Protecting your privacy online is essential. Discover good practices to browse more safely and protect your information. Are you interested?
Maintaining privacy when browsing the Internet has its complexity, but taking care of our information online is crucial. This involves selecting appropriate tools such as browsers, search engines and extensions that reinforce user protection and privacy. Next, we will discuss optimizing your digital experience with these instruments and some tips to help you browse with greater privacy.
Browsers that prioritize user privacy
When we connect to the Internet, we are exposed to our information being used without awareness. Therefore, we must use a web browser that respects our privacy and offers us measures. This way, we can navigate with a little more peace of mind. For example, Brave is a browser that provides users with more private browsing thanks to its multiple functions, such as blocking ads, tracking, and executing malicious code and cookies. In addition, it allows you to search privately and anonymously by offering a VPN service in its mobile app ( premium function ).
Search engines that promote greater privacy in searches
A private search engine respects your information and does not track or save it, among other features. It shows you objective search results that are not influenced by web positioning. For this reason, using a search engine that respects your privacy is a good option. DuckDuckGo is a leading search engine that helps you preserve your privacy online. Although it stores your search history, it does not store information such as your location or IP address. A priori, neither DuckDuckGo nor third parties can link your data with your search history.
The importance of using a VPN connection
A virtual private network (VPN) is a cybersecurity tool that encrypts your Internet connection and allows you to maintain your privacy and anonymity when using the Internet. This tool creates a private tunnel for your communications using the network. Within that tunnel is a network of remote servers, managed by the VPN service, through which your information passes and is responsible for hiding your identity and location.
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Instead of browsing the Internet directly, using a virtual private network between two devices prevents your confidential data from falling into the wrong hands since the information cannot be decrypted. You ensure that the information will not be modified if you need to exchange information more securely.
In the tools section mentioned above, we provide some VPNs for added protection and privacy.
Web browser extensions that increase your privacy online
Here are some extensions you could use:
- Ad Blockers: Remove ads that appear on web pages you visit. Ads can be annoying, intrusive and potentially dangerous.
- VPN: These extensions allow you to use a VPN in a specific browser without affecting the entire computer connection. They are fast and efficient for particular tasks.
- Code Blockers: Extensions that allow you to control which scripts run on each web page you open. These code snippets can improve the functionality of a page. Still, they can also slow it down, consume resources, or compromise your privacy.
- Password managers: A tool designed to securely create, remember, and manage your passwords. In this way, you only need to remember one master password to access all the others. Plus, you can generate strong, random passwords for each website you must sign up for.
One way to protect your privacy online is to use extensions that help you control your personal information. These extensions can block tracking, encrypt data, delete cookies, etc. We advise you to explore the different privacy extension options for web browsers and choose the ones that best suit your needs.
Do you prefer to continue using your usual browser?
If you prefer to keep it simple and continue using your usual browser, remember that you have privacy and security options recommended to be reviewed and adjusted periodically. You will find interesting settings such as deleting cookies, browsing history, reviewing stored passwords, etc. Below, we provide a general guide for each review of these aspects in the browsers most used by users.
Google Chrome: You can access the privacy and security settings by selecting the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and going to “Settings.” Once there, click “Privacy and security”.
Firefox: To adjust the privacy and security settings, select the three horizontal stripes in the upper right corner; click “Settings”. Finally, click “Privacy & Security” in the left column.
Safari: You can access privacy and security settings by clicking “Safari” in the menu bar at the top. Then, “Settings”, and finally, in the horizontal column, we have both “Security” and “Privacy” available.Microsoft Edge: The privacy and security settings are found by selecting the three points in the upper right corner; this way, after the menu is displayed, you can choose the configuration section where “Privacy, search and services” are located.
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