Originally published for AE’s 10th Anniversary in 2019, updated January, 2022.
Take advantage of all that the online world has to offer, without giving up your online data. Here is an updated list of the best online privacy tools that we know of in 2022.
The internet is an amazing resource. It allows us to research obscure topics, connect with distant loved ones, and learn how to fix anything from a video. The internet has become so completely interwoven into how we live, work, and play that it’s hard to believe it only launched for the public in 1991!
Up until recently, we have been focused on all the amazing streamlining and productivity that the internet has offered us. It didn’t occur to most people to ask whether there were trade-offs involved… and now we are starting to wonder: Is my online activity being tracked, stored and used? Where do I look for answers?
Thankfully there are individuals and organizations that have been asking these questions for a long time. Long enough to come up with solutions that make our online data a lot more secure.
Below is a list of some of the best tools for online privacy that we have found to date.
Best Online Privacy Tools in 2022:
1. Privacy Badger
Privacy Badger is an anti-tracking tool that works through a simple browser extension. It blocks advertisers and other third-party trackers from secretly tracking where you go and what you do. Built by the Electronic Frontier Foundation you know your rights and privacy are protected.
New version 2020.5.12 makes buttons easier to tap on Android, added a replacement placeholder widget for Google reCAPTCHA, other fixes, and translations. Download now! https://t.co/2TEDjReckM
— Privacy Badger (@PrivacyBadger) May 14, 2020
2. Off-Facebook Activity
While Facebook has taken heat for violating data privacy in recent years, they are taking measures to enhance privacy for their users. Off-Facebook Activity, released in 2019, allows users to see and control the online data that apps and websites share with Facebook. When activity is cleared by the user, Facebook won’t send identifying information for the purposes of ad re-targeting or other marketing technology. If you still need to be on Facebook to message your parents or your family groups this is a helpful tool.
Today, we're starting to roll out Off-Facebook Activity, a new feature that gives you more control over your datahttps://t.co/GXpWUKeAyL
— Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) August 20, 2019
3. Tor
Tor, popularly referred to as the “Onion Router,” is a browsing tool that makes it possible to access websites anonymously–including “.onion” addresses, which are only accessible through Tor’s browser. Since its release in 2002, the Tor Project remains one of the most foolproof applications for masking browsing history and online activity.
Privacy is a human right.
— The Tor Project (@torproject) February 9, 2021
4. AdBlock Plus
Marketing automation relies heavily on advertising, and the result is often a better, more personalized experience for users. Solutions like AdBlock Plus simply protect users from irrelevant or illegitimate ads to preserve the customer experience with less risk of unwanted tracking. It not only blocks unwanted ads but also reduces the number of stored cookies that can track activity. It has gained over 50 million users since its release in 2006.
#adblockplus pic.twitter.com/3v61s4K6Ey
— Adblock Plus (@AdblockPlus) September 23, 2019
5. 1Password
We all need passwords and we all need to use unique passwords each time. 1Password is easy to use, even if you’re new to an integrated password manager and if you’re a more advanced user it’s got all the features and settings you need to be in control and safe.
Would just like to assure you all that our strong password generator is random, not a cat. To illustrate:
— 1Password (@1Password) February 11, 2021
Random: *Nj8?iiJzb-Qf3cgPz
Cat: ttgggggggg4rddddd 🐈⌨️
#ImNotaCat
6. Express VPN
Virtual private networks (VPNs) are rapidly gaining in popularity as more consumer privacy issues come to light. ExpressVPN uses VPN technology to bypass internet provider and government restrictions. Founded in 2009 ExpressVPN enables millions of active users in 180+ countries to protect their privacy and security online with just a few clicks.
7. OpenDNS
OpenDNS is a free browsing protection tool. It works with desktop and mobile devices to offer botnet and malware protection, as well as web filtering to protect users from accidentally accessing sites that may put their data at risk. Launched in 2006, OpenDNS has over 90 million global users thanks to its promise of greater security combined with a better, faster browsing experience for its customers.
8. SpiderOak
Just over a decade ago, SpiderOak recognized a need for data storage services that operate under the principle of “no knowledge”–meaning that the storage provider knows nothing about the documents and data stored on their servers. Unlike other providers who hold encryption keys and could release information about stored information, SpiderOak designed a solution that puts encryption keys solely in the hands of its users.
For some great holiday reading check out SpiderOak CTO Jonathan Moore’s latest article featured in NextGov: “Rethinking Software and Risk to Protect the Public Sector” at https://t.co/6psDyJz01q
— SpiderOak (@SpiderOak) December 23, 2020
9. Off-the-Record Messaging
Developed in 2004 as a university research project, Off-the-Record Messaging has since evolved into a highly-secure method for sending instant messages without exposure to possible surveillance. It is a simple, open-source tool that plugs into common messaging platforms to encrypt and protect conversations.
10. HTTPS Everywhere
HTTPS Everywhere was launched in 2010 as a collaborative effort of the Tor Project and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It forces browsers to load a secure version of websites that are missing a security certificate. The result is a safer browsing experience through data encryption between the connected device and the server.
Here’s to a safer online experience where we can simply appreciate all that the internet has to offer!
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