Online shopping is the perfect place for companies and hackers to collect valuable information.

Think about it.

To complete most transactions you need to give at least your name, email, card number, expiration date, security code, and usually an address.

Each, a precious byte that can be sold to (or stolen by) data brokers, advertisers, dark web surfers, and who knows who else. This could easily lead to annoying targeted advertising at best, or identity fraud and credit card fraud or worse.

Whether you’re buying from a well-known retailer or a smaller site, it’s important to take steps to keep your data safe.

Here’s a practical guide to help you protect yourself while shopping online, covering everything from cautious behavior to handy tools that make privacy easier.

The first and simplest step is to be cautious about where you shop. If a website looks sketchy or unfamiliar, it’s worth doing a quick background check.

• Search for reviews: Type “Is [website name] a scam?” into your favorite search engine to see what others have experienced.
• Check site permissions: When you visit a site, be wary if it asks for unusual permissions like access to your camera, microphone, or location. Legitimate shopping sites don’t need these.

Trust your instincts — if something feels off, it’s better to err on the side of caution.

That said, you can still buy from sketchy sites with confidence your data won’t get leaked, or it won’t matter even if it does, with the tools you’ll find below.

Websites often collect information about your device and browser.

It’s called digital fingerprinting. This can include:

• Your operating system and device type
• Browser version and extensions
• Screen size
• IP address
• And more

While many sites use this data for analytics or personalization, it can also be used to track and identify you online across thousands of different sites.

The more unique your computer, the easier you are to track across the internet, including online shopping sites.

This too can be mitigated with the tools listed later.

Being aware of this helps you understand how your information might be gathered beyond what you explicitly share.

When creating accounts or making purchases, many people give away more personal information than necessary — like full names, addresses, and phone numbers.

Ask yourself: Do I really need to provide all this info?

Sometimes, you can use an alias or a separate email address to keep your identity more private.

Just because Amazon asks for your name, doesn’t mean they need your real name.

Even your card information doesn’t necessarily have to be “real”, with the right tools.

Ok, I’m done teasing now.

Here are some practical tools and tips to help you hide or protect your data during online transactions:

Browsers That Protect Your Privacy

Consider using browsers designed to reduce tracking and fingerprinting, such as:

• Mullvad Browser (based on Firefox)
• Brave Browser (based on Chromium)
• Tor Browser (for maximum anonymity, though less convenient for daily use)

I generally recommend Mullvad or Brave for daily use. These browsers also include built-in ad blockers and anti-tracking features.

Alias Emails

Use services like Addy.io or SimpleLogin.com to create alias email addresses (up to 10 alias emails with a free account).

These forward emails to your real inbox but keep your actual address private. You can disable aliases anytime if they start receiving spam.

These email aliases work on most sites, but if it doesn’t then you could always make an email dedicated to just online shopping with an email provider like Proton or Tuta.

Virtual Payment Cards

Services like Privacy.com let you generate virtual debit cards with spending limits and merchant restrictions. You can:

• Use fake names and addresses on these cards
• Limit charges to specific websites or amounts
• Cancel cards instantly if compromised

Technically, another interesting benefit you can get from using Privacy cards is you can set the billing address to a state that doesn’t impose sales tax when buying digital products in particular.

It can save you a couple extra bucks on your transactions.

Shipping Privacy

If you want to keep your physical address private, consider:

• Using a PO Box
• Shipping to a trusted friend or family member’s address
• Using a local drop point if it’s available

While it’s not always a perfect solution if you want to hide your address, these are the best options that most people would have access to.

The best of these would be local drop points, such as Amazon lockers, because they’re not tied to your name.

VPNs for IP Privacy

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) hides your IP address, making it harder for sites and your internet service provider to track your location and what you’re doing online.

ProtonVPN offers a reliable free option. While not always necessary, it’s a useful extra layer of protection.

Unless someone is specifically targeting you, these tools and habits will protect your privacy in the vast majority of online transactions.

By being cautious, limiting the information you share, and using privacy-enhancing tools, you can shop online with confidence and peace of mind.

Plus, with these tools in place, if the site you shop with ever does get hacked and your information leaked, it’s mostly junk information, and shouldn’t affect you personally.

Protecting your privacy online doesn’t have to be complicated or require extreme measures.

With a few smart habits and the right tools, you can keep your personal and financial information safe while still enjoying the convenience of online shopping.