What Is The Difference Between PRIVACY And ANONYMITY?

I have a hard time remembering the difference between the exact meaning of privacy and anonymity so I thought it would be a good idea to write a post on the topic.

• Privacy - the state in which a person is able to hide their information for no other reason than to keep it from others. Think of actions that you want to keep private from others such as going to the restroom or intimate moments with a significant other.
• Anonymity - the ability to entirely hide one's identity from others with the intention to conduct activities you want other to see, but don't want others to know who you are.

Its easy to confuse or mix up the definitions but they clearly have distinct meanings.

When applied to technology it can be even more difficult to figure out the level of privacy and anonymity you think you are getting with the actual level you are receiving.

I think most consider it nearly impossible to keep private on the internet. With the majority of internet companies you click away a lot of your data when you agree to the terms of agreement. Yes that long set of conditions that no one reads. Advertisers can collect or buy your data and its likely that your data has been stolen and sold by hackers.

In this day in age, I think the it is safe to assume that a person enjoys very little privacy on the internet.

In regard to anonymity, true anonymity is difficult to achieve and it doesn't always guarantee privacy.

I think what it comes down to is the level of experience that a user has to keep anonymous against the level of the person or group that is trying unmask your true identity. If you are being targeted by a professional entity then you likely don't even know it and at some point you will make a mistake.

These meanings are often confused and misused in the crypto-world as well, so it's vital to understand their distinction before trying to compare cryptocurrencies that specialize in privacy and anonymity.

In addition, cryptocurrencies can have different levels of anonymity and privacy. How those levels are determined can be challenging because not all cryptocurrencies use the same technological solution.

I'm not an expert in this area, but my goal is to make people aware that the definitions and understanding are more complex once you begin to break the surface.

Here are some good articles if you are interested in diving deeper into this topic.

• How Does Privacy Differ From Anonymity And Why Are Both Important

• Privacy vs. Anonymity

• 9 Anonymous Cryptocurrencies You Should Know About

Let me know what you think on the topic in the comments below!

Traversing the Cryptosphere,
Kryptonaut