“Google” is now a term embedded in our language and s iroutinely used. As with all routines, we may become complacent on how we view and use it. Browsers and search engines are gobbling up our data for advertising purposes, and we are the product. Search engines track our location by IP address and build user profiles based on search history and online behavior. How do we protect ourselves?
Virtual private networks(VPN), private browsers and private search engines are all ways to reduce companies’ tracking activities. A VPN hides browsing history, encrypts web activity across entire device and changes your IP address. A secure browser shouldn’t track your activity, share your data or have harmful ads. Incognito Mode can be used with most browsers, but it only clears your history. As with all security, a layered approach is the best protection.
As there are many options, personal preference will dictate which solutions are the best for your needs. Several options are listed below, so try them out, read the resources and determine the right combination for your needs!
VPNs
- Proton VPN
- TunnelBear VPN
Browsers
- Tor – encrypts traffic three times and due to this the connection speed may be slow.
- Epic – Every privacy setting is turned on by default.
- Firefox – Private browsing mode protection.
- Brave – built-in ad-blocker, tracking protection, script blocker
Search Engines
- Startpage – high relevant search results and anonymous view mode.
- Brave search engine – doesn’t profile and serves results from an independent index of the web. If Google or Bing stop working, Brave will keep on ticking.
- DuckDuckGo search engine – does not build user profiles, so it will always show the same search results to all users and prevents online tracking of searches or clicks.
Resources
Most Secure Browsers For Your Privacy in 2025