For most people the idea of anonymous surfing online is highly desirable. However, many people do not realize that the ability to browse anonymously is not a guarantee, and indeed, is not present in all cases. If you live in the United States, or many other developed countries, then you are lucky in that you do not face significant persecution for your viewpoints, and are not forced to reveal your true identity online. Yet, even in these parts of the world online anonymity can be, and is, compromised.

Your IP address is the single-most important component to your online identity, and it is one that is treated very lightly by most people. This address provides information that links it back to your country, your approximate location and even to you directly. As you visit different websites, your IP address is associated with every single piece of online activity that you involved in, which creates an online trial of your activity.

Now technically speaking, just because someone knows your IP address, it doesn't mean they know your identity. In addition, there may be multiple people using the same IP address, or even the same computer, which can make it even more difficult to work out what activity is associated with which person.

However, it isn't good to use this information to assume that you are anonymous online. For starters, there has been many examples where people have been prosecuted or the victims of violence because of something that happened on their IP address. In some of these cases it hasn't even been relevant whether the person actually did what they were accused of or not.

In fact, there has even been examples of this happening in the United States. Somewhat recently, it was revealed that film companies, mainly those working in the porn industry, have been suing people on mass for downloading their movies through torrents. The people in the lawsuits were identified on the basis of their IP addresses, although many argued that they had not downloaded the films they were accused of.

Anonymous surfing online is the best way to avoid ever getting in trouble for your online activity, especially when you haven't done whatever it is you are being accused of. As governments begin to crack down on people who are getting around copyright, it is very important to stay anonymous online, to ensure that your IP address is never associated with questionable activity.