Cyber security is a hot topic coming into 2022. We have seen a drastic increase in cyber attacks since the pandemic began, and the trend is not slowing down. Privacy is paramount to your cybersecurity.

At its inception, the internet provided privacy and anonymity. When you browsed the web, your computer would send a page request to the server, the server returned the page request, and that was it, the interaction was complete. When this happened, the server did get your IP address, but that was it. Then, the server forgot you. Once advertising and data collection became involved, that all changed. Each request you make now comes with a full load of information about you. Many websites now use cookies and fingerprinting techniques. The results of which are targeted ads, which are relatively harmless even if they may be annoying. More devious actions may result from these actions as well, such as identity theft. 

 In a day in age where privacy and anonymity are hard to come by on the internet, how do you keep yourself safe?

Let’s take a look at 5 of the best apps available to help you stay safe and private online. 

ExpressVPN

We can not stress how great a VPN (a virtual private network) is for your privacy and anonymity. A VPN is the first choice for anyone trying to boost their privacy. Not only does a VPN hide your IP address from the sites you visit, but it also hides the sites you visit, and apps you use from your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Using a VPN also shows your coming from a different location, which is a must when unlocking geo-restricted content. 

ExpressVPN is commonplace in lists of the best Android VPNs. It uses industry-standard encryption with user choice of other protocols, such as IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec. ExpressVPN is reliably fast, has 160 server locations across 94 countries, and has 24/7 support to help you through any of your needs with it. They also have their Lightway protocol to increase its speed and reliability even further. 

Orbot

You may be familiar with ‘The Onion Router,’ known as the Tor network. The Onion Router directs internet traffic through a free, worldwide, volunteer overlay network; which consists of over six thousand relays that conceal the user’s location and usage. You may use Orbot with its companion app, the Orfox browser, to safely browse the internet. It encrypts your connection and routes it through several different computers, preventing sites from tracking your location.

The one downside to Orbot is the speed. Routing your connection through several computers may slow your connection speed considerably. 

DuckDuckGo

It’s been said that Google knows more about you than you even know about yourself. The main search engines that most users use, like Google and Bing, share your search term with third parties, such as the sites you visit; this is referred to as “leakage.” The major search engines save your search history with a timestamp and details of the device you are using, tracing those searches back to you. 

DuckDuckGo is a replacement for major search engines, providing quality search results while helping to keep your privacy. DuckDuckGo is also compatible with Orbot, allowing you to also hide your location from the sites you visit. 

Avast AntiTrack

Avast Antitrack is exactly what its name implies, and anti-tracking software that prevents websites from divulging your location. Protecting your privacy and location is its focus; it is not an antivirus. With privacy advocates and website trackers locked in a never-ending battle, trackers have created stronger cookies, cookies that self-repair, keeping them ever-present on your device. Avast AntiTrack foils fingerprinting attempts by making changes to your browser data every hour or so, giving your device an ever-changing fingerprint. 

Avast AntiTrack used to be known as TrackOff until Avast purchased it in 2019. From TrackOff insiders, Avast Antitrack is everything TrackOff offered, with more features and enhancements added by Avast. There is no free version, Avast AntiTrack is $49.95 per year for one device, and for an additional $10 per month, you can add up to 10 devices. If you are looking for a way to prevent others from tracking you online, Avast AntiTrack may be the solution for you. 

Abine Blur

This is a powerful one with many different features. Albine Blur is a security and privacy solution that manages your passwords, protects your payment information, masks your emails, blocks trackers, and more. The mission of Albine Blur is to create an easy-to-use privacy tool online for everyone. 

Some of the features of Albine Blur are many and include:

• Syncs across all of your devices
• Blocks hidden trackers
• Stops secret data collection
• Blocks ads. 
• Auto-fill forms. 
• Password management
• Credit card masking
• Email masking

What apps, if any, are you using to protect your privacy this year? How is your experience with them?

If you are not using any apps to protect your privacy but are interested in them, let us know any questions you may have.