Introduction
As defined by the Oxford Dictionary of English, anonymity is the state of having an unknown name, and possibly lacking individuality (“Anonymous”). The Internet is a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardised communication protocols (“Internet”).
As such, anonymity on the Internet in simpler terms, is defined as having an unknown name or identity on websites, online articles and forums, and even social media. We chose to adopt Gary Marx’s seven types of identity knowledge as our definition of “Personal information”. This involves a person 's “legal name, location, symbols linked and not linked back to those through intermediaries, distinctive appearance and behavior patterns, social categorization and certification via knowledge or artifacts” (Marx 99 - 122)

Why is our topic important? With more than 1 billion people using the internet daily and internet related crimes going on the rise, internet users are getting more worried about their personal information being available on the web than they were in the past. In a recent survey conducted by Pew Research Centre, half of respondents stated they were worried, up from 33% who said that in September 2009. Since there is compelling evidence that the level of concern is growing, it makes protecting one’s true identity and personal information on the web more relevant and essential. In this literature( review,