At the dawn of the Internet, there were no questions about anonymity. Everyone who was online could turn into a virtual character that had practically nothing to do with the real person sitting at the computer. To ensure complete anonymity on the network, it was enough to simply use pseudonyms instead of real data. That's what everyone did.
The only way to identify a user was the IP address of the node from which they went online. But this information is often simply not enough to connect an Internet personality with a real individual. Over time, there appeared services that required real addresses – for example, online stores. Gradually, people began to indicate payment card numbers, so it became very simple to identify a user’s personality. They provided all the information voluntarily.
Why We Strive for Internet Privacy
It is hardly a surprise that many people if not all want to achieve anonymity on the Internet. This is absolutely normal as they want to protect their correspondence and personal privacy. But it is naive to trust providers and Internet services. In search of commercial profit they are ready to neglect the rights of their users. In addition, information can fall into the hands of hackers, scammers, or fraudsters.
Staying private online allows you to:
- deal with multiple accounts in social networks without risks of getting banned;
- reduce the amount of spam and advertising when surfing;
- bypass blocking and network censorship;
- watch and download content from various websites without restrictions;
- prevent the actions of ill-wishers;
- get rid of total control by the state/management;
- protect yourself from fraudsters;
- avoid hacker attacks.
Is It Possible to Keep Absolute Online Privacy?
In short, it is impossible to ensure complete anonymity on the Internet – we all leave a digital trace there. With sufficient resources and specialists’ skills, it will always lead to a real person. But an ordinary individual, not a cybercriminal, only needs to follow a few rules that will make them almost incognito. Just try not to forget about them.
Hide Your Real IP Address
The IP address is still the primary identifier of a user on the network. Using a VPN service, you can easily hide your real IP address and route your traffic through a remote server. This allows you to remain anonymous and bypass geographic restrictions.
Use Virtual Phone Numbers
Your real phone number can tell much about you: your name, the place of your residence, your accounts in social networks, even what car you drive. That is why you’d better opt for a fake phone number to register on various online platforms like messengers or dating sites. It is a safe and secure way to mask your real identity if you don’t want to reveal it. Grizzly SMS offers you absolutely free temporary phone numbers for receiving SMS without registration but this option is not enough if you are going to use your new account for a long time or want to register for obtaining financial services. In this case, we recommend buying a paid temp phone number at low price on our platform.
Delete Cookies
Cookies are files with information about the user's actions that are stored on their device. This makes things easier for the visitor: when they visit the site, they do not need to set up the settings again each time. But these files can also help to trace your online activities and receive your personal information. Don’t forget to delete them.
Bottom Line
Modern technologies make our lives easier but they also may cause serious problems for you. While enjoying all the advantages of technology, don't forget about security. Absolute online anonymity may seem to be a difficult task, so you should always be cautious with your personal data to minimize risks.