Do you know how common it is to be worried about privacy on the internet? Would you be surprised if we said that
80% of people are concerned? From this pretty surprising statistic, we’d say there’s a high likelihood that you are concerned, too (an 80% chance, we’d say…)
Dangers to online privacy never stop. Interactions on the internet, whether a click, a search, or a download, get monitored and recorded. And ISPs are the first in line in the sea of data they keep about you. Of course, they play an essential role of giving internet access. The downside is that these companies can also observe, analyze, and market your surfing behavior on to other parties. And they can do this as they please, with or without you knowing it.
The Impact of Unrestricted Access on Your Data
When you think for a moment, the i
mplications of unrestricted data access are pretty disturbing. We’d say that the world as we know it would now struggle without the internet. Wouldn’t you? And since the world is so heavily reliant on it, dangers always lurk. These dangers range from the irritating – adverts that pursue you all over the web – to the downright worrying – like a security breach that exposes your private details.
Many users are now awakening to these privacy concerns. And they are turning to proxy servers to provide a shield. But how do proxies influence the information an ISP can collect about its customers? This article will discuss the use of proxies and the ability of ISPs to track the data they process and the privacy that is potentially under threat.
How ISPs Monitor Your Internet Activity
All ISPs have staggeringly powerful tools that allow them to observe what you do. On the surface, they can track your visited sites, time spent, and data used. They gather web data about you, and also your IP address, device used, and so on. That may sound annoying, but not too bad. But it’s also possible for them to check what’s inside some of the unencrypted data packets you send and receive. Encrypted data? Think credit card details and you’ll understand what we mean...
ISPs have several channels through which they access information. These include using deep packet inspection which is focused on information on the network setup; logging DNS requests that keep a record of the websites that someone accesses; and spotting data patterns from analysis of network flow. Most ISPs also use traffic shaping techniques, also called "excessive control," where some data is preferred over others after careful monitoring.
In many cases, government laws on surveillance of ISP data differ widely between countries. This means that in some areas, any services provided that involve the collection of personal information must have appropriate consent from the user. But in other societies, laws are murky to say the least. In Europe, frameworks like GDPR protect data usage while in California, it's through CCPA. But implementation remains challenging.
How Proxies Can Change ISP Visibility
Proxies cut the surveillance abilities of ISPs at a stroke. This is because they set up a hard-walled tunnel between the proxy server and the device. This means that the ISP cannot see the internet traffic, including the sites you have visited and the information exchanged. In fact, all the ISP knows is that you are online and connected to your proxy. While this conceals what sites you visit, it also (more importantly) hides the types of information you enter, including passwords and billing details.
The extent to which you can browse the internet using a proxy in this way is impressive. There is nowhere the ISP can log the IP addresses of the web pages you visit, since every request is made on from the proxy's IP address. And because of this, ISPs have a hard time creating a detailed history of your online activities. So it’s pretty impossible for them to collect your data and sell it on.
Best Practices for Maximizing Privacy With Proxies
All this means that setting up a trustworthy proxy is the first step toward safeguarding your online security. When you do this, look at each providers' history and track record, especially their policies regarding privacy. Also look at online testimonials and comments from other users. And make it a top priority to choose a provider that prioritizes user anonymity and, for that reason, has a “no-logs” policy.
Extra considerations include adding extra encryption options for privacy. Also use HTTPS when connecting to a proxy server or tether some of your devices directly to the web using a proxy on a service like HTTP Tunnel. Users who need enhanced security even go as far as creating a double shield using a proxy and a VPN simultaneously. You may find it useful to read our article which
compares VPNs and proxies.
Conclusion
ISP proxies mask your digital footprint so you don't expose your activities to your ISP. Even though you don’t completely disappear from view, a good proxy can conceal where you’re going and hide much of your data. And knowing this, you’ll be able to make a much more effective choice to protect your privacy.
