Think that fake screen name helps you stay anonymous online? Thanks to AI, that anonymity might be a thing of the past. You still have several ways to protect yourself from being unmasked by AI.
LLMs Introduce Online Deanonymization
While you are wondering whether your secret identity on Reddit is really secret, AI chatbots are able to accurately link fake users to real identities.
Thanks to LLMs (large language models), researchers had over a 60 percent success rate at identifying the real user behind supposedly anonymous usernames on Hacker News and Reddit. And, if asked to just make a guess, it was right around 90 percent of the time.
And, as we all know, AI keeps getting more sophisticated, so those numbers are likely to go up.
The research group included Anthropic, ETH Zurich, and MATS. Together, they created the ESRC method. It’s a simpler way of saying AI automatically Extracts clues, Searches, Reasons, and Calibrates.
Typically, it took some serious skills and a lot of time to uncover a person’s real identity. Now, it may just take a few hours at most. The LLMs scour thousands of sites to compare similarities between posts, such as:
- Writing style
- Personality and tone
- Grammatical mistakes
- Interests and hobbies
- Mentions of a common location
- Common complaints
It doesn’t matter what screen name you use, these AI chatbots are able to match your anonymous posts with public posts using your real identity.
Staying Anonymous Online Affects Your Safety
At first, it might not seem like such a big deal. But, imagine if your employer uncovered embarrassing posts you made years ago under a different identity. What if background checks could match you with all those anonymous posts you’ve made throughout the years?
Matching your real identity with posts you never want tied to you could risk your job, destroy current relationships, help online trolls find you, and even help stalkers or just unhinged users discover your real location.
I believe we all should have the right to at least some anonymity online, especially to stay safer. But, that’s becoming more difficult.
Start Using a VPN or Tor Browser
You might not realize, but no matter where your posting online, sites track your IP address, location, and more. Your browser even generates a fingerprint to identify you. AI chatbots may be able to pull this data, making it easier to match up your anonymous and real identities.
VPNs help mask your real IP address and hide your location. I always recommend using one on public Wi-Fi. It’s important to note that VPNs don’t hide everything and won’t make you completely anonymous. For instance, they don’t prevent cookies or hide anything you post publicly.
Another option is to use the Tor browser. It re-routes your traffic through relays all around the world to keep your browsing more anonymous. At least if you’re posting under an anonymous screen name, your real location won’t be tracked. Install it on a USB drive to use everywhere. Or, try a Tor alternative.
But, a VPN and Tor browser only work to keep you anonymous online when mixed with other methods.
Hide All Personal Details
Even if you’re trying to stay anonymous, it’s easy to still accidentally mention real aspects about yourself. For instance, you might discuss favorite hobbies or experiences. Maybe you mention previously living in a certain city or working with a specific employer.
Always hide all personal details. Never share anything real about yourself. I know it’s tempting, but every personal detail, no matter how small, could be used to match you with your real identity. The more personal details you share, the easier it is for LLMs accurately match you.
If possible, go back to any posts you’ve made anonymously and delete personal details in the posts and your profiles.
Delete Past Posts and Fake Profiles
Odds are, your past posts and fake profiles probably provide AI chatbots with some hints as to who you really are. If you don’t want anything coming back to hurt your real identity, delete everything you created anonymously.
I know this might be impossible in some cases. But, if you can, try to make a list of any fake profiles and screen names you’ve used. List any sites you’ve posted on anonymously. Then, wipe out everything.
Use search engines to help you find any mentions of screen names you’ve used. Try these Google power user tips to dig deep and find where you’ve been lurking with your assumed anonymous identities.
Use AI to Generate a Separate Identity
Since AI is tracking users down, why not make it work for you to stay anonymous online? Before you post anything, ask AI to help create a fake identity and use it to generate responses.
This helps eliminate your own writing style and personality to reduce the risk of your anonymous posts sounding like the real you.
I suggest creating a fake account with ChatGPT, or an alternative. Don’t provide any real details about yourself. Also, use a VPN or Tor browser to sign up and use it.
Stay Anonymous Online Even With AI
AI’s not perfect, so yes, there are still ways to stay anonymous even with LLMs trying to create a mass online deanonymization. It might be more difficult, but possible.
My advice is to always think twice before posting anything online. You might think no one will know it’s you, but AI might figure it out. If you must post something anonymously, combine every tip to protect your real identity.
