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Private browsing uses a proxy to prevent websites from tracking your IP address. Free proxy programs rely on unintentional proxy servers, while paid services provide a toolbar or website browsing. Purists prefer using random networks as proxy servers for increased anonymity. A true anonymous proxy removes the referrer field that shows the requesting machine’s IP address.
Private browsing lets you browse the Internet without leaving a trace of your computer’s Internet Protocol (IP) address. This is achieved through a proxy service.
When you browse the web from the privacy of your living room, lounge or office, it can feel like your online movements are completely anonymous. Unfortunately the opposite is true. Wherever you go you can be tracked by your IP address. IP is a numerical value that points to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and ultimately to your specific computer. It is connected to your computer by assigning your login username and password.
When you request a website by clicking on a link or bookmark, your computer sends its IP address to the website along with the page request. The destination server responds by sending the requested page to your return address. Your computer receives the HTML data and your browser turns it into a graphical page that you can view. This way, websites can track every page you view by logging your requests along with your IP.
Anonymous browsing overrides this ability by using an intermediary proxy that “stands” between the surfer’s computer and the Web. This intermediary server, or proxy, handles all of your computer’s requests for you. Your requests go to the proxy, which forwards them to the web. The website sends the requested pages back to the proxy server, which then forwards them to your computer. Websites can only log the IP address of the proxy, not yours. It’s a bit like having a waiter run all the errands for you, so that the waiter’s face is the only familiar face on the web.
There are many free proxy programs for anonymous browsing, but most rely on the use of “unintentional” proxy servers. These are private corporate servers that are misconfigured to leave ports open, which anonymous surfers can exploit. Enthusiasts use port scanners to check for unsecured networks, then post their addresses publicly on a daily basis. When administrators become aware of the violation, the port is normally closed. Therefore, using manual anonymous browsers means constantly strutting through the list of available proxy servers. Purists are willing to do this, because they believe it’s the safest way to achieve anonymous browsing.
The alternative is to join a web service that will provide a toolbar to use instead of the standard Universal Resource Locator (URL) in your browser. You can navigate normally, using the address field on the toolbar to enter website addresses. The toolbar requests its server to act as a proxy. Most sites that provide anonymous browsing charge a monthly or yearly fee for the service, while others offer free trials.
Some websites offer free anonymous browsing, but the Internet user must browse from the website. Also, the proxy handles requests from paying customers before handling free proxy requests, which can make free anonymous browsing very slow.
Purists argue that browsing anonymously through a website service isn’t very anonymous, as all of your requests and IPs are stored on their server. This could easily lend itself to profiling. Contrast this with using random networks around the world as your proxy server. Administrators have no interest in public Internet traffic per se. If they notice anonymous sailing, they will simply close the port. This effectively keeps this type of anonymous browsing even more anonymous, because your computer’s requests aren’t all on one server.
Note that a proxy server is not considered anonymous unless it takes your IP address off its baseline. This is a header that can point to the IP of the requesting machine. In a true anonymous proxy, this referrer field will show the IP address of the proxy, not yours. Free software programs like The Proxomitron can check the anonymity of proxies.
