Few people really appreciate that every time they visit a website, they are effectively opening a window into their own computer system. In many ways, it’s like asking a stranger into your house and inviting them to play around with your computer.

Websites can track quite a few things about you. They can see where you have been trawling before, discover your IP address, find out where you are geographically located, and discover what operating system and browser you use.

Now, you either accept that whilst surfing you are exposed, or you can take matters into your own hands and surf anonymously. You have two choices if you want to do this. Firstly, you can buy software which allows you to search anonymously and hide your identity. Or, you can for free set up your own anonymous surfing tool.

The basic principle of both is that you employ the use of an anonymous proxy server, which steps in between your computer and the websites you want to visit.

And when your surf, your browser actually tells the proxy surfer where you want to go, and this way, the website you visit can’t take a peek inside your computer. Basically, you can then surf with complete anonymity, as your computer is never in direct contact with the website, only the proxy.

You might have already thought about the biggest problem with such a tactic though, it slows down surfing speed. Because you are using a proxy, you are adding a further element into the process and this can slow things down quite considerably.

Now, if you want to give this a go, there’s a few things you have to do to set-up your proxy.

First, search on line for a supplier of free proxy servers. There are many available. Such sites will give you a list of free proxy servers, including the key information, such as the port it uses, it’s uptime and when it was checked last.

From the list, what you’re after is an address which is active and with the highest percentage of uptime. When you’ve chosen an appropriate address, take a note of its IP address and its port number.

Right, with that information, go to Internet Explorer, click Tools, then Internet Options, Connections and, at the bottom of the command box, click the LAN Settings button.

Now, in the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings box, look for the lower box which is headed up Proxy Server. Tick the Use a proxy server for your LAN box, add the IP number you’ve found on the web in the Address box and also insert the port number.
Also, click the box Bypass proxy server for local addresses, as you don’t usually need to seek anonymity from your own network.

Right, finally, click okay and away you go. Test out your surfing and see how much the speed has slowed. But, at least you can surf in privacy.

Anonymous Surfing Explained – Recap

• when you surf, you open up your computer to strangers;
• by employing a proxy surfing, you can surf online anonymously;
• proxy surfing slows down times;
• search online for free proxy sites;
• look for suitable address;
• change you LAN settings.