What do the websites you visit know about you?
The short answer is…more than you think.
New research from NordVPN reveals that Australians have one of the biggest number of trackers following them online as Australian websites have, on average 18 trackers, that can collect and monetise data.
Trackers are built into the code of websites and may collect information like IP address and location, browsing history, clicks and browsing on a website and information on the device and browser being used.
It’s important to note that trackers can help improve your online experience, however it’s no secret that this information can be sold to other companies to target you with advertising.
So, how to you avoid being tracked by the websites you visit?
Here are some suggestions from NordVPN.
Use a VPN. By using a VPN, you will hide your real IP address and location from all third parties, including your ISP, cybercriminals, network administrators, and advertisers.
Install tracker blocker. These stop your browser from collecting information about you and may also work as an ad blocker. Some tracker blockers, like NordVPN’s Threat Protection, offer other cybersecurity features, like malware protection.
Use privacy browsers. Get an internet browser specifically tailored for people with online privacy in mind: no auto-syncing, no spell-check, no auto-fill, and no plug-ins.
Ditch Google. Google tracks a lot of data about you — if you want to avoid that, you’ll have to opt for other email providers and search engines.
Get full details on these findings from NordVPN at https://nordvpn.com/blog/nordvpn-research-website-trackers/
