4 ms·

If I am not mistaken, only the website you click on after searching will know the search term, so how does using a VPN protect you from this? For example, if I

• dsl 14y ago
  This is the blog of a company that sells VPN accounts. Thats how it protects you... sigh
• Encosia 14y ago
  Your true public IP address won't be disclosed if you're using a VPN as an intermediary. Sort of like private domain registrations; sure, there's an address to associate, but it's meaningless. Of course, using a SSL connection to Google would be sufficient on this case, since that prevents the referrer from being included when you visit a search result.
  • potkor 14y ago
    Most people's "true public IP address" is just as pseudonymous though.
    • Encosia 14y ago
      With always-on routers usually being the DHCP lease recipient for residential broadband, even dynamic IP addresses are typically a lot more "sticky" than most people expect. Couple that with the location-specific info available via reverse DNS on residential IPs, and it doesn't take a vivid imagination to see how easily even a loosely correlated search history could be used against you when applying online for jobs, healthcare, credit, etc. I would honestly be shocked if there aren't risk assessment departments (or entire companies) already specializing in applying techniques like that to filter resumes, bias interest rates, and raise premiums accordingly.