We all assume a search engine to be a harmless blank box to which we can feed any query and get the desired results without any untoward consequence. But it is not true. Nothing comes for free in this world. Almost all of the search engines keep a track of our search behaviour such as the type of searches we make (keywords we feed them the most), the websites we visit and what not. And this very attribute of search engines helps them deliver us the desired results accompanied by the advertisements, one of the consequences. Everyone of us at one point or the other must have noticed the ads featuring alongside the search results, how exactly similar they are to whatever we search. It is so because the search engine knows what we are searching for (they tie those terms to your IP address, your name, and other items) and they feed us with an alternative by means of advertisements. So always remember, whenever you search something on any search engine, even if you do so behind the closed doors is being tracked by someone somewhere without your knowledge. This is a clear case of privacy being compromised.

However, you can protect your online privacy and avoid other online security hazards by following certain security measures or simply by using an automated online security tool (we will come to that later). You should always follow the tips given below to increase your searching privacy.

Useful Tips to Follow While Using Search Engines

• Do not sign-in into your email on same search engine which you regularly use for searching. If you sign-in, then your search activities can potentially be combined with your personal email address. Therefore, segregate your searching from other web activities.


• Use multiple search engines while browsing.


• Search wisely. Avoid associating personal information such as name and passwords while using search engines.


• Avoid web cookies. Cookies are the tools that interrelate different information. If, some of the cookies already exist in your computer, delete them on time to time basis. Once a week is best.


• Varying physical location for searching can also be helpful in keeping you safe. When you do so, it becomes difficult for search engine to create a complete profile of your searching activities. For this, you may do some searching from home, office or other different places.


• Avoid clicking unknown links present on a search engine. They may be malicious and a click can deliver your entire searching activity to some source unknown to you.


• Make the use of anonymizing tools a habit. A proxy can hide your IP address and make you anonymous online making it difficult for a search engine to locate you. However, proxy come with the associated security risks so you may not want to use them. Instead go for a private VPN or Virtual Private Network. It will not only anonymize you online but will also protect you against almost all of kind of online security threats such as Trojans, Malware, Hackers, Snoopers and more.


• A VPN hides your IP address and assigns you an IP address belonging to its server located at a different physical location. This is enough to baffle a search engine. A VPN can also be used at an unsecured public WiFi to dodge the hackers camping on such networks. The biggest benefit that you get with a VPN is that it encrypts your data using HTTPS encryption making it safe to chat, download, make bank transactions online.


• The fun aspect of a VPN is that it will also unblock Facebook at work without giving your network administrator a clue about it. Similarly, you can unblock YouTube at school, play online games, and do almost everything you want to do online anonymously. However, it is recommended to browse wisely and not to misuse any tool for doing unscrupulous activities. One such state-of-the-art VPN application is Hotspot Shield that assigns you a US IP, making surfing even more fun to use.

100% online security and privacy may be a myth, however, considering these tips will definitely help you achieve the maximum online protection that you could ever get.