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Definition: anonymous Web surfing


Surfing the Web without divulging personal information to websites and trackers. Anonymous Web surfing hides the user's IP address by rerouting all requests through a third-party server (see VPN service, Tor and anonymous proxy).

Private Browsing
Another approach to anonymity is a built-in browser feature or browser extension that removes traces of Web activity in the computer when the browser application is closed (see private browsing).

The terms anonymous Web surfing and private browsing are sometimes used interchangeably. However, anonymous surfing hides the IP address from the website while private browsing deletes cookies and data in caches, which were deposited in the user's computer merely by going to the website. See privacy browser, privacy search engine, cookie, anonymous remailer, Web bug and Anonymizer.