Monday, April 4, 2011

Is Your Browser’s "Private Browsing" Really Private?

Modern web browsers include "private browsing" features that allow you to erase your URL history with the click of a button. However, you need to know that using this feature does not create total anonymity while you perform online searches. Many of the sites you visit capture your personal information through your computer’s IP address, which means that your browsing isn’t very "private" at all.


In order to grasp the scope of this security and privacy issue, it is important to understand how much of your personal information websites can access simply by tracking your IP address. The way that it works is this – in order for computers to communicate with each other, they need to know where the computer on the other end is located so they know where to send the reply. Your IP address serves as a locator in order for successful communication. This means that based on your IP address, it is possible to track your general geographical location. Scary, right?


A VPN service makes all Internet use completely private and secure because it hides your IP address. This type of program blocks online activity from being linked to an IP address for the ultimate private browsing experience. Always remember that the private browsing features on web browsers only erase information from the computer you are using, they do not make your browsing private to the websites that you're actually browsing - nor your ISP which sees these websites being browsed as well.


You probably don’t want your personal information freely available to any website you visit, so it is important to use a VPN service in addition to your browser’s private browsing feature. Protecting your privacy is a crucial part of surfing the Web anonymously and ultimately with a sense of peace of mind.