Not only are your surfing sessions tracked by websites, search engines and social networks, but often your Internet provider, Web browser¹, government and potentially hundreds of online tracking companies.

 

That said, there are a few ways to spend time online anonymously³. The following are a few suggestions.

 

 

How does Facebook know to show you ads for your local gym or supermarket? In part it's because your computer's unique Internet Protocol⁴ (IP) address, assigned by your Internet provider, reveals your geographical⁵ whereabouts. Even if your computer generates a different IP address every time you boot up or log online, this number (e.g. 220.165.119.12) can still tell your general location.

 

There are a variety of solutions that can hide your Internet connection, allowing you to remain anonymous² while online.

 

Some are websites, such as free "online proxy⁶ servers" that conceal⁷ your identity. Simply point the Web address (URL) to the proxy server and surf right from its website (check out proxy.org for a list of great options).

 

Others prefer to download Virtual Private Network (VPN) software that encrypts your online sessions.

 

 

In some cases, software to encrypt your connection is kept on a USB drive -- so you can remain safe and secure even when using a public PC.

 

SurfEasy Private Browser ($69.99 one-time fee; surfeasy.com) is a tiny USB key that fits into a credit card-shaped case to be kept in your wallet. When you plug it into a PC or Mac -- be it your own computer or a public one -- it instantly launches its own password-protected browser and you're good to go (no proxy or network settings to configure).

 

Your browsing⁸ session is handled through SurfEasy's fast and secure private proxy network. Your IP address will be masked throughout the session.

 

The company also has a new downloadable product called SurfEasy VPN that can protect computers, smartphones and tablets.

 

 

Anonymous proxy software is a great way to mask your IP address online, but there is still plenty of information about your Web-surfing habits stored on your computer -- which could also be viewed over a network, say, at the office, by your IT department.

 

At least it's somewhat easy to control your privacy settings directly in your Web browser, unless your company forbids non-administrators from making changes to your browser settings.

 

You can disable cookies -- tiny text files stored on your computer with information about where you've been online, passwords and other info -- and you should also delete your browser history to cover your tracks. All major Web browsers⁹ -- such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome or Safari¹⁰ -- allow you to delete your surfing history: Simply go to the Options or Settings in your favorite browser and you'll see how to do this.

 

You might want to turn off auto-complete or someone on your computer could type in a few letters in a search engine or Web address (URL) bar and any recent places you visited could fill in automatically. And don't click to allow sites to "remember my password" or someone could gain access to your private or financial information.

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