuals. However, for users who want to keep their data secure, the Tor Browser option can offer valuable measures to strengthen privacy on their devices.
Choosing encrypted browsers plays a key role in mitigating excessive data collection by large corporations. As opposed to browsers from giant companies, such as Chrome, opt for Tor provides an additional layer of security, encrypting not only the IP address, but also all web activity, tripling protection. It is worth mentioning that, despite the robustness of Tor, it does not extend its encryption to other web applications, thus justifying the joint use of a VPN. Additionally, the adoption of a VPN, despite not providing total anonymity, represents an effective barrier by encrypting online traffic, preventing potential intrusions and interceptions.
In addition, privacy awareness goes beyond the choice of browsers and reaches the services used on a daily basis. Search engines and email services that are committed to privacy, such as DuckDuckGo and Proton, they become prudent alternatives for those seeking to limit online exposure.
