1. Do not place personally identifying info in your search terms (simple)

Such searches can produce a roadmap that leads right to your doorstep. They may expose you to identity theft and other privacy invasions.

2. Do not use your ISP’s search engine (simple)

It’s going to be capable to link your identity to your searches, since your ISP knows who you’re. It will likewise have the ability to link all your individual search queries into one search history. Thus, if you’re a Comcast broadband subscriber, for example, you need to avoid using http://search.comcast.net. In the same way, in the event that you are an AOL member, don’t use http://search.aol.com or the search box in AOL’s client applications.

3. Do not login to your search engine or associated software (intermediate)

Search engines occasionally provide you with the chance to develop a personal account and login. Your searches could be linked to your personal account and to every other when you log into the search engine or one of these other services.

Therefore, when you have accounts with services such as Google GMail or Hotmail, don’t search through the secondary search engine (Google or MSN Search, respectively), particularly not while logged in.

In the event you need to make use of the exact same firm’s search engine and webmail (or other service), it’ll be considerably more difficult to shield your search secrecy. You are going to have to do one of the following:

Install two distinct web browsers to distinguish your investigation tasks with the search supplier from your other accounts.
For its own services and Google, you may use the CustomizeGoogle plugin applications as well as the Mozilla Firefox web browser. Restart Firefox and then choose “CustomizeGoogle Options” from the “Programs” menu.
In the event you are utilizing a browser other than Firefox, you may use the GoogleAnon bookmarklet, which you’ll be able to get at http://www.imilly.com/google-cookie.htm. You are going to have to stop your browser each single time you end with a Google service. Sadly, we now don’t know of similar plugins for other search suppliers.9

4.Your search history should have personally identifying info all over it in the event you have gone through the steps above. It is better to follow Suggestions 3-6 together — there’s less advantage from being linked in one way if they could be linked in another in preventing your searches.

Cookies are little chunks of information that sites can put in your personal computer when you see with them. Among other things, cookies enable sites to link all your visits and activities at the website. Since cookies are saved in your personal computer, they are able to let websites monitor you even if you are utilizing Internet connections that are distinct in various places. However , when you take advantage of another computer, your cookies do not come with you.11

From a privacy-protection standpoint, it’d be far better block all cookies. But because cookies are essential for obtaining many sites, it can be more suitable (though less privacy-protective) to permit short lived “session” cookies. These cookies last only as long as your browser is open; so, should you quit your browser, reopen it, and return to your search engine, your search supplier is not going to have the ability to join your present searches with preceding ones via your cookies.

Make use of these things to do to permit only “session cookies,” and remember to leave your browser at least one time a day but ideally after every visit to your search supplier’s website. We advise that you implement these settings and use Mozilla Firefox:

From the “Edit” menu, select “Settings”
Click on “Secrecy”
Choose the “Cookies” tab
Click on “Exceptions,” kind in the domain names of every one of your search websites, and select “Block” for all of them

Should you use Microsoft Internet Explorer to browse the internet:

Choose “Always allow session cookies”

5. Alter your IP address (intermediate)

Search suppliers — and other services you socialize with online — utilize that number and can see your IP address. IP addresses are especially sensitive because they could be linked to your ISP account via your ISP’s logs. Unlike cookies, your computer does not be followed by your IP address it goes; for example, should you use your notebook through AT&T on the job, it’s going to have another IP address than when you use it.

In case your ISP provides you with a transforming, “dynamic” IP address,13 or you browse from an office computer that’s behind the exact same firewall as tons of other computers, then this concern is reduced. But for those who have a dynamic IP address on a broadband connection, you’ll need to turn off your modem frequently to make the address change. Leave it away immediately, and the easiest way to get this done is to turn your modem off when you complete with your computer for the day.