Do You Really Need to Be Concerned About Search Privacy?

Most people don’t realize that even innocent searching can leave an unsecure digital footprint for others to follow. It’s assumed that the only reason you’d need private searches would be to watch dirty videos or perhaps plan the perfect crime. But as you’ll see, there are many legitimate reasons why private searching ought to be something everyone uses.

Sharing a Computer With Others

It just takes one person borrowing your computer one time to cause trouble.

Do your kids, spouse, friends, or roommates sometimes borrow your computer? If so, they can accidentally (or even on purpose) log onto your social media accounts, email accounts, and more — perhaps reading stuff you’d prefer they didn’t or even posting something to your profile that’s embarrassing when they thought they were posting to their own. If there’s any chance someone else uses your computer, be cognizant of search privacy.

Check Out Emails With Suspicious Links

Have you ever gotten an email that you weren’t sure was legit? With private searching, you can follow the link in a suspicious email without worrying about a hoax or phishing scam biting you for it.

Satisfying Your Idle Curiosity

Often while watching TV, reading, or just going about your daily business, you’ll hear terms you’re not familiar with. But searching the term online might lead to pulling up something you really don’t want people to think you’re into. With private searching, you can satisfy your curiosity without damaging your reputation.

Shopping for Gifts and Planning Surprises

They’ll just have to resort to shaking the box, because your private searches won’t offer a clue.

It’s impossible to shop for birthday gifts, holiday gifts, or plan an anniversary surprise without leaving a digital trail a mile long to spoil all your plans. Private searches let you get the goodies while never tipping off the recipient about what’s up.

Minimize Your Digital Footprint

Did you know that when advertisers track your browsing habits, they can raise the prices on you? Try it. Search for airline tickets to Bermuda, and check the prices. Likely, tomorrow, you’ll get ads for tickets $200 higher. Advertisers are trying to get you to buy the tickets now, before rates go up further, but with private browsing, you can continue to get quotes for great deals. The larger digital footprint you leave, the more advertisers can target you for this kind of shenanigans.

Avoid Paywalls

Many online publications, such as The New York Times, allow you to read a certain number of articles per month for free, and then put up a paywall to force you to pay to read additional content. With private searching, they have no way of knowing you’ve reached your 10-article max, and you can continue to access useful articles for free.

Using Public PCs and Wi-Fi Networks

If you have to use the library’s computers or visit a public Wi-Fi hotspot, the public access leaves your passwords and other personal information wide open to hackers. Private searching can help you keep your information secure, even when you’re in a public zone.

Conducting Medical or Legal Searches You’d Like to Keep Private

Ever had a medical condition you didn’t want to advertise? Or perhaps faced a legal situation that was potentially embarrassing? If you use private searching, you can find out what those funny-looking warts are or what to do when your neighbor files a bogus harassment suit against you — without letting the world know what’s up.

Testing and Debugging Websites

People who build or manage websites need to be able to view those websites as a stranger, without Google or other entities associating you with the website. Private searching is extremely handy for viewing your website like any random user would.

Managing Multiple Online Accounts

Increasingly, account managers are responsible for managing online accounts for clients. This might involve working with multiple Google accounts, social media accounts, or even email accounts. Private searching lets you log into and manage these accounts without conflict.

Safe Searching at Work

Do you really want your boss to know you were searching for Super Bowl tickets while your client on the phone droned on about last month’s sales numbers? Maybe you’d like to plan your summer vacation without letting your nosey coworkers put in their two-cents worth about mosquitoes in your tropical dream spot. Private searching is a godsend if you need to do personal business from the office computers.

See What Everyone Else Sees in a Search

Search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing have developed algorithms that help cater your search results according to your search history. But this isn’t helpful when you want to see what others see when they’re searching. Private searching is a way to circumvent these algorithms and achieve a pure search, untainted by your prior searches.

Web searchers, SearchLock is the anonymous browsing tool that offers anonymous surfing that’s easy to set up. It allows you to browse, shop, research, check email, manage social media, and more without compromising your privacy. This tool is easy to use and keeps your personal information where it belongs: with you and you only.

Sources:

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Kids/Get%20the%20facts/Digital%20footprint.aspx

http://www.infosecwriters.com/text_resources/pdf/ID_problem_emails.pdf

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/paywall.html

http://www.google.com/insidesearch/howsearchworks/thestory/