The amount of data that people share online means that cybercriminals usually don’t have to look very far to get their hands on personal information. Their task is made far easier as people often fail to take the necessary precautions to stop their data falling into the wrong hands. To make matters worse, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and the government have the ability to view your internet activity too – unless you follow the steps necessary to prevent this, of course.

Luckily, there is a perfect solution to enhance your online privacy, and it comes in the form of a VPN, otherwise known as a Virtual Private Network. There are a whole host available for you to choose from out there on the market, with some of the most popular featuring applications on Windows and mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS.

Or, if you are using a device which runs MacOS, it is well worth checking out reviews for the best MacOS VPN. If you do exactly that, then you’ll be well on your way to enhanced online privacy – with IP address masking, location spoofing, and encrypted web traffic just some of the benefits you will be able to make full use of.

In terms of online privacy, some might say that it is a complete myth. To a certain extent, there is some truth in this. But, you’ll also find that you can at least try to maintain your online privacy by making use of certain tools such as the aforementioned VPN.

The following article will take a deeper look into the issue of online privacy and the steps you can take to keep online snooping to an absolute minimum. So, without any further ado – here’s the answers you are looking for.

Online Privacy Myths

It can be said that there are plenty of myths when it comes to online privacy. The following section will cover just some of them. So, continue reading to find out everything that you need to know.

Private Browsing/Incognito Mode Ensures Anonymous Browsing

There is a common misconception among web users – that private browsing is completely anonymous. However, it actually offers little to no protection in terms of online privacy. What’s more, your ISP, the government, and opportunist thieves can still snoop in on your internet activity.

In order to achieve enhanced security while browsing the web, you will need to consider using the Tor browser. Encrypting your web traffic and protecting your location and identity, it’s a great choice if you’re looking to boost your online privacy. But, just be aware that browsing speeds will be significantly reduced with this particular browser.

All VPNs Are Created Equal

You shouldn’t just assume that your chosen VPN will offer optimal protection in terms of online privacy. The level of online privacy protection it is able to offer will depend on numerous factors which includes where the VPN provider is based, the encryption levels they use, and whether or not they keep logs of your VPN usage.

For that reason, it always pays to do your research so that optimal online privacy can be achieved. Otherwise, you could end up being in just as bad of a position as you were beforehand – perhaps even worse!

How Can I Improve My Online Privacy?

While it’s virtually impossible to achieve complete online privacy, there are some things you can do to at least try and maintain a solid level of protection. First and foremost, you should get an internet security package set up on your system. If you do exactly that, then you can be warned of any suspicious websites which aim to steal your personal information, and you’ll also be able to keep any unwanted viruses and malware at bay.

But, internet security software doesn’t offer much in terms of online privacy, as you’ll still be left wide open to data theft – particularly on open networks in public spaces. Therefore, you’ll need to combine your antivirus package with a VPN. By doing so, you will be able to enjoy such things as encrypted web traffic, IP address masking, and so much more.

Conclusion 

It can be said that online privacy is a myth in certain ways. As we mentioned earlier, ‘private browsing mode’ doesn’t quite offer the privacy you would expect. But, to be fair, web browsers are usually quite open about that fact and include a disclaimer when you enter incognito mode.

However, it is also true that you should always take your online privacy seriously. Anyone and everyone has the potential to become a victim of data theft or internet snooping – regardless of your circumstances. For that reason, it always pays to be vigilant when browsing the web.

You should always take a second thought before entering your personal information online. If you do exactly that, you’ll be able to reduce the likelihood of you becoming a victim of cybercrime. Always remember – if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!