Many people have no idea that when surfing the Internet, we are under a constant, constant and a never-ending microscope. Every page opened and application used, every click, time spent on the page, mouse movements... All this and much more is tracked, recorded, analyzed and stored permanently. Why? Due to ad targeting, monetization of people's behavior and general optimization of website content leading to higher revenues from their operation.
Your every move can be tracked on the internet
Your internet provider knows the address of each page you visit. And even if it doesn't know the exact content you're viewing, it gets a fairly accurate idea of what you're interested in.
The operators of individual websites are even better off, and then, of course, in particular Google itself. They can record and play back yours through programs invisible to the user (so-called JavaScript). exact interaction with that page. Yes, in the form of a video, as if they were watching under your hands and eyes, what you read, how you work with the website. Don't you believe? When you finish reading, take a look, for example, at the analysis tool Smartlook. They say on their website: "Dive into the minds of your users in less than a minute." Isn't that cute? 🙂
What with this? Hide from cookies and block ads
The issue is very broad and we will certainly return to it many times on the blog. However, let's settle for now with such a beginning.
Well, can you do something about it as an individual? Yes, sure! But everything costs something, and it depends entirely on you, how much it bothers you and how far you are willing to go.
A few recommendations on how to avoid tracking on the Internet
1. Stop searching through Google
It already exists today many search alternatives of equal quality, which, as a bonus, don't track and record what you're looking for. E.g. DuckDuckGo, try it, it doesn't hurt.
2. Use an ad blocker
This does not ensure that your activity will not be monitored, but at least you won't be bombarded with advertising. And almost none. It doesn't hurt either, and you'll be surprised how some sites will peek through. All modern browsers today support it installing add-ons, so try e.g. uBlock Origin. Don't know how to install browser add-ons? Never mind, check it out Chrome tutorial, the procedure is similar in other browsers.
3. Selectively, on a per-site basis, enable/disable the execution of JavaScript
This can be a pain, because JavaScript is an integral part of the appearance of websites today, and it is therefore not easy to automatically tell what is good and what is bad. By blocking everything (e.g. through Strict security mode in Firefox) you some pages graphically "fall apart", some won't load at all. But again, browser add-ons can be used, such as NoScript, allowing you to mark specific JavaScripts that are unwanted and which are allowed.
4. Delete cookies
Again, it can be a pain if you do it en masse (e.g. every time you close the browser). For the reason that cookies are used, among other things, to "remembering" login. Deleting all cookies will also automatically log you out wherever you have been "remembered". But again, there is a possibility selective solution only for some pages. For example, through an add-on in your browser Cookie AutoDelete.
5. Try using Tor Browser
In the basic settings, he can ensure that neither the connection provider nor the website operator actually does they won't know where you're actually connecting from, and thus who you are. It will be virtually impossible to link you to previously collected data about your behavior on the web. Tor Browser connects to the Internet through a special network that ensures your anonymity with a high level of protection. How Tor Browser it works, we'll explain again sometime next time.
TIP: Also read our article How much time do we spend online and how?.
