Who Is Tracking Me

Check who is tracking you

By understanding the signs of online tracking, you can take better control of your digital presence and protect your privacy. In this section, we will explore key warning signs that help you work out if and how you are being monitored while browsing the web.

Online services

There are several online services and websites that you can use to determine whether or not you’re being tracked and pin down the culprit.

Here are some of the best services to consider:

1. Cover Your Tracks

Cover Your Tracks is a website created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) that allows you to test the uniqueness of your browser fingerprint and see if it can be used to track you across websites. A browser fingerprint or digital footprint is a collection of information about your device and browser that is unique to you.

To use Cover Your Tracks, head to the official website. Once there, click on the Test Your Browser button to initiate the fingerprinting process.

After a short analysis, Cover Your Tracks will provide you with the results of your browser fingerprint test. These results may include information on how common or unique your browser fingerprint is compared to other users.

Cover Your Tracks also provides recommendations for improving your privacy, such as using privacy-enhancing browser plugins, regular cookie clearing, and disabling certain browser features that can be used for tracking.

2. Am I Unique?

Am I Unique is a website that allows you to determine how unique your browser fingerprint is and whether you are being tracked online.

The website uses the same technology as Cover Your Tracks to analyze your browser's unique configuration and gather information about your device and browsing habits.

To use Am I Unique, follow these steps:

1. Open a web browser and visit the Am I Unique website
2. Select See My Fingerprint
3. Once the analysis is complete, you will see your browser's fingerprint result. It will indicate how unique or identifiable your browser fingerprint is compared to other users.
4. You can also view additional details about your browser's configuration and how it affects your uniqueness score.

However, it’s important to note that Am I Unique only provides a basic analysis of your browser's uniqueness and tracking potential. It focuses on browser fingerprinting, which is just one method used for online tracking.

3. Trackography

Using the Trackography website allows you to explore the global tracking landscape and understand the extent of website tracking by various companies and entities. Here's how to use the website:

1. Open your web browser and go to the Trackography website
2. On the homepage, you'll see a world map with different colors representing different types of tracking. Scroll down to view the legend explaining the meaning of each color.
3. Use your mouse to navigate the map and explore different regions
4. As you zoom in, you'll see more details about the tracking entities used in that area. These include the names of tracking companies or organizations, the domains associated with tracking, and the types of tracking technologies employed
5. To get a more detailed view, click the View Tools button at the top-right corner of the website. This will open a sidebar where you can access additional features and filters.

Browser extensions

There are several browser extensions that make it easy to see who’s tracking your activity when you browse online. Here are the best extensions:

1. Clario anti-tracking extension. We’ve designed a browser extension that includes a tracker checker to identify online trackers, blocks ads, and spots malicious websites before your device gets infected. Clario’s anti-tracking extension is available on Chrome and Safari. To use the extension, follow these steps:

• Download Clario AntiSpy
• On the dashboard, click Safe browsing

• Install the Clario extension on your browser
• Enjoy spy-free browsing.

2. DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials. DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials is a privacy extension that’s available on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. It provides an overall privacy rating and gives you the names of browser trackers on every website you visit. It also links you to the website’s privacy policy so you can see how they track your data.

3. Privacy Badger. Privacy Badger is designed by the EFF and provides you with a list of website trackers that it discovers as you browse the web. For each tracker it discovers, it sends a “do not log” request to maintain your privacy. Privacy Badger is available on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

4. Google Ads Transparency Spotlight. Ads Transparency Spotlight is an extension designed by Google that lets you see which ads are present on the website. However, many advertisers are yet to opt into this scheme, so it doesn’t show everything. This is available on Chrome and Microsoft Edge.

Who actually can track you

It’s surprisingly easy for someone to track your activity online—especially if they’re close to you and have access to your devices. But even companies and criminals from across the world can track your activity if you don’t mask it.

Here are a few examples of people who can track you online:

• Your friends and family. The people who are most likely to spy on you include your partner and parents. If they have access to your devices (like your mobile phone), they can simply check your browser history or install a spy app like mSpy to log what you do and when you do it.
• Social media apps and plugins. Websites often include social media sharing buttons or login options that allow users to connect their social media accounts. These plugins and logins can track users' interactions and activities across multiple websites, even if the user doesn't directly interact with them.
• Analytics and Advertising Platforms. Many websites use analytics and advertising platforms to monitor and track user behavior. These ad trackers collect data such as page views, clicks, time spent on site, and interactions with ads. They can aggregate this data to create user profiles and deliver targeted advertisements.
• Internet Service Providers (ISPs). ISPs can track and monitor their users' online activities. They can see metadata related to your internet usage, such as the websites you visit, the services you use, and the duration of your online sessions.
• Government Surveillance. Depending on the country you live in, government agencies may have the power to track and monitor your online activities. This can include the collection of metadata, as well as the interception and analysis of communication content.
• Cybercriminals. Cybercriminals can employ various techniques to track and monitor your online activities, including phishing, malware, and hacking. Once they gain access to your device or accounts, they can potentially collect sensitive information, steal your identity, or even gain control over your online presence.

How to avoid being tracked online

Metadata is essentially data about data. As you browse the internet, you leave behind a trail of metadata that can reveal a lot about your behavior, preferences, and interactions on the internet.

To track you, all a person needs to do is get access to that metadata—and it’s usually pretty easy to do so. Some examples of metadata that people can track you with include your IP address, browser cookies, and GPS and location data.

The best way to avoid being tracked online is to make all of your metadata anonymous—which is only possible with an anti-spyware app like Clario AntiSpy.

Clario AntiSpy is a cybersecurity solution created by industry experts that helps you protect yourself from digital spying and stalking.

With Clario, you can:

• Monitor your passwords and online accounts and notify you if your information has been leaked in a data breach.
• Scan your devices for signs of spyware and any other vulnerabilities that can make it easy for people to track you.
• Find and remove malware, viruses, and spyware with the click of a button.
• Block ads, trackers, and phishing websites that try to steal your personal information.
• Mask your location to prevent people from seeing where you are.

Download Clario today and see how it can help you secure your activity online.

Conclusion

While it’s possible for many people to track your online activity, there are measures you can take to enhance your privacy and security. These include using virtual private networks (VPNs), regularly clearing cookies and browsing history, using antivirus and anti-spyware, encrypting your communications, and keeping your devices updated.