Although much has been written lately about data security breaches and how consumers' personal data has been compromised, not as much attention is paid to the fact that, in many ways, the internet also offers much more privacy than the offline world. From convenient, private shopping options to ways to protect your address and other personal information online, the internet offers a host of privacy options if you know where to look. Here are five of the most popular ways to protect your privacy and personal information when using the internet.

1. Shop for more intimate products online

If you get a little bit embarrassed when shopping for products for you and your lover's more private interactions, you may find relief in shopping for these kinds of items online instead. Condoms, sex toys, and lingerie can all be purchased online instead of in person at brick-and-mortar stores. Another benefit beyond the privacy afforded to customers shopping online is a wider variety of items. For example, plus size lingerie sold by retailers like Spicy Lingerie can be found in abundance online, giving you more confidence about finding something that looks great and fits great. Most online lingerie stores also offer generous return policies so that you can buy your outfit knowing that you'll be able to exchange it if you need a better fit. This way, you never have to go into a store and be seen trying it on.

2. Mask your identity with anonymous shipping

If you're buying something and don't want to divulge your personal address, you may feel like you're at a loss. After all, it seems like in order to get anything in the mail, you either have to provide the address of your residence or purchase an expensive PO box at the post office and travel there in person. Thankfully, Ship Anon solves all of these problems for you. With Ship Anon, you can arrange for pickup from a specific location rather than reveal your home address. You'll get shipping updates, too, with the knowledge that all data about the transaction is expunged after the shipment is complete. This can give you the peace of mind you need to buy and ship items with confidence about your privacy.

3. Create social media accounts with limited personal information

Just because you're on social media doesn't mean that you have to reveal a lot of personal information about yourself. On Twitter and Instagram, your username can be whatever you want, and many people use a combination of a first name and middle name on Facebook—especially when they're applying for jobs. By that same token, it's easy to use a picture of your pet or some other nondescript photo as a profile picture, keeping your page a bit more secure.

4. Store your money in a crypto wallet

Crypto wallets are for more than just investing in cryptocurrencies! These secure digital wallets use two-factor authentication to keep your funds secure and aren't even linked to you personally. Decentralized currency and banking have a lot of benefits for people who want added security and a more off the grid lifestyle, so definitely look into setting up a cryptocurrency wallet if you haven't already.

5. Use private browsing windows so your data isn't stored

Have you ever noticed that airlines and other businesses use specific products or subjects you've searched for online to market relevant products and information to you? If you don't want your browsing history to be stored and used in these kinds of ways, navigating the internet with an incognito or private browsing window is one way to shore up the safety of your data. While incognito windows won't protect you from everything, they add a nice layer of privacy to your browsing. That's certainly better than nothing.