How to Protect Your Privacy on the Internet

by Vít Nováček, updated November 9, 2022

The concepts of privacy and internet security are closely related but different. Both are important. In this article, you will learn more about privacy. To learn more about security, read this article: 8 Ways to Better Protect Yourself on the Internet.

We often voluntarily give up our privacy online. But that it is a sacrifice for “free” services may not always be true. Many free services respect your privacy and do not monetize your private information. In the following article, you learn more about services that honor their users’ privacy.

Internet Browser

If you want to protect your privacy on the internet, you need to start with your access. You access the internet through a browser. The range of browsers is wide. However, if you choose a browser that respects and protects your privacy, then the choice becomes much narrower. One such browser is Brave.

Since its first launch, Brave has offered security and privacy protection. Of course, you can change the browser settings to suit your preferences. Brave blocks ads and trackers, which are tracking apps from advertising companies. This makes searching faster with Brave. Compared to other browsers, there is no need to install privacy extensions as they are already in the browser.

In the browser settings, you can select Do not track, which tells sites you do not want to be tracked. Most sites do not accept this, but you still lose nothing by selecting this option. You can also set a history and cookie storage period that works for you by trying multiple settings.

Cookies are small files stored in the browser to communicate with sites and recognize devices. You can also use cookies to track your device, so limit it to selected sites or for a limited time. We do not recommend blocking cookies completely, as this would cause many websites to become inoperable.

You can also install extensions to your browser that protect your privacy by blocking trackers and ads. Examples of these extensions include Privacy Badger, AdBlocker Ultimate, and DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials.

Internet Search Engine

Another important option is the search engine, the primary search tool inside the browser. Unfortunately, most search engines do not respect your privacy and track what you search for. Examples of search engines that do not track you include DuckDuckGo, Europe’s Qwant, and the eco-friendly Ecosia.

Beware of the “private” searches of most browsers, which only do not store history; otherwise, they are no more private than the regular ones. If you want to search privately, use one of the search engines above.

Email

Much of the email service is free. However, to offer them for free, most providers collect and sell your sensitive data for advertising purposes.

However, there are exceptions, both paid and free. Email providers that encrypt your email communications and do not sell your data include ProtonMail, PrivateMail, and Tutanota. ProtonMail and Tutanota also offer a free email inbox option.

VPN

Internet privacy inevitably includes a VPN service. To get privacy when searching, you need to use a VPN tunnel around the clock. Free versions of VPN security become often limited by speed or data volume. Therefore, we recommend choosing the paid version. Our comparison will help you choose the VPN provider whose services suit you best.

Conclusion Tips

• We commonly give up our privacy voluntarily. Think about your privacy and the privacy of others before sharing sensitive information, not only on social media.
• When entering sensitive information (for example, when creating an account), check whether it is necessary to enter it and how they handle it.
• Set up all your devices to protect your privacy as much as possible.