Computer privacy software includes anonymous browsing, IP blocking, encryption, and data removal. These protect against tracking, viruses, and data theft. Some websites may block anonymous browsing. Virus scanners are also important for protection.
There are several types of computer privacy software, many of which are designed to prevent Internet servers or viruses from tracking information about a user while they are online. A common category of software, known as anonymous browsing software, hides the actual computer address and other information about a user and the computer being used. Another is known as Internet Protocol (IP) blocking, and it allows you to bypass specific websites or addresses so that information cannot be sent to or received from it. Encryption software can protect the contents of Internet files or messages so that anyone who might intercept the message will not be able to decrypt it. Finally, there is software designed to remove information from a computer that could reveal personal information, browsing habits, or passwords if a hard drive is compromised.
Anonymous browsing is achieved through computer privacy software that uses proxy servers and other methods to effectively hide a user’s true identity and to keep a computer’s location and IP address hidden. This can help prevent tracking cookies, viruses and malicious software from targeting a user for data theft or information gathering. It can also prevent attacks on a computer or network. A potential problem with using anonymous browsing software is that some websites, especially e-commerce sites and sites that require specific user login, may block access for users without a valid, non-proxy IP address.
IP blocking software ensures that you can define a specific website or sequence of sites so that information is not received or transmitted between it and your computer. By using IP blocking computer privacy software, websites used to collect information from a user can be blocked while a larger website can still function properly. Programs such as ad blockers for web browsers sometimes use this type of protection.
Encrypting computer privacy software is more complex than the other types because it requires more than one user to install the program. This software will take blocks of text, files or images and use strong encryption algorithms to obfuscate the data, making it impossible to read without a password or encryption key. This maintains privacy by preventing any malicious hacker between the source and destination from randomly reading emails passing through unprotected servers.
Some computer privacy software is built directly into web browsers and operating systems, as well as being available as standalone programs. These are the kind that can erase evidence of online browsing habits, information, and passwords from a local hard drive. This information, even if not specifically saved by the user, may be available in the system or browser cache, or in cookies downloaded from websites. Regularly deleting this information can help maintain a clean system that protects user privacy.
Finally, the last line of defense in computer privacy software is virus and malware scanners. These are programs that can scan all of the files on a computer system, locating and removing malicious programs that could do everything from logging your keystrokes to redirecting web searches. While new computer viruses are created every day, many of the older viruses are still active on the web and can sometimes be hidden in an otherwise benign download.
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