What Is Anonymous Browsing? Do I Need a Private Browser?

Summary: What is anonymous browsing? There are ways to “cloak” web browsing activities to help secure private data and internet browsing history.

Web browsing and hiking have one thing in common: a trail is always left behind. When you browse the web, various digital traces are always left behind. Some of those traces could indicate the activities you have done while browsing, what you have purchased, your email address and possibly the email addresses you have used while logged on.

With the ever-increasing number of connected devices worldwide, hackers are constantly finding new ways to exploit user browsing vulnerabilities to breach data and compromise your privacy. The good news is that there are several ways to achieve anonymous web browsing, including ways to perform private searches on Google.

What is Incognito Browsing?

Private browsing, or incognito browsing, is merely the automatic deletion of browser history and cookies after every web browsing session. However, anonymous web browsing hides your IP address and location, making it much more difficult for you to be tracked by cyber thieves. Nevertheless, skilled hackers can track your IP address and location, your various consumer accounts, bank info, browsing activities, the devices you are using and many other aspects of your online privacy. Incognito browsing helps protect privacy somewhat, but cannot protect most private data. Fortunately, there are several cyber security methods available for protecting your privacy while browsing, including:

Virtual Private Network (VPN) - A VPN is an anonymous network within your network. Here is how it works:

• First, your internet data is encrypted and sent to a VPN server
• Your IP address, identity and location are instantly hidden by the VPN server and replaced by a VPN IP address that might be located in another city or another country
• Upon receiving your data traffic, the VPN server further encrypts your data, creating a secure and practically invisible virtual private network
• Whether you work at home, in an office or while traveling, if you have a WiFi signal, VPNs can hide your online activities. A VPN affords you your own private "internet tunnel," allowing you to access your private network safely and incognito. All data traffic is encrypted when sent and decrypted when received. As a result, cybercriminals who try to break into your VPN connection will not be able to decipher the data and will only see gibberish.

Proxy Servers – Proxy servers offer similar IP address protections as VPNs. However, unlike VPNs, proxy servers do not encrypt the data transmitted and, therefore, still leave your online information at risk.

Private Browsers and Private Searches on Google – Google Chrome allows for confidential searches on Google. However, it only affords users limited privacy in “incognito mode” and still captures vast amounts of your browsing data. However, there are browsers other than Chrome that collect as little data as possible about users. Also, advanced private browsers route data traffic through multiple servers and encrypt data, much like a VPN does.

Anonymous Search Engines – Numerous search engines are now available that claim to not store personal information, block ads from tracking your online activities, and offer encryption and warnings before opening a malicious or untrusted website.

Privacy-Centric Browser Extensions – Developers have designed many browser extensions that afford extra cyber security. VPN browser extensions, anti-tracking tools and many other options are available to help secure your online experience.

Customized Browser Settings – Within browser settings, you can find functions that allow you to limit the data collected while web browsing. For example, you can turn off the setting for tracking location data. Also, you can turn off cookie tracking to minimize outside data traffic monitoring. However, VPNs offer a more robust layer of cyber security than browser settings by themselves.

Multiple Layers of Security – There is no single entirely secure web browsing method. To make the problem worse, cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to breach online privacy. Therefore, deploying many layers of cyber security is advisable to achieve the best protection possible. Finally, to be sure that your browser, network and all your devices have sufficient security, it is always wise to have an IT expert review and assess your system security.

IT products are frequently updated and better solutions become available all the time. For specific names or brands for any of these items described above, contact your IT technician for a specific recommendation. These experts can share their knowledge and product experience with you to suit your individual browsing privacy requirements.

Home and Small Business Cyber Security Services

Unfortunately, many individuals and small to midsized business users are under the misconception that off-the-shelf virus protection or anonymous web browsing is enough to protect their computers and network-connected devices from cyberattacks and data breaches. Industry guidelines suggest multiple layers of security are the best way to protect network data and devices. Whether you work in a company office or remotely from home, you might not be aware of all the new threats to your computer, network and other devices without the assistance of a professional IT consulting service.

IT professionals can assess your specific cyber security needs and all aspects of your computer systems and networks, recommend solutions and keep your system running smoothly. A modest investment in professional IT assistance is a smart way to protect your private data and get the most out of computers, networks, mobile devices. Professional assessments are a small fraction of the cost of a cyber attack and can help you prioritize within your IT budget.