Protecting Yourself Online

[Phuzzy4242]

Protecting Yourself Online

Anyone who goes online should be aware some of the basics of protecting their privacy, especially when blogging, chatting, or using a bulletin board.


Search Engines

The basic tool to find resources and for research, many/most search engines store lots of info that can point directly or indirectly to the identity of the searcher, including IP address, type of computer used, time of day searches are made, topics the searcher is interested in, and other info. The major search engines like Google have already proven they'll roll over for governments (for example China and the US) which then use that info to prosecute/persecute, especially against ideologies they don't approve of. The major search engines store ALL of your searches and quickly build up a profile that can accurately describe you. You should use a search engine that has at least some minimal privacy features. A couple to try:

* ixquick https://ixquick.com/ - also lists a proxy hyperlink which can help you stay anonymous.
* duckduckgo https://duckduckgo.com


Best Practices

The first rule should be to avoid providing any kind of identifying information - stay truthful merely by NOT divulging details. Avoid discussing who you are, where you are, etc. A screen or user name should be as anonymous as possible.

There are several very good reasons for this – first, it’s akin to the 'shoot and scoot' principal in artillery – don't give an enemy something they can target. "Anything you say can and will be used against you". Anything you post on the internet is forever. Example: Implying or stating you live in Hong Kong might attract the attention of authorities searching for software pirates.

It’s also useful to ‘time shift’ when posting online. Most people follow a normal daylight schedule, so you can help mask your geographic location simply by being active at times other than the normal waking hours in your time zone. For example, someone in the UK can wait until 1:00 AM to post to give the impression they are in the eastern U.S. at 8:00 PM.


Pseudonyms

It's almost NEVER a good idea to use your real name. A random pseudonym lets you abandon an old name and adopt a new one whenever necessary, and should be done periodically. It's a very good idea to use a different pseudonym for each site you frequent, just like you should always use a different password. Aside from the 'black helicopter' aspect of government looking over your shoulder, there's the danger of theft of your identity, your data, and your money.

Obtaining an online identity should be as random and unconnected from someone’s off-line persona as possible. There are a number of sites for generating randomized identities and other ‘details’ to get one started. Why use such a site? Simply because most people aren’t as random as they may think. These sites take even unconscious tendencies out of the equation.

* http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/
* http://online-generator.com/name-genera ... erator.php


Email

A separate e-mail address for each site is needed for some of the same reasons listed above. Most sites require an email address to confirm a login, etc. The downside is that a number of places have blocked the use of these sites, but it’s worth a try anyway.

* http://www.mailinator.com/ - This site uses several URLs and will generate random addresses
* 10 Minute Mail http://10minutemail.com/10MinuteMail/index.html - Provides a random email for literally 10 minutes (the time can be extended).
* G-mail or Hotmail also have separate and anonymous addresses available to set up a randomized identity account.


Proxies

A proxy service allows you to connect to one site by going through another site. The destination can't track you because it never sees your IP address, only the proxy's. There are several reasons you might want to use a proxy. Some websites are cesspools that make you want to take a digital shower - you DON'T want them to know where you are. A site might ban an IP address arbitrarily or simply because your opinions are contrary to their worldview. Other sites won't allow IP addresses to connect from outside their geographic area. And of course, there's Big Brother government.

There are many proxies around the web. TOR even has its own browser to make the process easier. The downside is that proxies slow down a connection quite a bit.

https://www.torproject.org/


The main thing is to always keep them guessing and be a moving target. I'm sure others on the board can come up with other pointers, so have at it!

[emuler]

Thanks, Phuzzy4242. Good stuff.

Some browser and browser settings allow sites to gather even more information. Turning off javascript wherever possible is recommended. Most sites kind of force you to use it.

A good site - been around for ages - to test your proxies etc. is http://www.stilllistener.com/checkpoint1/

[mimzy]

Thanks Phuzzy for this excellent overview. Fake name generators are definitely fun to play with

[Pardal2008]

Thank you Phuzzy,
Caution is never enough, and safety is always first.
Pardal

[mimzy]

Some browser and browser settings allow sites to gather even more information. Turning off javascript wherever possible is recommended. Most sites kind of force you to use it.

I often turn off javascript, because I hate those interactive pages where things are popping and blinking as I merely move the mouse. Sadly, it is true that many pages do not work without javascript at all. I guess it's mainly because tracking and advertising relies on javascript...

See also http://www.imasuper.com/66/technology/f ... cy-killer/

[Phuzzy4242]

This is why I recommend Firefox along with plugins such as Adblock, Flashblock, and NoScript to block or disable the unwanted stuff. When you must use flash (such as in YouTube) you can allow it - but only if/when you say so. People would be amazed if they saw how many scripts are running on almost every site (I've seen sites with as many as 15 javascripts running) and how many trackers are trying to follow where they go and what they do. NoScript lets you enable some or all scripts at each site, either temporarily or permanently (and re-DISable them too).

[starfish21]

here's a good one,you can remove things from the page one at a time.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo ... d/?src=api

[Phuzzy4242]

here's a good one,you can remove things from the page one at a time.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo ... d/?src=api

I like it, but I may be removing Chloe's animated duckface.

[starfish21]

yea,it's not the best,i'll change it asap

[Phuzzy4242]

Chloe can't help looking cute even in duckface.