How to Anonymously Browse the Internet

Some places on the Internet are only suitable for secret browsing. Maybe you're shopping for a present and don't want your links to show in your browsing history, or maybe you don't want the customized ads to reflect a private interest. Whatever your reason is for wanting to anonymously browse the web, here's how you do it.

Most Internet traffic takes place over three web browsers, here's how you can browse the Internet privately with each major web browser.

Google Chrome
Chrome uses Incognito mode to cover your browsing and download history. When browsing in Incognito mode, Chrome will automatically delete any cookies stored during your secret session, thus preventing anyone else who uses your computer to know what you have been up to. Chrome lets you browse secretly by opening a new tab that's in Incognito mode. Only this new tab will be in Incognito mode, your tabs that you originally have opened will still remember your history.

The fastest way to go Incognito is to press Ctrl + Shift + N. A new Chrome window will now appear with a spy looking dude wearing shades in the upper left-hand corner. With the new tab open, you will want to read the text box that opens up in order to know how secret your browsing really is. The text box will straight up warn you that Incognito mode will not protect you from "surveillance by secret agents," and "people standing behind you."

Mozilla Firefox
Browsing secretly in Firefox functions similarly to Chrome in that it opens up a new private window and Firefox doesn't remember your history. To bring up a private browsing window in Firefox, open the Firefox tab at the upper left-hand corner, and then click on New Private Window.

A new window will be displayed. You can be sure that you're in Private mode because a masquerade mask will be seen in the tab next to the page title. Firefox will also include a text box explaining Private Browsing, warning users that Private Browsing will still display downloads from the secret session.

Microsoft Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer calls their secret browsing mode InPrivate Browsing. To activate InPrivate, go to Settings (the gear tab on the upper right-hand corner), and then Safety, followed by InPrivate Browsing. You will know that you're in InPrivate Browsing when you a see a blue text box to the left of your URL box that says InPrivate.

All three of these secret browser modes will not remember your history, but none of these browsers will give you complete anonymity when browsing the Internet. Websites will still be able to see your IP address, and if you're browsing on a computer network, then the network administrator will still be able to see where you have been browsing using a security solution. These secret browsing sessions will only keep others from seeing your history through your web browser.

There are other ways to browse the Internet with even more secrecy and cover the tracks of your unique IP address, to receive help pulling off this level of anonymity, or to install a security solution that lets you track all the Internet traffic on your network, give Macro Systems a call at 703-359-9211.