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Multiple public and private entities work day and night to monitor, track and record the digital footprint left behind by internet users.

Internet users are tracked for different reasons, including targeted advertising, government agency spying, content blocking and censorship, and identity theft. If you are worried about your safety and anonymity online, there are alternative technologies you can use to enhance your safety and boost your online anonymity.

Use private search engines

Private search engines work the same way as Google. The difference is that private engines allow you to search anonymously without worrying that your data will be harvested for targeted ads.

Some of the best options include:

Ixquick

This is an independent search engine that comes with proxy service, HTTPS support, and a URL generator that does not use cookies.

DuckDuckGo

This famous alternative search engine allows you to search anonymously. You can use the engine to search directly on sites like Amazon and Wikipedia without leaving a trace of your activity.

Qwant

This private search engine does not record user searches and does not harvest user data. It has quick search shortcuts that allow you to visit your favorite sites anonymously.

Use a Virtual Private Network

Using a reliable Virtual Private Network is one of the most recommended methods of boosting your privacy and anonymity online. A VPN secures your connection online by passing all the data exchanges between the network and your device through a secure tunnel.

Not all VPNs are created equal. To be sure that you find a reliable service, go for a VPN app with a strict no-logs policy. This means that the VPN service provider does not save your browsing history or online footprint. This way, your browsing history is lost forever once you log off.

Use a private browser

Using a private browser will improve your anonymity online. Tor browser is one of the best browsers in the market. It routes your traffic through TOR nodes and splits your traffic to different nodes, making it difficult to trace. Tor does not save cookies, browser history, or sensitive data. It is all deleted once you log off.

Other features include HTTPS everywhere for all websites, right of access to blocked websites, no automatic Flash, Java, Silverlight, or JavaScript support.

Use proxy servers

Proxy servers are the best way to stay anonymous online. Even though free versions exist, it is best to go for a premium version to enjoy maximum benefits. Proxy servers work the same way as VPNs by routing your traffic through passthrough servers. It will use a different IP address for your connection, making it impossible to track your real IP.

Use encrypted DNS

A DNS has the potential of creating security vulnerabilities if it is hacked, causing a DNS leak. The easiest way to protect your privacy is changing to an encrypted DNS server. Choose one that offers the best level of online security and avoid using free versions.  

You can also deploy DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extension). This fixes the issue of unencrypted data by authenticating the data origin, ensuring the DNS receives data from a trustworthy location.

Browse incognito

If you prefer to use Firefox and chrome, you can tweak the settings to enhance the browser safety.

Firefox is a friendly browser for security and privacy once you run a few modifications or get a few privacy add-ons. You can customize it to deliver the security and privacy you desire to remain anonymous online. All this is done without having to switch off your extensions.

To disable tracking on Firefox, open the menu, go to options, and open the privacy and security section. Scroll to Firefox data collection and use and uncheck the boxes in this section.

Chrome allows you to browse using incognito mode for anonymity, though this does not always guarantee complete privacy.

Prevent Browser fingerprinting

Browser fingerprinting is one of the easiest ways to be tracked and identified online. This kind of tracking uses your system and various settings to monitor your activity online.

All add-ons installed on a browser and modifications made can be used to identify you online.

Therefore, the more browser extensions/add-ons you have, the more likely you stand out from the internet crowd. It helps to be cautious with the add-ons you install and remember more is not always better. This is what is referred to as browser fingerprinting.

Only install and modify what is useful and always remove add-ons you no longer need or use. It is also a good idea to install new hardware in your machines. These can include computer utilities, storage products, and accessories. Some new-age hardware technology runs in line with internet routers to protect every device on your network.