How To Host A Website Without Getting Tracked?

Just about everything is done on the internet today.

In such an environment, maintaining privacy is a big challenge.

Whether you’re a blogger, activist, small business owner, or anyone who plans to launch his website, hosting a website without being tracked is increasingly important.

This guide will walk you through practical steps to minimize surveillance while maintaining your web presence.

If you think privacy is a valid concern, read it till the end.

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Why Website Privacy Matters?

Before diving into solutions, let’s understand what we’re protecting against:

• Data collection by hosting providers, analytics companies, and advertisers
• IP address exposure that could reveal your location
• Legal jurisdiction risks in countries with poor privacy protections
• Identity linking between your website and personal information
• Surveillance from government agencies or corporate entities

Step 1: Choose Privacy-Focused Domain Registration

Your domain name is your digital address, and how you register it matters tremendously for privacy.

Privacy-Preserving Domain Options

• Domain privacy/WHOIS protection: Most registrars offer this service, sometimes for a fee. It hides your personal information from the public WHOIS database.
• Privacy-focused domain registrars: Namecheap, Njalla, or OrangeWebsite offer enhanced privacy features.
• Alternative TLDs: Consider domains ending in .is (Iceland), .ch (Switzerland), or .to (Tonga) for jurisdictions with stronger privacy laws.

Tips for Private Domain Registration

• Use a separate email address specifically for domain management
• Pay with cryptocurrency when possible
• Never use personal information in your domain name
• Consider domain proxy services that register the domain on your behalf

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Step 2: Select Anonymous Hosting Solutions

Your hosting provider has significant access to your website data, so choose wisely.

Privacy-Respecting Hosting Options

1. Privacy-focused VPS providers:
   • Njalla – Accepts cryptocurrency, minimal information collection
   • 1984 Hosting – Based in Iceland with strong privacy laws
   • OrangeWebsite – Privacy-oriented hosting in Iceland
   • Bahnhof – Swedish provider with strong stance on privacy
2. Self-hosting alternatives:
   • Tor Onion Services (formerly known as “hidden services”)
   • I2P eepSites
   • Freenet websites
3. Decentralized hosting:
   • IPFS (InterPlanetary File System)
   • Handshake domains
   • Sia/Skynet hosting
   • Solid pods

How to Cover Your Tracks?

• Use a VPN or Tor when administering your site
• Pay with cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Monero) or privacy-preserving payment methods
• Use different devices for personal and website administration
• Consider using Qubes OS or Tails OS for heightened security

Step 3: Configure Your Website for Minimal Tracking

Even with private hosting, your website itself can leak information. To counter it, consider the following:

Technical Configurations

• Use HTTPS with certificates from Let’s Encrypt
• Configure proper headers:
  Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains
  X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff
  X-Frame-Options: DENY
  Referrer-Policy: no-referrer
  Permissions-Policy: interest-cohort=()

• Implement server-side logging minimization
• Host static websites when possible (fewer attack vectors)
• Use serverless architectures that limit persistent tracking

Content Delivery

• Self-host resources instead of using third-party CDNs
• Minimize JavaScript as it can be used for fingerprinting
• Avoid third-party services like Google Fonts, embedded videos, or social media widgets
• Implement locally-hosted analytics with tools like Plausible, Matomo, or GoatCounter

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Step 4: Anonymous Content Management

How you manage your website matters as much as where you host it.

Privacy-Preserving CMS Practices

• Use static site generators (Jekyll, Hugo, 11ty)
• Manage content through encrypted channels
• Commit to Git repositories anonymously
• Use a separate operating system or virtual machine for website management

Operational Security

• Create content on air-gapped computers when possible
• Use Tor Browser for admin logins
• Implement strong multi-factor authentication
• Utilize separate devices for different projects

Step 5: Legal and Jurisdictional Considerations

Different countries have vastly different privacy laws and surveillance capabilities.

Jurisdiction Shopping

• Privacy havens: Iceland, Switzerland, and the Seychelles offer stronger privacy protections
• Data storage location: Choose providers with servers in privacy-respecting countries
• Legal entity structure: Consider forming a company in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction
• Terms of service: Carefully review hosting agreements for privacy implications

Documentation Practices

• Minimize what you write down about your site
• Use encrypted notes for sensitive information
• Have clear data handling policies
• Know the data retention laws in your hosting jurisdiction

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Step 6: Ongoing Privacy Maintenance

Privacy is not a one-time setup but an ongoing process.

Regular Privacy Audits

• Test your site with privacy tools like the EFF’s Cover Your Tracks
• Use Panopticlick or AmIUnique to check for fingerprinting vulnerabilities
• Regularly review server logs for unusual activity
• Check your site on various browsers to ensure consistent privacy protections

Content Policies

• Be mindful of what information you share
• Avoid posting identifying details in your content
• Consider the metadata in uploaded images and documents
• Use pseudonyms consistently

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Limitations and Trade-offs

Being honest about the limitations of privacy measures builds trust.

What You Can’t Avoid

• Some level of trust in your hosting provider
• Technical challenges with completely anonymous hosting
• Potential performance impacts from privacy measures
• Higher costs for privacy-preserving services

Finding Your Balance

• Determine your threat model and privacy needs
• Accept reasonable compromises based on your situation
• Implement the most impactful measures first
• Gradually improve your privacy posture over time

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Conclusion

Creating and maintaining a truly private website requires effort, but it’s entirely possible with the right approach.

By carefully selecting your domain registrar, hosting provider, and implementing privacy-preserving technical measures, you can significantly reduce your digital footprint while maintaining an effective web presence.

Remember that perfect privacy doesn’t exist, but meaningful privacy improvements are within reach.

Each step you take toward greater privacy not only protects you but also contributes to a more private internet for everyone.

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