Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the Anonymizer support FAQs, where you'll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our overall services. FAQs about specific services can be found by clicking on the Home User FAQ's section on the left.
About Anonymizer
How does Anonymizer protect people’s online privacy?
Anonymizer acts as a trusted intermediary between its users and the websites they are viewing.
Every computer that connects to the Internet is assigned an IP (Internet Protocol) address. In many ways, this is very similar to a telephone number. By tracking your IP address, online snoops are able to track the sites you visit and build profiles on your Internet activities. Anonymizer protects your privacy and personal information (credit card numbers, financial transactions, etc.) from cybercrimes and other abuse by redirecting your Web traffic through its secure servers. This ensures that your IP address is kept private, and that your online identity is protected.
Our privacy solution for home users, Anonymizer Universal™, protects you by keeping your IP address (and your identity) private. Anonymizer Universal works by creating an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the Anonymizer servers to shield you from even the most sophisticated methods of online spying, phishing, and pharming. Anonymizer Universal is simple to set up and use, and works silently in the background.
Anonymizer Nyms™ protects your personal email address and identity with disposable, alias email addresses. Nyms allows you to create unique alias email addresses for every website you visit so you can shop online, track stock prices, join online newsgroups, and more without the fear of spam flooding your Inbox. Each alias email is automatically forwarded to your primary email so you won’t need to check multiple email accounts.
How is Anonymizer different from other Internet privacy products and services?
Our technology, performance, support, infrastructure, and track record set us apart from the competition.
Technology: Anonymizer develops proprietary technologies that specifically protect a user’s identity on the Internet. All Internet traffic is routed through dedicated hardware, housed in secure facilities with complete access control. Other Internet privacy solutions such as Tor, do not use secure hardware or private proxies. Their technology relies on individuals to “open” their own workstations for users to access as proxy machines.
Performance: Anonymizer’s solutions enjoy very high availability and are tested and optimized on a regular basis. Because other Internet privacy solutions rely on individual computers for the proxy network, performance and reliability can be severely impacted.
Infrastructure: Anonymizer maintains tens of thousands of privately owned untraceable IP addresses and rotates them frequently to keep users from being blocked. Internet privacy providers that use an onion router type of network use proxies owned separately by individual operators. This can be dangerous, as users have no idea who is on the other side of the connection, and are at the mercy of the integrity of each one of these operators.
Support: Anonymizer offers free customer support. Tor, and other Internet privacy solutions do not offer these services to their users.
Track record: Anonymizer is the most experienced and widely used Internet privacy service, protecting millions of users and billions of Web pages since its inception in 1995. Because of Anonymizer’s hardened networks, redundant connections, and strict internal procedures, the company has been able to weather everything from hacker attacks to government-sponsored intrusion teams. Anonymizer is the only Internet privacy service that has earned its reputation in the field, and our real-world experience gives us the edge in developing newer, safer, and better privacy technologies.
What is Anonymizer’s privacy policy, and can user information be subpoenaed?
Please refer to our Privacy Policy.
Who stops the bad guys from using Anonymizer to carryout malicious attacks and get away with it?
Anonymizer has built strict limitations into our software that prevents abuse to the system. Customers aren’t able to send spam, launch denial of service attacks, or carry out other types of malicious attacks using Anonymizer software.
Does Anonymizer provide business solutions?
In addition to our products for home users, we also offer security solutions uniquely adapted for corporations and agencies. Please contact us for additional information.
How much do Anonymizer services and software cost?
Anonymizer’s products for home users are sold on a subscription basis, and range from $19.99 to $79.99 for one-year licenses.
Anonymizer also offers custom business class solutions, from small business to large organizations and agencies. The cost of these solutions varies by individual customer requirements. Please contact us for additional information.
How does someone use Anonymizer’s services?
Once the Anonymizer software is installed and activated, it works silently in the background. You simply surf the Web as you normally would using any browser, with the added peace-of-mind that your privacy is protected.
About Internet Privacy
What kinds of information can websites gather about their visitors?
The amount of outsider observation that can happen in the online world is much greater and more dangerous than in the real world. For example, in a physical bookstore, the store can only gather a list of what books you purchase (assuming you don’t pay cash). In the online world, bookstores can gather all purchases, your home address, credit card numbers, all the books you merely browsed, and the amount of time you spent browsing each book. It is like being followed around the store with a camera over your shoulder.
In addition, Web Analytic tools make it possible for any Web administrator to identify specific IP addresses, domain names, and geographic locations of visitors in order to collect visitor activity. With just this simple tool, they can analyze individual surfing behaviors, track the pages within the site that are most frequently accessed, and identify downloaded files, etc. It is this aspect of functionality that can, in turn, be used to build a detailed psychographic profile based on your purchases and online tracks.
How concerned should the average user be, and what are the biggest risks?
People expose themselves online in all kinds of ways that they would not if they realized their vulnerability.
Anyone who surfs the Internet should be concerned about the amount of information that’s shared and how long it’s kept. Your trail of information accumulates with data points giving a wide range of personal information to those seeking it. These data points are often sold to marketing companies who will then target you with pop-ups, spam emails, and other junk mail based solely on your online profile. To make matters worse, this information can even be sold to health insurance companies who may want to track what health information you’ve been seeking to deny coverage or increase your rates.
For example, AOL released the “anonymous” search logs for 650,000 users. There was no “identifying information” attached to individual searches, but all searches done by the same person could be grouped together under some “anonymous” identifier. A reporter at the New York Times was able to identify one of those people in just a few days based on her searches.
The Internet’s top search engines state in their privacy policies that they automatically record information on user searches, including Internet browser and language, computer IP addresses, unique cookie information, and the URL of the page requested. Just as you wouldn’t want anyone listening in on your private conversations, you don’t want anyone watching your every move on the Internet. This simply underscores the importance of protecting your identity when on the Internet.
Can self-regulation and privacy seals be effective?
While self-regulation is a fine thing, it provides little assurance to the end user. Few users understand the standard policies advocated by many industry groups, many of which are far from privacy friendly. It is also difficult for users to tell the difference between legitimate privacy organizations and window dressing. Finally, enforcement is very difficult, as there are serious questions about the ability of these groups to effectively sanction violators.
Is government legislation alone enough to protect my privacy?
Legislation has a role to play, but it cannot effectively protect privacy. People need to actively protect themselves. Viruses are illegal, yet you need anti-virus. Hacking is illegal, yet you need firewalls. If you want to be anonymous, you need to take responsibility for that as well.
Legislation is key for setting baseline expectations of privacy and minimum privacy standards. It is also required to protect privacy in situations where an individual is required to hand over personal information such as banking, medical, and online purchases.
However, legislation is mainly national or local, while the Internet is, by its nature, international. In addition, enforcement of legislation is difficult, and unlikely to be pursued against small time violators. It is often difficult to tell who has gathered information that is later used by a third party. And lastly, restrictions on the use of publicly visible information have serious first amendment implications.
IP Address
How often does the IP address change?
The Anonymizer servers automatically change the IP address provided on a daily basis.
Can I choose how often the IP address changes?
No, the IP address will change automatically. It is not possible to manually change or request a change of the IP address.
Can I choose what country the IP address is located in?
No, the IP address will always be located within the U.S.
Visibility
What information is visible to my ISP?
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is able to determine that your Web browsing traffic is connecting to the server being used by Anonymizer that day, as well as the volume of traffic you are passing through your Web browsers.
What information is visible to the Websites I visit?
The websites you visit will be able to see the browser you are using, your Operating System, and the character set. Anonymizer will provide the IP address and location. All cookies placed by a website will detect and record the Anonymizer IP address.
Compatibility
Do you have to install any special software to use Anonymizer?
Yes, Anonymizer’s home user solution, Anonymizer Universal, requires a software installation that can be downloaded from our website. Anonymizer Nyms is Web-based and available through the website www.nyms.net. The business class solutions vary. Please contact us for additional information.
What Internet browsers does your software work with?
Anonymizer software will work with any browser except AOL, as this browser issues an AOL IP address, regardless of your Internet Service Provider. In addition, you should only use the browser to visit trusted sites that do not require added security. Please also note that Beta versions of browsers are not supported until the full version is released.
Why is browsing slow at times?
Any time Internet traffic is redirected and encrypted, a slight delay may occur. This is especially true for International customers as the Internet traffic is passing through our servers in the U.S.
What Internet service can I use with your software?
Our services can be used with any Internet connection except for Satellite Internet connections. These types of connections are unable to provide a consistent connection and L2TP VPN connections are typically not supported by satellite providers.
Anonymizer Universal is not compatible with certain mobile broadband cards on a Mac, including the Verizon Wireless Broadband card. We are currently in the process of researching this issue.
What operating systems are compatible with the Anonymizer software?
Anonymizer Universal is compatible with Mac® OS X 10.5 Leopard or Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard®, Windows XP, Windows Vista™ or Windows 7, and iPhone®, iPad® and iPod touch®, OS 3.0 or greater.
Nyms is available through our website, www.nyms.net, and is compatible with all Operating Systems.
What are the system requirements for Anonymizer software?
For Windows users Anonymizer Universal requires the Microsoft .NET Frameworks, as well as the Microsoft updates for these programs. Users must have a Genuine copy of Windows to receive these updates. An active Internet connection is required to use and update the software.
Mac users require an Intel, G5, or 867Mhz + G4 Processor.
Does Anonymizer software support Peer-to-Peer programs?
Anonymizer services do not support Peer-to-Peer or other file sharing programs. Your access to the Anonymizer Universal servers may be limited or stopped if your usage at a site or port is excessive. Please review the End User License Agreement for further details.
Are Anonymizer services compatible with 64-bit Operating Systems?
They are compatible with 32-bit browsers run on 64-bit Windows Vista and Windows 7 machines. They are not supported on 64-bit XP machines.
Username/Password
Where do I get my username and password?
If you have forgotten your username and/or password, please visit: Recover Password
How can I change my username, password and/or contact email address?
The username cannot be changed, but you can change your password by visiting: Update Password
Your contact email address can be changed by visiting: Update Email
When I try to log into the website, the username and password field just keeps recycling the page, but I don't receive any errors.
This is occurring because you are either blocking or filtering cookies. Please change your settings to allow all cookies when accessing our site.
Licensing
How many computers can I use the software on?
You may install the software and use the services on one computer and one mobile device. If you would like to use our services on multiple computers, please purchase a new subscription with a different username. For additional information, please see our Terms of Use.
Downloads
Where can I re-download my software?
To download your software, please visit: My Downloads
How long will it take to download Anonymizer products?
The download time varies depending on the product you purchased and the type of Internet connection you have.
Payments/Renewals
How do I renew my subscription?
To ensure you receive a discounted renewal price as a current Anonymizer subscriber, turn “On” the Auto-bill feature on your account to automatically renew your subscription prior to expiration. Please log in to your account and visit “My Profile” to ensure your billing address and credit information are current or you can reorder through the Anonymizer website via credit card or PayPal. Please select “Already have an account?” and enter your current username and password and the purchase will be applied to your current subscription.
I receive the error: “You may not view this page with Anonymizer software enabled. Please disable Anonymizer Universal and try again.”
Please select “Disconnect” in the Anonymizer Universal interface or run the “Configuration Wizard” to restore the browser setting when you order the software.
What is your refund policy?
Refunds will only be given within 30 days of purchase or renewal for Anonymizer Universal and within 30 days of purchase or renewal of Anonymizer Nyms. If you purchased the software through a reseller, please contact that company for refund information. To request a refund, please contact Anonymizer Customer Support:
Monday - Friday, 7:30am-5:00pm
Within US: 1-888-270-0141
Outside US: 1-858-866-1399
Credit Card
How can I change my credit card information?
Please Log in to at “My Account Login” and select “My Profile” to update your billing address and your credit card details.
I receive card errors when I try to order the software. Are there other means to purchase the software?
Anonymizer also offers the option to pay via Paypal. PayPal offers payments via credit card, PayPal account, and other options depending on your country of origin.
Auto-Billing
Where can I turn on/off Auto-billing?
To turn your Auto-bill setting on/off, please visit: My Profile on the Anonymizer website.
Will I be notified about my expiration or auto-billing?
An email will be sent to the email address on file 7 days prior to auto-billing, 14 days prior to account expiration, on the day the account expires, and on the day auto-billing is scheduled for processing.
Why didn't my auto-bill renew my subscription?
If you purchased the service initially from another company, or through PayPal, we do not have your credit card information on file. If the service you initially purchased is no longer available, you will not be automatically billed. Please login to My Profile on the Anonymizer website to add a credit card to your Anonymizer account or update your credit card or billing information.
My account hasn't expired. Why am I being auto-billed?
Autobilling occurs 45 days prior to expiration. This allows time for any billing errors that occur to be corrected before the customer suffers a lapse in service. The new expiration date will be from your current expiration date, not the date of the autobill.
Cancel
How can I cancel my account?
To cancel an account, please call Anonymizer Support Monday through Friday at 1-888-270-0141 or 1-858-866-1399, or Email Support at any time.
