The web of today is very different. Not only is there a strong push to deanonymize people, the websites you visit on a daily basis can record and capture all sorts of information about you. What kinds of information? Read on to find out.
Your IP
Address
Website owners use IP addresses to track the activity of individual users. This information can be used to determine a user’s location, browsing history, and other activities on the website. ..
When you send mail, you write the recipient’s address on the envelope. When you receive mail, the return address is usually written on the back of the envelope. So you know where it came from. ..
If you replace “letter” with “internet packet” you essentially know how an IP address works. The problem is that a website can actually figure out quite a lot of private information about you from just your IP address.
IP addresses can be used to track a person’s movements and activities, as well as their ISP. With a little more detective work (and perhaps a legal warrant) an IP address can lead someone directly to your door.
Virtual private networks (VPNs) are becoming increasingly popular because they provide a way to hide your real IP address from websites you are visiting. This is especially useful if you want to avoid being tracked online. ..
Hardware & Software
Details
A website can use this information to improve the user experience on the website. For example, a website could show you more information about the computer you are using if it is known.
The site will know your operating system, processor, GPU and more. This information could be used to track or ID a specific machine.
One way to get around this is to use a virtual machine, which will provide generic system information to the website.
1st & 3rd Party Cookies
A cookie is a small file that a website leaves on your computer to remember things such as your site preferences. So the next time you visit, it will already know things about you. ..
Cookies are a good thing. Session cookies, for example, delete themselves when you close the browser. You also get first-party persistent cookies, which are the ones saved to your device by the site for its own use.
Tracking cookies are persistent third-party cookies that are read by sites other than the ones which created them. That cookie accumulates information about your web activities and that information can then go back to the cookie’s creator. ..
In recent years, there has been a tightening of cookie policy on many websites. If you disagree with the policy, cookies will not be stored on your machine.
There is no way to completely avoid being tracked online, but you can take steps to limit the amount of information that is collected about you. By using your browser’s privacy settings, you can block cookies and other tracking technologies from being placed on your computer. ..
Invisible
Trackers
Invisible trackers are pieces of software or hardware that collect data about a user’s online activity without their knowledge or consent. This can include cookies, web apps, and external sites embedded in a legitimate site. ..
Google’s practice of embedding advertising content on popular web pages in order to track users’ browsing habits has come under fire recently. Critics argue that this type of tracking is invasive and can be harmful to users’ privacy. ..
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that specifically does not track you.
Some websites still use tracking technology, even though they’ve agreed not to do so. So if you want to avoid being tracked, you can try using a browser feature known as “do not track”. This is a voluntary agreement, so some sites may ignore it if they don’t want to.
The EFF’s Privacy Badger is a tool that helps you to protect your privacy by identifying and blocking trackers from tracking your online activity.
Autofill
Data
Browsers are automatically filling in your name and address when you have to fill in shipping details on a new site. This is a convenience, but it also leaves your personal information vulnerable. ..
As you fill out forms on unscrupulous websites, those sites can capture your personal information without your knowledge. This means that these sites have now captured all of the details about you, including your address, full name, and social security number. If this information falls into the wrong hands, it could be used to harm you or your loved ones. ..
Disable autofill in your browser settings to keep your data safe and secure.
Other Accounts
You’re Logged In To
When you visit a website, it can detect which other accounts you are currently logged into by the traces they leave on your machine. This information is valuable to hackers because it tells them which other accounts you have. ..
If you have been a victim of a data breach and your password is exposed, you may be in trouble. Many people use the same or similar passwords across accounts, so this makes it much easier for hackers to breach your security. If you have been a victim of a data breach and your password is exposed, it is important that you take steps to protect yourself by using unique passwords for each account and securing your computer with strong passwords.
To protect your online accounts and personal information, it is important to use strong passwords and keep a password manager handy. ..
Detailed
Input Logs
A website can be designed so that it records every keystroke and mouse movement made by the user. This tracking ability makes it possible for researchers to track the user’s movements over time.
This research paper detailed how many major websites make recordings of your keystrokes and mouse movement while you are visiting them. If you are concerned about the privacy implications of this, you should be.
Browser Fingerprints
A fingerprint is a unique combination of browser data, such as which cookies are on your system and what plugins are installed. The longer a browser is used and the more it is customized the easier it is to link to a specific user.
Even if you use a VPN to access a site, the site can still track your activities and link them together. This is especially true if you visit another site using the same browser without using a VPN. ..
The Tor Browser is a good way to protect your privacy by anonymizing your traffic.
How To Check What You Are
Leaking
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has a panopticlick tool that can help you figure out where and how you are leaking information.
Just click the big “test me” button and all your paranoid fears may be confirmed. Unfortunately, there’s never a bad time to sharpen up your privacy practices.
