Virtual information is as accessible (and ubiquitous) as junk food at a 24-7 convenience store.
But that information travels both directions.
Here’s how you can shield your identity from the spies of cyberspace.
Think about the last time your surfed the net for discount boots or delicate medical conditions: Every site you browsed was tracked and stored in memory. You’ve been profiled—your interests dutifully recorded and cataloged, all in the quest for your almighty click.
After all, someone has to make money somewhere…and the price may be your privacy.
Take heart. Even as you surf under the murky shadow of Google’s Big Brother presence, it IS still possible to evade its lurking clutches.
Here’s how:
Google Opt-Out
This global search behemoth has revolutionized the way we learn and share information, and how we shop, interact, and converse. Its reach is mind-boggling—hence, the need to protect our privacy from its Eye of Sauron.
There are ways to search cyberspace, all the while keeping your identity to yourself…or at least tagged as “anonymous.” Try installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser add-on in your Google account. You can also clear your web history, or try tracking the trackers using services like Ghostery.
Reduce Cookies
Cookies (or “small text files”) are used by website owners to glean information about who you are, what sites you browse, and other personal information. Sure, they’re great for marketers, website owners, and advertisers; but they’re not so great for users.
To remove and clear your browsing history (without leaving crumbs for cookies to follow), go to the Internet Explorer ‘tools’ menu at the top of your computer screen, click on ‘Internet Options,’ then proceed to the ‘General’ tab. Look for your ‘Browsing History,’ where you can delete your web history and thwart any further disturbances from those pesky little nuisances.
Tor
This internet tool is a free download that promises the browser online privacy. Developed for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory as part of an onion-routing project, it was originally intended to protect government communications. Now, anyone can use it to keep their online movements private.
One of the benefits of Tor is its hidden services, which allow website owners and internet users to surf without revealing their location. This is an essential tool for journalists or contract workers in foreign countries who may want to contact family members but need to avoid revealing their location, for safety or national security reasons.
Summary
The internet is a great tool. It’s a free ticket to a nearly cosmic quantity of information. (There’s a reason it’s called “cyberspace,” after all.) But there is a price to pay for all this knowledge: your privacy.
Protecting your anonymity online is a perpetual cat-and-mouse game, and the trick is to stay one step ahead of the trackers. Use good sense about allowing your personal information online, clear your web history often, and experiment with tools like Tor, and maybe you’ll stay under the big Google radar.
Colter Brian is a freelance writer and former private investigator/photographer. He contributes to sites such as Online Searches. Some of Colter’s hobbies include spending time in the outdoors and perfecting his pasta recipes for his toughest critics—namely, his two children.