Privacy+with+Search+engines+How+to


 * Privacy with Search engines How to **

Every time you use a search engine (Google, Yahoo!, etc.), that site is then able to collect and store the records of all your searches. They can track the terms you search for, the Web sites you visit after you find what you are looking for, the times at which you search and they can even pick up your IP address. From all of that, the search engine site is then able to figure out who you are, what you do while you are online and even what some of your likes and dislikes are. That is more than a little scary. Below are five tips for you to consider:- If you go to your favorite search engine and log in right away, it makes it very easy for it to create a profile about you. Once you log in, they know your identity right away and after that, there's no turning back in what they can figure out next. Now, you may think that you do not log into your search engine, but you actually may without even knowing it. For example, if you use Google as your main search engine, you are probably signed up for some of Google's other tools, such as Gmail, Google Talk, Google Groups, etc. If you are logged into any of those extra programs while you are performing a search, Google will be able to track down all of your information. So, just be sure that you log out of any other programs before you start searching. It may be hard to remember at first, but for your own safety, make sure you do it. 1.) This next one has to do completely with ** keeping yourself safe from ** ** Google **.  Google does things a little differently. It uses cookies to track your history from your search sessions. You may think that if you just delete your cookies, you will be OK, but that is not really the best way to handle it. Cookies can be very helpful sometimes and if you deleted them, your Web surfing experience would not always be as easy. So, the best thing to do is block only Google's cookies. Here's how.:-  Go to :- ** Tools > Internet Options ** > ** Privacy ** tab. Next, click on the ** Sites ** button and in the "** Address of Web site **" box, type in Google's address (www.google.com). When you are finished, click on the ** Block ** button   2.) ** Change your IP address on a regular basis **. Search engines actually get the most information about you from your IP address, so it's best to change it every once in awhile. This will keep the search engines from learning so much about you so easily. If you use a cable or DSL modem, the easiest way to get a new IP address is to turn your modem off and leave it off for a few minutes. Then, turn it back on. This method will clear out your old IP address and you'll automatically be assigned a new one. If you use another type of Internet connection (dial-up, etc.), you may want to contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and ask them about getting a new address. Either way, it's an easy way to keep your information safe. 3) ** Do not ever include any personal information in your searches **. You may have searched for your own name before, which can be kind of fun, but it is really not all that safe. Every time you put any of your personal data into the search (your name, address,, etc.), You are putting yourself in danger. Doing that makes it very easy for search engines to collect your information and then keep it forever. It could also sometimes lead to identity theft, depending on what you search for. Your information could land in the wrong hands and it could be very bad news.  4.) ** Always try to perform extra sensitive searches on a public computer **. If you ever absolutely need to search for your personal information or any other extremely private data, do not do it on your home or office computer. That may not make much sense, but if you use your personal computer, it's more likely that you'll be logged into another program that could compromise your information. If you go to a computer that you have never used before, you won't have the tendency to log in and your information will be safer. Also, when you do this, make sure you do not log in on the computer you are using. If you accidentally do that, your information will be at risk all over again. 5.) The last one for today is to try and ** avoid using the search engine that your ISP provides **. Your ISP already knows your IP address (and they will know any new one that you get), so that means they can obtain your information even easier. Then, once you use their search engine, they will be able to collect even more information about you and it will just be bad. Most ISPs do have their own search engine, steer clear of those. It is nice to think that we can trust our ISPs (and most the time, you can), but you really have to worry about protecting yourself first.
 * Do not log into the search engine or any of their extra tools **.
 * In Internet Explorer ** ,