Wouldn't it be great if you could just go about your business online without worrying about companies and governments that want to track everything you do? Yes, you could sell your computer, phone, and tablet and disconnect from everything, but that's not practical for most people today. Fortunately, there are a few ways to keep your privacy when you go online.
1) Blur - If you want a simple program that will keep companies from monitoring you, I recommend Blur. It is a simple program that installs in your internet browser and blocks the cookies that companies use to track you. (If you want an idea of what is out there, I installed this add-on six months ago, and I have already blocked over 2300 trackers. Yes, there's that much out there!)
Blur also has other features that can help you stop spam and even protect your credit card number. While the basic version is free (including blocking trackers), some features must be activated with a monthly subscription. Blur is available for a variety of devices and browsers. If you want to try it out, visit the download link at the end of this article.
2) Tor - If you are wanting to take a step up in your privacy, then Tor might be the right option for you. The Tor network passes your internet traffic through relays around the world before it reaches its destination, and responses are routed back through the same system of relays before they come back to you. This makes it virtually impossible for anyone to know where Tor traffic originated without very advanced tools and a substantial amount of power.
Tor is used for a variety of reasons. It is a great way to keep yourself anonymous and avoid tracking. However, many people around the world use it to defeat censorship or make political revelations. Do not think you can use Tor for illegal activity. It is possible to track Tor traffic through the various relays and back to your computer; however, in practice, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have used other tools to trick you into exposing your identity without tracing everything. Regardless of the method used, Tor traffic can be tracked if law enforcement wants to devote enough resources.
I have experimented with Tor for the past several years (although I do not use it as my primary browser). I have found that the latest version has implemented many settings that have made it much more user-friendly. If you have reasons for using Tor beyond basic privacy, you will want to make sure to read the list of browsing habits to avoid to make sure you don't accidentally expose yourself online.
3) Tails - Tails takes the Tor network to the next level. Instead of installing the Tor browser inside Windows, OS X, or Linux, Tails gives you a complete operating system on a flash drive that fights to maintain privacy. Download the Tails ISO, install it to a flash drive or DVD, and then tell your computer to boot to that drive. Once Tails loads, all your online traffic will be automatically routed through the Tor network, advanced encryption tools will help keep your traffic safe, and your computer will have no trace of your activities.
Preparing to use Tails is not nearly as simple as installing Blur or Tor, so I would recommend it only for advanced users who have a need for extreme privacy. If you do want to try Tails, be sure to read the documentation first!
Links:
Download Blur
Download Tor
Download Tails
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