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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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