“You are being watched.” This may sound like the opening line of an exciting TV drama, but it is actually a fair warning in today’s modern age. Websites that you visit, and the advertisers behind them, are actively watching your online activities. They’re monitoring your activities in order to build a profile on you and serve more contextual ads in the process.
Internet tracking has been quite wild without serious regulatory restrictions. While regulations like GDPR are forcing internet companies to disclose – mostly – when they are tracking you, they still collect a vast amount of information from your browsing activities. In fact, technologies like cookies and pixel tracking are becoming more common and intrusive.
In order to regain control over your privacy, you have to be more proactive in protecting your identity online. This means taking active steps to stay anonymous every time you access your favorite web services. In this article, we are going to go over the 5 things you can do to stay anonymous online.
1. Mask Your IP Address
The first thing you want to do is protect your real IP address. This is the IP address that gets tied to your Wi-Fi access point and the devices you use. An IP address may seem harmless at first, but internet companies are using it to identify you in more ways than before.
For starters, the IP address itself contains information about where you are. IP addresses are pooled based on location. Web services can also identify the internet service provider that you use from your public IP address.
On top of that, an IP address is not the only thing you voluntarily share when browsing websites. Your browser also shares information about your device, your operating system, and versions of the browser and add-ons that you use.
A simple way to get around this is by turning to use rotating proxies. A proxy service immediately hides your personal IP address and replaces it with a pool of IP addresses used by the server. Just make sure you use the best rotating proxy service rather than a free one if you want to remain anonymous online.
2. Stay Anonymous Together
Another way to stop intrusive tracking from affecting your privacy is by getting other internet users to also pay close attention to their internet privacy. You can now tap into P2P IP sharing services and businesses that offer platforms for this purpose.
By using P2P IP sharing, it is a lot more difficult to track you – and other users in the IP pool – based on location and browsing history. This is because a pool of IP addresses is exchanged and used by the group, making it impossible to pinpoint the addresses to individual users.
Some platforms even let you share your IP address for monetary rewards. However, relying on platforms like this is not always the best way to go. You are still exposing your private IP address and you may be looking at a honeypot; your browsing activities can still be logged by the platform.
To avoid added risks, get more of your peers to use a reliable proxy service. Proxy services have millions of IP addresses; more than enough to protect everyone. On top of that, there are service packages that use only residential IP addresses for even better anonymity.
3. Watch the Services You Use
Have you noticed how many sites now warn you when they are using cookies to track you? This is now mandatory thanks to several new regulations introduced. Websites cannot use cookies and track you without your consent.
There are two things you need to understand about these warnings. First of all, you don’t have to accept the cookie, but the default parameter set by most websites is Yes. If you don’t react to the warning, a cookie is added for tracking anyway.
You also have the option to check what websites are tracking before agreeing. You can remove tracking for ads and other purposes that are unrelated to your use of the web service. Websites are obliged to uphold these policies.
Avoid using services provided by companies without a proven track record in maintaining user privacy. You can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your privacy online. You can check site reputation and cookies using tools like Cookie Metrix.
4. Use a Secure Browser
Last but certainly not least, switch to a browser that does not reveal your personal information by default. Common browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox still reveal a lot of details about you, and they may not be suitable if you are aiming for maximum anonymity.
What you should be using is the Tor browser. The browser automatically blocks plugins that are often manipulated to reveal your IP address. Safari from Apple has also started warning users about tracking and blocking sites’ attempts to unmask your IP address.
The Tor browser has other advantages too. For example, you don’t have to worry about packet sniffing and exit traffic tracking when browsing sites that don’t use SSL encryption. It also stops multi-site tracking with extra measures.
Better regulations that prevent intrusive tracking are still needed to curb privacy issues online, but the steps we discussed in this article will help you play a more active role in ensuring your online anonymity. Be sure to implement the right security measures and stay protected at all times.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).