anonymous Web surfing - technical definition

Surfing the Web without divulging personal information to Web sites and tracking technologies. It is generally accomplished by using a proxy server, which functions as a relay between the user and the destination site, hiding the user's IP address. Products may also provide encryption on the user side.

Some methods use a browser plug-in and may be able to delete cookies as soon as the session is over as well as prevent OS version and Web page history from being forwarded to the Web site. See cookie, anonymous remailer, anonymous proxy, onion routing, Web bug and Anonymizer.