How to Browse the Web Anonymously – VPN vs Tor vs Proxies
How to browse the web anonymously? What you get to do on the Internet is nobody else’s business and your browsing history is for your eyes only. Why is that even a problem to begin with? Shouldn’t that originally be the case? Wrong. When you’re online, your fully exposed, and anyone (we mean anyone with the know-how) can blow your cover. So who should you be hiding from?
How to browse the web anonymously
Stay Hidde Online – The Basics
Let’s see; Internet Service Providers, governments, browsers, hackers, are all trying to track you. The list goes on. All of these third parties can get their hands your personal information/data, and you would know next to nothing about it happening. If only there was a way you could go undercover online. “If” is a probability that serves no purpose here because browsing the web anonymously is what we’re here to talk to you about.
To keep your identity private and your data safe, you’ll need a layer of anonymity, which can be provided by a VPN, and in most cases (to a certain degree) Tor browser and Smart DNS proxies. There are countless reasons why Internet users should browse the web anonymously, however, it all comes down to protection and security. Nothing could be worse than having random people going through the websites you’ve recently visited or information you’ve searched for. For those reasons, you must opt for anonymous browsing because you can never be too safe, especially online.
What Is Anonymous Browsing?
It’s kind of self-explanatory. From the title, you can tell that it’s about browsing the Internet as an anonymous user. You know things are bad when you a president like Trump gives permission to ISPs to sell their customers’ data without their consent. So much for security ey? Whenever you go online, the sites you access and apps you visit can identify who you are. A simple visit to WhatIsMyIP.network reveals your IP address, ISP, location, operating system, and even the kind of browser you are using. All the more reason to get an anonymous identity. You should be able to browse the web, visit websites, and look things up without having to give your IP or reveal your identity. Websites can track your IP, ISPs can sell your data, and your very own IP can give out your location. That doesn’t necessarily have to be the case though. By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll want your own cape of invisibility as soon as possible.
Why Browse the Web Anonymously?
We’ve made it pretty clear why Internet users should go online with an anonymous identity. It all boils down to maintaining privacy and enhancing security. Even with all the compelling reasons, some people refuse to believe that their data and privacy are at risk. And for that reason, we’ve made a list explaining why one should use the Internet anonymously. Take a look.
- Browse websites without leaving a trace of your identity.
- Stay safe from snoopers looking to access your information.
- You can bypass surveillance and national internet censorship.
- You get to keep your private searches private.
- Download torrents while hiding your IP address.
- Access the Internet freely without artificial restrictions.
- Protect yourself when using a Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Avoid targeted advertisement.
How to Browse Anonymously – VPN vs Tor Vs Proxy
Now that you’re aware of how dangerous it could be to browse the web without protection, you’ll come to a realization that being anonymous online is a blessing. Products like VPNs and proxies were developed for those who were wise enough to reach that conclusion. Though none is like the other, all have a view to achieving one thing, and that is help users gain anonymity.
VPNs
A Virtual Private Network is a secure method that protects users’ data by encrypting their data when traveling from the users’ computer to the VPN provider’s servers. This whole encrypting process keeps users’ data safe from theft, surveillance, prying eyes, and malicious attacks. VPNs also allow users to anonymize their real IP address and access content that is normally blocked for their original IP addresses. This anonymizing technology offers users’ the ability to appear to be using the Internet from a different country. So, in conclusion, a VPN does an incredible job of helping users browse the web anonymously. Take a look at what you need to do to successfully gain online anonymity:
- First, sign up with a reputable VPN service.
- After you have created your account, download and install the VPN app on your Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android.
- Launch the VPN app and connect to a VPN server.
- Leave the VPN application running in the background and surf the web anonymously.
Tor Browser
For clarification, Tor browser does not encrypt all of your Internet traffic. It only protects the traffic sent through the browser. Even though Tor does a great job of anonymizing your Internet connection, you might want to further examine a couple of rules before you trust the browser with your data. When using Tor, your Internet traffic passes through several nodes or relays. Each of these nodes decrypts part of the traffic before traveling to the next one. The final relay, dubbed the exit node, decodes the innermost layer and sends the original data to its destination without knowing or revealing the source IP address. This is what complicates anonymous browsing with Tor.
Smart DNS Proxy
Another way to browse the web anonymously is through a proxy server is a computer or an app that functions as an intermediary between your device and the website or service you’re accessing. But, they do very little to provide you the protection you’re looking for. While proxies do provide some level of online anonymity, encrypting data is not how they operate. You might be able to stay low key with some of the sites you visit, but keep in mind that with proxies, your ISP can still track your online activities.
Best VPNs for Browsing the Web Anonymously
When you are in the market for a VPN, you are basically there for one good reason, and that is security. Bear in mind that with anonymity comes security, and when people have the faintest idea of who you are, you could care less about what is that you do online. Each and every VPN is different than the other in many respects like some features and services. All, however, promise their users a level of anonymity when they’re using the Internet. The right choice for a VPN would be one that doesn’t keep logs, employs strong encryption methods, and keeps your data under wraps. Lacking the proper experience, it could be hard for you to make a choice as to what VPN service provider you should select. Luckily, we’ve done the work for you and laid it all out in the table below.
- Best for streaming and privacy
- High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
- Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
- 24/7/ live chat support
- 3 extra months free on annual plan
- UltraHD streaming
- Free Smart DNS proxy
- Unblocks all major streaming services
- Limited Time 72% Discount
- Unlimited VPN connections
- Over 1000 servers
- Ad-blocking feature available
- User-friendly application
- Exclusive Smart VPN feature
- Standalone Smart DNS subscription available
- Extra security features
- Extensions for Firefox and Chrome
- Split-tunneling available
Though we provided you with many options, our vote has to go for ExpressVPN. You’ll have to try for yourselves to understand why it tops our list, but we’ll give you a brief overview. ExpressVPN offers the best speeds and most secure applications. The deliver excellent performances to match their high-quality services. With great options, comes a greater price. But, it’s safe to say that with ExpressVPN, you’re getting your money’s worth. You might want to also check out our article on best VPN for anonymous browsing.
Browse Web Anonymously
How about that cape of invisibility now? Hopefully, after reading this, you understand that your privacy isn’t to be taken with a grain of salt. Even the biggest and most popular platforms like Facebook could be violating your privacy. The funny thing about this is that you’re actually the one who’s practically handing your information to them for deliberately skipping the privacy policy and not taking precautionary measures. We are very fortunate to live in a time where there are still tools being developed and methods devised to help users maintain what’s left of their privacy. We strongly advise that you use a VPN, a proxy, or Tor browser to ensure that you’re out of harms way online. You know what they say, better safe than sorry, right?
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About The Author
Charles
Streaming gadgets geek. Interested in every little thing there is to know about bypassing regional restrictions. An avid believer in the right to protect online privacy. Charles has also reviewed plenty of VPN service providers and knows how to separate the good apples from the bad ones.
