Anonymity and privacy: a guide for the perplexed

Anonymity and privacy are two separate concepts that are often confused. It is a common problem, made worse by the fact that they are often connected and related to each other. Which of them should be used when, and what do they mean? The terms anonymity and privacy are often used interchangeably, even by experienced researchers and academics. In reality, they are entirely different. Danny Bradbury explores the difference between the two concepts, where anonymity is relevant, and how it can be protected. And he finds that, while there are many tools that purport to allow anonymity online, these are constantly under attack, and achieving either privacy or anonymity is no easy task.

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