How Far Will You Go for Online Privacy?
Everyone wants privacy, but how far are you willing to go for it? For most people, the answer is “not very far.” The cost of privacy is not only the knowledge required to navigate the Internet safely and discreetly, but often also the inconvenience of security practices such as using a VPN, installing ad blockers and other extensions, and using a browser other than Chrome. If you’re doing everything you can to protect your privacy online, we want to hear from you. And if you go to extremes, we definitely want to hear from you.
When I first switched to a privacy-focused browser, I wondered why I didn’t do it sooner. I left Google Chrome after reading one of the countless stories about how Chrome is the worst browser for your data and privacy , and after importing my bookmarks and settings I admittedly felt rather smug. Now I was a Brave user, separated from the flock of sheep that were feeding their data to Chrome, and resigned to having their data flagged and tracked wherever they went. I also deleted my Facebook account, installed a VPN on my phone, and used Tor to view everything I wasn’t proud of. I also stopped using Google Maps. At least I tried. As you might expect, few of these changes lasted long.
Protecting my privacy online brought one inconvenience after another. At first I attributed my minor troubles to the need for training. My VPN broke some websites, so I’m used to turning it on and off when I need to, for example. But while some decisions made life easier (I still don’t miss Facebook, and browsing the Internet without an ad blocker seems unthinkable now), others created accumulating obstacles. Websites would not load due to compatibility issues with my browser. Extensions were not available. Technical walkthroughs with friends and IT teams invariably led to a point where I had to explain that no, I don’t use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
I once spent several days discussing companies, agencies, and friends who insisted they were trying to call me even though my phone never rang. Frustrated, I finally called Verizon and a customer service representative ran me through a series of tests and pings to determine the problem. After half an hour, my call was transferred to a higher level of technical support, which helped me solve more complex problems, such as rebooting the network. Finally, in a moment of clarity, I apologized to customer service, admitted it was user error, and hung up. I knew what the problem was, even if I couldn’t explain it: I had left the VPN on, and somehow it was blocking incoming calls. I turned it off and life returned to normal.
I began to feel less complacent and more impractical, my decision to live a privacy-oriented life having downsides that I wasn’t sure I was ready to accept. The turning point came when I was on a trip and a Netflix error told me that my browser was no longer supported. Stuck at the airport with yet another inconvenience, I became frustrated, gave up, and found myself back in Chrome.
Of course, it’s my fault, and there are endless reasons to forgo the inconvenience and make your online privacy standard practice. As part of our Safety Net series, I want to talk to people who take their privacy seriously enough to go to great lengths—perhaps even extreme measures—to keep your identity and privacy safe. I want us to learn what you do to protect your privacy, what it means to use technology the way you do, and what convenience you sacrifice to do so. If this sounds like you, email me at [email protected] with the subject “Safety Net” or email me on Bluesky , and I’ll contact you if your story is selected for publication. If this sounds like someone you know, send them this article to share your experience. You can, of course, remain as anonymous as you like.