Every internet connection has a unique IP address with which you can be traced fairly accurately. The IP address is known to show up in the log files of websites you visit, but did you know that these servers can also effortlessly look into your browsing history? That's scary!
1. Address sticker
You get the IP address from your internet provider. When opening a website, the IP address is sent to the server. The IP addresses of visitors are saved in a log file by default, so that the web server knows when you have been on the site and when you will return. With free tools, all kinds of extra information can be found on the basis of an IP address, such as the internet provider and place of residence of the surfer. The latter can in some cases be narrowly determined, but in other cases it only leads to an approximation. One of the many sites with which you can find your IP address is Geotool.
Disabling your ip address is not possible. However, with the free program UltraSurf it is easy to temporarily surf on a 'borrowed' IP address. The program redirects your web browser to a server in North America. The IP number of this connection is shown in the log files of the sites you visit, and your own IP address remains hidden.
Your location can be determined reasonably well on the basis of an IP address.
2. Internet History
Almost all web browsers are as leaky as a basket. WhatTheInternet-KnowsAboutYou.com proves that getting your history is child's play. Surf to the site WhatTheInternetKnowsAboutYou and shudder! Recently visited websites appear after a few seconds. The makers have introduced categories such as news, social networks and xxx. This last button shows if you have recently requested 18+ pages, also useful for curious roommates. Click below General on Full history search to view as much information as possible from your browsing history. The results of WhatTheInternetKnowsAboutYou are not obtained by a browser hack or trojan horse, but are retrieved by every website you visit. Not nice if you care about your privacy, but good to know.
WhatTheInternetKnowsAboutYou shows that it is very easy to read the history of your web browser unsolicited.
3. Measures
Do you use multiple web browsers? Then try them all out on WhatTheInternetKnowsAboutYou. Chances are that some browsers will reveal more data than others. The bad news is that there is little that can be done to fix the problem. Disabling the history of your web browser completely or cleaning it regularly offers some solution. The Firefox extension SafeHistory blocks external reading, but unfortunately does not work under the latest Firefox version. Check out WhatTheInternetKnowsAboutYou below Solutions for three possible solutions, which, however, are not watertight. Maybe it's time for a petition to web browser builders, urging them to address the privacy breach?
WhatTheInternetKnowsAboutYou provides tips to tackle the privacy problem of web browsers.
