Web3 is here and is so much more than only blockchain. The evolution of the web has shown a need for privacy which hasn’t been available until Web3. Privacy is a concern for many who won’t want their information tracked by connecting to the internet. Web3 technologies enable privacy on the open internet.
VPN
VPNs are the first iteration of Web3 technologies. The rise of VPNs for common use protects users at the transport layer. While VPNs can obfuscate the IP address, they don’t do anything for the data which is being transmitted to servers once the connection is made. Only using a VPN obscures one piece of data, IP address.
Browsers
Browsers are the main way users browser the web and their evolution is more focused on the user’s privacy. Browsers automatically send your IP address and user agent to the website used to fingerprint your computer. IP addresses are considered personal data under GDPR and CCPA. Tor is the original private browser combining the features of the VPN with their exit nodes and the privacy of encrypting your data. Tor allows you to increase or decrease the security levels by disabling web features which violates your privacy. Brave is another browser focused on privacy. Brave doesn’t send your IP address or user agent string decreasing the ability of websites to fingerprint your computer. Brave blocks ad trackers by default and removes known query string tracking parameters.
Search Engines
Search has been a great feature of Web2 to find websites which are relevant to any question you ask. But, there is a dark side to search. Search engines are excluding some websites which may be very relevant to your questions. Search engine’s algorithms are built to reward the existing branded websites. Search engines don’t show new websites or smaller websites which may have the exact information you want. Duckduckgo is focusing on privacy when you search for other website. Duckduckgo doesn’t provide personalized search results but only the relevant results to your question. Duckduckgo doesn’t track your search results and doesn’t fingerprint your computer with user agent and IP address.
Messaging Apps
Messaging apps send your messages through centralized servers which record all your conversations. Messaging apps didn’t encrypt your conversations but send them plain text over the internet. Whatsapp is the original privacy focused messaging app encrypting your conversations. Facebook purchased Whatsapp in 2014 and hasn’t honored the legacy of the original app. A large number of messaging apps have come to market with the promise of secure, private conversations. Signal is made by one of the founders of Whatsapp and is the decent private messaging app. Telegram encrypts the data by default but you need to turn on the end to end encryption feature for each chat. Telegram has secure channels where groups of people can talk together privately.
Blockchain
Blockchain has enabled crypto currency to provide privacy for your financial transactions. Crypto currency encrypts the transactions in a public ledger which allows for proof of the transaction but not who made the transaction. Blockchain has other potential uses as a secure way to sign contracts and make financial transactions. The stock market could run on blockchain in the future. NFT is a unique token in the blockchain with data added for the digital object. The data can be anything from tweets to videos to digital art. Your own identity can be part of a blockchain being able to prove you are who you say you are with a digital token. Logistics companies are using blockchain to keep a record of shipments and verifing packages go to the correct place. Blockchain can be used by government to record votes and keep a secure digital record of the person who voted and who they voted for.
Blockchain is continuing to innovate on how we use this wonderful technology. But the Web3 is more than blockchain. The Web3 is keeping our data private and secure while maintaining an open internet.