How to Look Up Someone Anonymously on LinkedIn: The Definitive Guide
Want to peek at a professional’s profile without them knowing it was you? You’re not alone. Many of us need to check out a potential employee, a competitor, or just an old colleague without ringing any alarm bells. The good news is, LinkedIn provides ways to browse profiles semi-anonymously, although complete anonymity is practically impossible.
The most straightforward answer to the question of “How to look up someone anonymously on LinkedIn?” is to adjust your profile visibility settings to “Private Mode” before viewing the desired profile. This way, the person you’re viewing won’t receive a notification that you checked them out. Let’s dive deeper into how to achieve this, and what limitations exist.
Understanding LinkedIn’s Visibility Settings
LinkedIn, by default, is designed to encourage networking and visibility. This means whenever you view someone’s profile, they typically get notified. However, understanding and manipulating your profile visibility settings is key to remaining discreet.
Activating Private Mode: A Step-by-Step Guide
Navigate to your “Settings & Privacy” page: This can be found by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner and selecting “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu.
Click on “Visibility”: This section is usually located on the left-hand side of the page.
Go to “Profile viewing options”: Here, you’ll find three options that control how your profile appears to other members when you view their profiles:
- Your name and headline: This is the default setting. The person you view will see your full name and headline.
- Private profile characteristics: The person you view will see generic information, such as “Someone in the same industry” or “Someone at the same company.”
- Private mode: This is the most anonymous option. The person you view will not see your profile at all.
Select “Private mode”: By selecting this option, you become virtually invisible when browsing profiles.
Limitations of Private Mode
While Private Mode offers a level of anonymity, it’s crucial to understand its limitations:
- You forfeit viewing history: When in Private Mode, you also lose the ability to see who has viewed your profile. This is LinkedIn’s way of balancing privacy for all users.
- Group memberships: If you share a group with the person you are viewing, they might be able to infer that you viewed their profile based on shared activity within the group.
- Direct interactions: Any direct interaction, such as sending a connection request or liking a post, will, of course, reveal your identity. Private Mode only applies to profile views.
- Sales Navigator: If the person you are looking up uses Sales Navigator and has the settings to view who viewed their profile, there is a possibility of getting recognized, even in Private Mode.
Alternative Strategies for Anonymity
Besides Private Mode, other strategies can help you look up someone on LinkedIn with a degree of anonymity.
Utilizing a Secondary Account
Creating a secondary LinkedIn account with a generic name and minimal information is another option. However, be cautious. Using a fake profile is a violation of LinkedIn’s terms of service and could result in account suspension.
Search Engines and LinkedIn Recruiter Lite
Using search engines like Google or DuckDuckGo can sometimes provide information about a person’s LinkedIn profile without actually visiting the platform directly. Also, services like LinkedIn Recruiter Lite can offer more advanced search capabilities without necessarily revealing your direct identity to the target profile, depending on settings.
Third-Party Tools (Use with Caution)
Several third-party tools claim to offer anonymous LinkedIn profile viewing. However, exercise extreme caution when using these tools. Many are scams, contain malware, or violate LinkedIn’s terms of service. The risks often outweigh the benefits.
FAQs: Anonymously Browsing LinkedIn Profiles
Here are some frequently asked questions about anonymously looking up someone on LinkedIn, providing further clarity and insights:
1. Does LinkedIn notify users when someone views their profile?
Generally, yes. LinkedIn notifies users, showing either their full name and headline, generic information (“Someone in the same industry”), or nothing at all, depending on the viewer’s privacy settings.
2. Can I see who viewed my LinkedIn profile when I am in Private Mode?
No. When you’re in Private Mode, you also forfeit the ability to see who has viewed your profile.
3. Is it legal to create a fake LinkedIn profile to view profiles anonymously?
Creating a fake profile violates LinkedIn’s terms of service and could lead to account suspension or permanent ban. While not necessarily illegal in most jurisdictions, it’s unethical and strongly discouraged.
4. How often can I switch between Private Mode and public visibility on LinkedIn?
You can switch between Private Mode and public visibility as often as you like. The changes take effect immediately.
5. If I view someone’s profile in Private Mode, will they know if we have mutual connections?
Potentially. While your name won’t appear, they might infer that you viewed their profile if you have a very limited number of mutual connections and they recognize the characteristics displayed by Private Mode (e.g., “Someone at the same company”).
6. Can premium LinkedIn accounts bypass Private Mode?
No. While premium accounts offer enhanced features, they don’t override the viewer’s privacy settings. If someone is in Private Mode, their profile will not be visible, regardless of the premium status of the profile they are viewing. However, as mentioned earlier, Sales Navigator users might, in some very specific cases, have more details to work with to identify profile viewers, though not necessarily their full name if Private Mode is on.
7. Are there any browser extensions that can help me view LinkedIn profiles anonymously?
There are numerous browser extensions claiming to offer anonymous LinkedIn viewing. However, be very careful using these extensions. Many are unreliable, contain malware, or violate LinkedIn’s terms of service. Always research and read reviews before installing any browser extension.
8. Will liking or commenting on someone’s post reveal my identity, even if I viewed their profile in Private Mode?
Yes. Any direct interaction with the person’s content, such as liking, commenting, or sending a connection request, will reveal your identity. Private Mode only applies to profile views.
9. If I work for a well-known company, is it easier to be identified even when in Private Mode?
Potentially. If you select “Private profile characteristics,” LinkedIn might display “Someone at [Your Company]”. If the person you’re viewing knows your company well, they might be able to infer that you were the one who viewed their profile.
10. Does using a VPN help to remain anonymous on LinkedIn?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) masks your IP address, providing a layer of anonymity online. While it won’t directly affect your LinkedIn visibility settings, it can make it more difficult to trace your location. However, it won’t hide your profile if you are not in Private Mode.
11. What is the best way to remain completely anonymous when researching someone professionally?
Achieving complete anonymity is exceedingly difficult. LinkedIn is designed for professional networking, and traces often remain. Consider having a trusted colleague or acquaintance conduct the initial research on your behalf, if truly critical.
12. Are there any legal implications to anonymously viewing someone’s LinkedIn profile?
In most cases, simply viewing someone’s publicly available LinkedIn profile, even anonymously, has no legal implications. However, using fake profiles or engaging in harassment or stalking could lead to legal repercussions. Always act ethically and responsibly.
In conclusion, while LinkedIn offers options for browsing profiles semi-anonymously, complete invisibility is difficult to achieve. Utilizing Private Mode is the most reliable method, but understanding its limitations and the potential implications of other strategies is crucial for responsible and ethical professional research. Always prioritize ethical behavior and respect LinkedIn’s terms of service.
Leave a Reply