Without a doubt, privacy is a very important factor and that we must protect on the net. There are many methods you can use to collect personal data and compromise us. But we must also be aware that we can use some programs to protect ourselves and browse in a more private way . We are going to show a series of browsers and tools with which we can protect our personal information.
Why you should maintain privacy on the Internet
It is very important that we maintain privacy on the Internet . Today our data has great value on the net. They can be used by third parties to include us in spam campaigns, send targeted advertising or even sell them to others. All this can also put our security and the proper functioning of the devices at risk.
If we do not properly protect our privacy online, not only our data can be compromised, but even that of an entire company or company. They could also spoof our identity and access our social networks or any account we have on the Internet.
All of this makes protecting privacy on the web essential. This way we will avoid such important matters as preventing identity theft or the entry of malware into our systems.
Browsers to use the Internet privately
The browser is a fundamental part of our day to day on the Internet. It is the program that allows us to enter websites and access a large number of online services and platforms. We have a wide range of possibilities, but not all of them are going to protect our privacy equally. Although the most popular ones like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox also have different functions that improve privacy, we are going to show some specific ones.
Tor
One of the most popular and used browsers for private browsing is Tor . It is an open source project that among other things allows us to navigate the Deep Web.
But beyond that possibility, Tor also brings anonymity and privacy to users. All the information that we send through this browser travels in an encrypted form. The IP address, for example, is not exposed at any time. It is available for operating systems such as Windows, Linux, macOS or Android. We can go to their website and download it.
Epic Browser
Another browser within which we could consider safe and private is Epic Browser . It is based on Chromium and whenever we open a web page we do it in incognito mode. In this way, no data is stored on our device.
Also, keep in mind that Epic Browser uses a built-in VPN to further encrypt connections. Among other things, it keeps the user’s IP address hidden at all times.
SRWare Iron
It is also based on Chromium. SRWare Iron is yet another alternative to surf the Internet with greater privacy. It is also known as simply Iron . The main mission of this browser is to eliminate all types of tracking that may affect the privacy of Internet users.
We already know that when browsing the Internet there are many trackers that can collect data about the use we make of the Internet, the pages we visit or the time we are on a specific site, for example. This browser avoids all that.
Brave
Brave is one of the most popular browsers among the alternatives to those that are most used. It is a very interesting option to protect security and privacy at all times. It is open source and cross-platform.
This option also allows you to eliminate trackers that may collect information from users when browsing. We can download it from their website .
Iridium
One last option that we want to show within private browsers is Iridium . It is based on the Chromium code, so it is very easy to use for those who are familiar with Chrome. It focuses on privacy and security, but also seeks to maintain a good speed.
It is therefore an interesting alternative for those who worry that their data is not exposed on the network and maintain security. On its website we find all the information for download.
Tools to improve privacy on the Internet
Beyond the browser itself, there are also different tools that we can use in our day to day to make the Internet connection more reliable and better protect our personal data.
Browser extensions
We have shown some browsers based on privacy, but we can also use extensions for others such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. These types of add – ons help us improve privacy and security when we browse.
In this sense we can name, for example, Privacy Badger . It is an extension that allows us to avoid trackers and scripts that affect our privacy. It is available for Chrome and Firefox.
We also find other options such as HTTPS Everywhere , which allows you to always browse from the encrypted version of a website.
VPN
We cannot leave behind the possibility of using VPN services . As we know they are very useful to encrypt our connection when using public wireless networks, such as Wi-Fi in a shopping center or airport.
There are many options that we can find on the Internet, both free and paid. They are also available for all types of operating systems.
Proxy
An option similar to VPNs in their operation, although with differences, is to use a proxy . It also encrypts the connection and hides our real IP address. We can even access services that may be restricted.
Again we can find free options on the Internet, although we must always choose correctly which one we are going to use.
Privacy-Based Linux Distributions
Linux distributions can also give us greater privacy when surfing the net. There are some like Tails or Whonix whose main objective is to protect user information and not expose any type of data. They are alternatives to more popular operating systems such as Windows.
General tips for maintaining privacy on the web
We also want to give a series of general recommendations to maintain privacy when browsing the Internet. Some tips that may come in handy for users to prevent their data from being compromised.
Do not expose more data than necessary
Something fundamental to maintain privacy on the Internet is not to expose more data than is really necessary. For example, when using social networks , it is not necessary for us to make public information such as our email, place of residence or work.
We must also take care of the information that we can make public on the network when we write comments in a forum or article on a news page. We must not make public data that can be used against us.
Properly protect our accounts
Of course we must also properly protect our accounts on the network. It is essential that we use passwords that are strong and complex. They must contain letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and other special symbols. All this always in a random way and do not repeat the same key in another place.
Additionally, we can also take into account the possibility of using two-factor authentication. It is something that is increasingly present in the different platforms and tools of the Internet. One way to add an extra security barrier.
Avoid insecure networks
We discussed this earlier when we were talking about VPNs. There are wireless networks that are insecure, such as Wi-Fi in a station or any public place. We don’t really know who may be behind that network and how they might collect personal information.
Therefore our advice is to avoid these types of networks that can be a problem for privacy. In case of need we must make use of VPN services to protect ourselves.
Do not use third party programs
It is true that sometimes we can find the option of using certain third-party programs that are independent from the official ones. We can achieve different functions or additional features that may be interesting. But this could be detrimental to our privacy.
We should always download from legitimate sources, as well as use software that is official. Therefore, third-party programs that do not offer guarantees should be avoided.
Have security tools
Security tools cannot be lacking to protect our privacy. A good antivirus or a firewall can protect our data so that it is not exposed on the network.
Again we can make use of multiple options. They are available for all types of devices and operating systems. There are also both free and paid.
Review privacy options
Many platforms that we use in our day to day have different privacy options that we can modify. We must take the time to see these available options and apply whatever measures are necessary to avoid privacy-related issues.
Alternative search engines
The most popular search engine today in Spain is Google. There are also others like Bing that are widely used in other places. However we can always use alternatives that focus more on privacy .
An example is DuckDuckGo . It is a search engine that does not collect any type of information from users. It does not use trackers and therefore privacy is always present.
Common sense
The last, although most likely the most important, common sense . We must not make mistakes that could expose our data. We are talking, for example, of attacks such as Phishing that need these user failures to be successful.
Common sense must be present at all times and thus avoid problems. Without a doubt, it is the best barrier to our security and privacy on the web.
In short, these interesting tips will allow us to surf the Internet with complete privacy, without compromising our data at any time. We have seen examples of interesting browsers, tools to protect our personal information, as well as some additional recommendations.
