Editing Privacy (section)

===Anonymity===
{{main|Anonymity}}

[[Anonymous proxy|Anonymizing proxies]] or anonymizing networks like [[I2P]] and [[Tor (network)|Tor]] can be used to prevent Internet service providers (ISP) from knowing which sites one visits and with whom one communicates, by hiding IP addresses and location, but does not necessarily protect a user from third party data mining. Anonymizing proxies are built into a user's device, in comparison to a [[Virtual private network|Virtual Private Network]] (VPN), where users must download software.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-11|title=Anonymizers vs. VPNs: Everything You Need to Know|url=https://blog.orchid.com/anonymizers-vs-vpns-everything-you-need-to-know/|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Privacy & VPN Blog – Orchid|language=en}}</ref> Using a VPN hides all data and connections that are exchanged between servers and a user's computer, resulting in the online data of the user being unshared and secure, providing a barrier between the user and their ISP, and is especially important to use when a user is connected to public Wi-Fi. However, users should understand that all their data does flow through the VPN's servers rather than the ISP. Users should decide for themselves if they wish to use either an anonymizing proxy or a VPN.

In a more non-technical sense, using incognito mode or private browsing mode will prevent a user's computer from saving history, Internet files, and cookies, but the ISP will still have access to the users' search history. Using [[Private browsing|anonymous search engines]] will not share a user's history, clicks, and will obstruct ad blockers.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|title=7 Tips to Manage Your Identity and Protect Your Privacy Online|url=https://staysafeonline.org/blog/7-tips-to-manage-your-identity/|access-date=2021-11-22|website=Stay Safe Online|language=en-US}}</ref>