5 Ways to Cover Your Online Tracks

You would be amazed to find out just how much personal information is collected every time you log on to your computer to use the Internet. Recently, I came across an article from Palaestra Training that talks about some ways that you can cover your online tracks. Below are five of the tips that they provide. To read the full article, click here.

5 Ways to Cover Your Tracks

1. Remove Your Most Recently Used (MRU) List: Yes, it may be difficult to believe, but information can be had from your most recently used list. In order to remove or clear this list, click here.
2. Make Your IP Address Private: Did you know that your IP address is recorded in things such as e-mail headers, discussion boards and mail servers? Your IP address is typically recorded whenever you visit a website and leave a comment and can also tell others what pages you’ve viewed and any transactions that you make (which is pretty scary considering the fact that we use our computers to conduct many personal transactions). That being said, you can actually install software that will hide your IP, such as MMIP or Anonymous IP.
3. Delete Your Cookies! Most people nowadays are at least somewhat familiar with what ‘cookies’ are. Essentially, cookies allow websites or marketing people to create a profile on the type of person that you are based on information that you’ve unknowingly provided them regarding your Internet surfing patterns- all because your movements on the Net are tracked. Deleting your cookies occasionally will help to resolve this problem.
4. Clearing the Cache: A cache is a place on your computer that stores temporary Internet files such as previously visited web pages, images, etc. It allows others to see where you’ve been. Clearing this periodically is always a good idea.
5. Turn off AutoComplete: It may have seemed like a good idea at the time. However, other people can easily see where you’ve been if you’ve got the AutoComplete turned on. Why make it easier for them? Switch it off!