Eight Tools That Help Protect Your Web Privacy

In an age where your online privacy is under constant threat from tracking, data breaches, and surveillance, taking control of your digital footprint is more important than ever. Here are eight tools that will help protect your web privacy:

1. uBlock Origin Link to heading

uBlock Origin is an open-source web content blocker that removes ads, trackers, and other annoyances from your web browsing experience. Created in 2014 by Raymond Hill, uBlock Origin can reduce the risk of spyware, malware and tracking mechanisms embedded in webpages.

2. Proton VPN Link to heading

Proton VPN is a virtual private network (VPN) service that allows you to browse the Web privately by encrypting internet traffic and masking the user’s IP address. Unlike other VPN providers, Proton VPN does not keep logs of users’ internet activity, and offers many features such as Tor integration and strong encryption protocols.

3. Proton Mail Link to heading

From the same company behind Proton VPN, is Proton Mail, a private encrypted mail service that allows you to send and receive emails privately and securely. It provides end-to-end encryption for both outgoing and incoming emails, so that nobody except you can read your emails, and automatically filters out potential spam and trackers that might get included in your emails. Unlike other email services, Proton Mail does not require your mobile number and does not use any of your data for other purposes.

4. BitWarden Link to heading

BitWarden is a password manager service, allowing you to securely generate and store strong passwords and other sensitive information across all your devices. Sensitive information in BitWarden is encrypted with modern end-to-end encryption algorithms, and synced securely throughout all your devices. The core features of BitWarden can be used for free, while more advanced features are available with a subscription.

5. Tor Browser Link to heading

A strong web privacy arsenal cannot be complete without a secure and private browser such as, Tor Browser, an open-source secure browser that prevents websites from fingerprinting your browsers and tracking your web activity, with its fingerprinting prevention, multi-relay encryption, and browser isolation and sandbox features.

6. Have I Been Pwned Link to heading

Have I Been Pwned is a free service by Troy Hunt, that allows you to check if your email addresses, passwords, and any other sensitive information may have been compromised, by searching through data breaches in the past. This tool can be beneficial reminder in regularly updating your credentials by choosing strong and secure passwords and other authentication methods.

7. DuckDuckGo Link to heading

DuckDuckGo is a free, privacy-focused search engine that does not track or profile your search activity. It provides unbiased search results, uses encrypted connections, and offers additional privacy features, such as media proxies, to help maintain user anonymity on the web.

8. Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) Link to heading

Cloudflare’s DNS resolver is a free, privacy-focused DNS resolution service that resolves DNS queries addresses quicker and more securely than many default DNS services provided by internet service providers, preventing interception through the DNS-over-HTTPS feature. Cloudflare’s DNS resolver does not sell user data and wipes all logs of DNS queries within 24 hours.