How to Stay Anonymous on the Internet
It is common to believe that the Internet is anonymous and secure. However, scandals about leak of personal data of online users prove the opposite and come to the surface again and again. Is it possible to achieve complete privacy of personal data on the web? Actually yes but special tools are required.
Fortunately, nowadays many enthusiasts are working to ensure that the Internet is a one hundred percent free space, where human privacy is of supreme value. It’s up to us to decide whether to open our faces online. Let’s look at the tools and projects designed to protect the right of anyone to stay anonymous: Anything that deserves the attention of a common, perhaps less knowledgeable — and conscious — audience.
Networks and Browsers
TOR is one of the most famous and perhaps the most popular browser that provides almost complete security.
It has a huge disadvantage though: Its user pays with inferior page loading speed, support for the TCP Protocol exclusively, and blocking certain sites — they simply chop off the ability to connect via TOR.
The alternative is is Brave browser, and people now tend to agree that TOR is valuable for working on mobile devices as compared to alternatives. There are dedicated apps for Android and iOS.
i2P network should also be mentioned. It is an anonymous and decentralized network that uses encryption for transmission of data. Despite the security it provides, this network seems to be a better fit for fanatics as since its interface is definitely not user-friendly in the eyes of the general public.
Messengers: Signal
At first glimpse Signal looks like a clone of any major messenger. However, according to experts, there is a significant difference in terms of security between Signal and the applications like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
It is a simple and practical application with a focus on data encryption. Text and voice messages are available, as well as audio and video calls. And yet it is a little more secure than comparable solutions. Signal has unresolved (and as yet unsolved, otherwise developers would have already updated it) restrictions that do not allow for the need of anonymity to be fully realized. However, for such purposes this is probably a proper solution.
Ad Blocks: Get Rid of Advertising- and Related Risks.
Old-school advertising was the same for all. Broadcasts on TV, ads in newspapers: The audience was general in nature but the percentage of advertisement relevance was low. Today, ad networks follow you online to constantly focus on relevant, customized offerings. What is this if not utilization of personal data, for which you grant no direct permission?
Google and Facebook even track unregistered users, and advertisers are able to use this data. If you do not close the gates for advertisers, you can at least shield it with a ‘curtain.’ Try AdBlock and other extensions for a browser with good reputation.
Looking Ahead
Summing up, the problem of lacking anonymity is a global one, with developers trying to solve it any way they can. To date, there are no solutions that ensure network security and the necessary level of anonymity. Still, there are new concepts that are currently under development and that give hope that the problem will be resolved in the foreseeable future.
For instance, TheOoL.net is an anonymous and secure operating system designed to accumulate the tools required for daily user experience within an integrated and secure interface. Also, part of the project is its proprietary data management system and the distributed metadata database underpinned by blockchain technology. The project also offers its embedded payment processing system.
Once the project is fully deployed online users will be able to stay 100% secure on the Internet, without the risk of losing personal data in the course of their everyday activity as their workspaces will be anonymous by default. Concepts like TheOoL.net may become instrumental in improving existing online products and services, especially in terms of data security and user experience.
