How to stay anonymous online

We use multiple devices to surf the internet, and every computer or smartphone we use collects and transmits data to the websites we visit. This information includes, for example, your geolocation, device description, its technical characteristics, and other data that allows websites to identify you by device and even block you for minor infractions. We'll share 11 of the most popular and effective ways to protect your personal information, mask your IP address, and bypass blocking.

TOR Browser
The TOR Browser (The Onion Router) routes user internet traffic through a network of servers called nodes. Each node encrypts and forwards the data to the next. This process is repeated three times. The final server, known as the exit node, decrypts the data before forwarding it. By rerouting traffic through multiple nodes, TOR spoofs the user's IP address so that websites don't know the visitor's real address. However, TOR does not encrypt messages sent to the internet through other apps or programs on the device. Because traffic passes through three nodes, connection speeds on TOR are significantly slower than on a regular browser. You can't download files or stream videos through TOR, nor can you access some websites.

DuckDuckGo Search Engine
Traditional search engines store user queries and personalize results. In contrast, DuckDuckGo does not store users' personal information, IP addresses, or search history. Even if someone—be it a hacker, a government agency, or an advertiser—wanted to obtain data about your activities, DuckDuckGo won't be able to give it away. By default, the program enables HTTPS encryption to secure your internet connection and prevent eavesdropping. DuckDuckGo also offers built-in tracker blocking to prevent advertisers from tracking your online behavior. The search engine uses its own web crawler, DuckDuckBot, to index search results from various sources without collecting user data. As a result, all DuckDuckGo users receive the same answers to the same queries, regardless of their location, search history, or censorship.

Incognito Mode
Incognito mode allows you to access websites using a regular browser without storing your search history, cookies, or information you enter into forms. This data is deleted after you close the tab. Incognito mode is suitable for situations where multiple people use a single device, such as in the office or at home. Another scenario involves a person accessing a social network using someone else's phone. Websites still see the IP address and other device parameters. Your internet service provider (ISP) and network administrator (for example, at work or university) can also see which pages you visit.

Ad Blocker
Ad blockers, such as uBlock Origin and AdGuard, are installed as browser extensions. They work using filters—text files containing a list of rules. When a user visits a website, the ad blocker analyzes the page code and determines what to display and what not. For example, if the filter list contains the word "banner," the user will not see website elements that include "banner" in the URL. If the user is not shown ads, the advertiser cannot obtain user data. Furthermore, this prevents the user's device from downloading unnecessary files that could contain viruses. Ad blockers also speed up page loading and reduce bandwidth usage by removing unnecessary content.

Encrypted messaging apps
Signal, Telegram, and other anonymous messaging apps use end-to-end encryption. This means information is encrypted on the sender's device and remains encrypted as it passes through the app's servers until it reaches the recipient's device. Even if the message is intercepted, neither scammers, nor the internet service provider, nor the app's employees can decrypt it, because they don't have the key. Anonymous messaging apps automatically delete messages after a certain amount of time. You can set a timer so that messages are deleted immediately after they are read. This feature further protects information in case attackers gain access to the device. It's important to note that some apps store metadata, such as IP address, phone number, and information about who the user is talking to and for how long.

Secure Email Service
Secure email providers like ProtonMail and Tutanota use end-to-end encryption for emails. It works the same way as anonymous messengers, and only the sender and recipient can read the message. Anonymous email clients also use other security measures, such as two-factor authentication, to further protect user data. Unlike popular email clients like Outlook and Gmail, they don't scan email content or sell customer data to advertisers. If you don't want to switch to another email service, you can use a browser extension, such as Mailvelope. This program will encrypt outgoing emails, so only the recipient can read them. However, keep in mind that the recipient will also need to install the extension to decrypt the message.

Encrypted Storage
Secure storage services like Tresorit encrypt your data before uploading it to the cloud. The encryption keys are stored locally on your device, so only you have access to your data. Even if the service provider is compromised, no one else will be able to access your data. Files are shared in secure cloud storage just like in a regular cloud. Some services allow you to password-protect links, limit their expiration date, limit the number of downloads, and prohibit screenshots.

Anonymous Cryptocurrency
Some coins, such as Dash or Monero, are focused on transaction privacy. They use various technologies to encrypt the sender and recipient data, as well as the transfer amount. This makes it impossible to trace the origin and destination of the funds. However, it's important to note that encrypted transfers may take longer than regular transfers, and the fees will be higher.

VPN
A VPN is a secure connection between a user and a server that allows you to bypass local restrictions and maintain privacy. Data transmitted over a VPN is encrypted, making it one of the simplest ways to anonymize your traffic. However, this technology has a drawback: periodic sudden traffic leaks onto the public network. Users may not notice a VPN connection disconnection and data leak if the VPN client doesn't automatically reconnect. Furthermore, VPN users often experience slow internet speeds. Additional encryption takes time. Furthermore, traffic often travels longer distances due to the remoteness of the VPN server.

Proxy
A proxy server is an intermediate server that acts as an intermediary, facilitating data exchange between the user and the endpoint servers of internet resources. A proxy allows you to browse the web with a degree of anonymity, as your data passes through servers located in different parts of the world. This significantly complicates IP address tracing. Using a proxy is suitable when you need to hide your real IP or location, for example, to access internet services blocked in certain regions. However, many websites track over 100 parameters in addition to IP addresses to identify visitors, so using a proxy to ensure privacy is often insufficient. You can read more about the different types of proxies in our article.

Antidetect Browser
Antidetect Browser uses technology to replace a real digital fingerprint with one with parameters similar to those of ordinary users. Moreover, this browser allows you to manage multiple profiles, creating different and distinct digital fingerprints for them. Thus, using a VPN/proxy service and an antidetect browser maintains complete privacy and eliminates the risk of being blocked for multiple accounts. Octo Browser completely replaces all connection parameters tracked by websites and creates a new, unique digital fingerprint for you, making you indistinguishable from other users. Using Octo Browser from a single device and browser, you can create hundreds of unrelated accounts that are simply untraceable. Another convenience is that Octo Browser is built on Chromium, the same core as the world's most popular browser, Chrome. It's as easy to use as your regular browser, and the speed is just as fast as without anonymity tools. Users with multiple profiles are better off using their own proxies purchased from providers. A high-quality proxy guarantees complete anonymity online. Anonymity today isn't just about data protection; it's also a way to more effectively conduct sophisticated marketing and research campaigns, which in today's world require professional web tools like Octo Browser.

Anonymity and Confidentiality: What's the Difference?
The words "anonymity" and "confidentiality" are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the concepts. Confidentiality primarily concerns data and the level of control over it. For example, a person stores passwords in a password manager; only they have access to them. Then, we can say their passwords are confidential. Anonymity, on the other hand, refers to a person's identity. A journalist's informant could be anonymous. They provided information, it was published, but the informant themselves remain anonymous.

FAQ
Is it possible to remain anonymous online?

Yes, you can maintain a high degree of online anonymity if you use the right tools. For correspondence, you can choose encrypted messaging apps, and for money transfers, anonymous cryptocurrency. For internet surfing, you can use a proxy server, a virtual private network, or the Tor browser, but it's important to keep in mind that before connecting to these services, your internet connection will go through your local ISP. For complete anonymity, we recommend pairing an anti-detect browser with a proxy server, as this will prevent anyone from identifying you.

Is incognito mode truly anonymous?

Incognito mode doesn't save your browsing history, cookies, or form data, so it's great if you want to hide your activity from other device users. However, incognito mode doesn't hide your data from websites, and your network administrator and internet service provider will still know what online resources you visit.

What's the safest method?

Anti-detect browsers are considered the most reliable tools for maintaining anonymity online. Unlike other tools, they replace the device's digital fingerprint, not just the IP address, as proxy servers or VPNs do. As a result, websites visited by an anti-detect user cannot identify the user. At the same time, online resources are unaware that the user is using an anti-detection browser, not a regular one, since their fingerprint does not stand out from the crowd.