Internet Protection

[don]

Re: Internet Protection

posted on zerohedge:

We’ve discussed many times before - hardly a month goes by without some major action against Internet users... from Obama’s ‘kill switch’, to ACTA, SOPA and PIPA, to stasi tactics against people like Kim Dotcom.

Online privacy is becoming more important by the day. And nobody is going to give it to you, you have to take steps yourself to secure it.

Below are five different tools and services that will get you started:

1. Tor Browser

Tor is a great weapon in the fight for online anonymity as it allows you to surf the web without giving up your location and other personal data to the websites you visit.

The Tor Browser Bundle is the easiest and most secure way to get started; simply download it, and start surfing the web with the Tor Browser. It’s available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Learn more about and download the Tor Browser Bundle here

2. Duck Duck Go

If you want privacy, don’t search with Google.

Google store all of your searches to customize ads for you, but even worse, they can hand over the whole list of searches to any government agency that are curious about what you’ve been looking at for the last couple years.

A better alternative is Duck Duck Go, a completely anonymous search engine that does not store any information about you or your searches. The search results are essentially identical to Google’s, so there’s no loss of quality.

Search with Duck Duck Go here

3. HTTPS Everywhere

HTTPS Everywhere is a plug-in for Firefox and Google Chrome that tries to force a website to connect in secure mode, thus encrypting your traffic with the website you are visiting. This makes your browsing more secure because it prevents eavesdropping thieves or state-mafia from intercepting your unencrypted Internet traffic.

Download HTTPS Everywhere here

4. Cryptocat

Cryptocat is an encrypted chat that beats Facebook and Skype when it comes to security and privacy. If you want to chat in private then this is one simple solution. It’s also open source, which means you can see the full code and be sure there are no government “backdoors” built in.

Read more about and download Cryptocat here

5. Silent Circle

Silent Circle is a new player on the market, but it is founded by “old” players in the security and encryption industry. One of the founders, Phil Zimmerman, is also the creator of PGP, one of the most-used encryption platforms in the world.
Silent Circle is a suite of products offering:

• Encrypted email
• Encrypted video chat
• Encrypted phone calls
• Encrypted text messaging

Silent Circle is the only service on this list that is not free. But having the gold standard of encryption may be worth it for you. It is for me.

Read more about Silent Circle here

Bottom Line

You can set up most of the tools we discussed in 5 minutes. Each of them will go a long way in securing your privacy online.

[raja]

Re: Internet Protection

3 years ago I started using ESET.
I comparison-shopped, and it seemed the best re cost and performance.
It's worked well . . . .

I haven't bothered to look at different programs since then, so I don't know what's out there now.

Computer magazines and geek sites compare anti-virus programs . . . if I was looking, that's where I'd start.

[shiny!]

Re: Internet Protection

Very helpful, Don. Thanks.

The only thing I would change on your list is the search engine. I've used Duck Duck Go in the past but like Startpage better. Startpage basically gives the same results Google would, only it strips away all the things Google does to track its users. It's as private as Duck Duck, but much better IMO.

Startpage

[don]

Re: Internet Protection

I use Startpage as well. Works great.

[GRG55]

Re: Internet Protection

Great question don, as I needed to answer the same thing. From a complete computer technology idiot (who prefers to keep it that way) many thanks to everyone who shared their valuable knowledge!!

But reading through the thread brought home, yet again, that personal computers are actually still rather crude devices. I don't really want to know how my computer works, I just want to use it as a tool to get certain tasks done efficiently. I find having to spend time researching, downloading and fiddling with security software or anything similar, including all those irritating MS operating system updates (which seem to take control of MY computer for the duration), is about as much fun as filling out my income tax forms.

But I am definitely going to try some of the suggestions made on this thread to replace my now expired security software.

I still believe that if the computers in our cars were as crappy and as difficult to use as the computers on our desks, many of us would refuse to buy another vehicle...

[don]

Re: Internet Protection

I still believe that if the computers in our cars were as crappy and as difficult to use as the computers on our desks, many of us would refuse to buy another vehicle...

When computers were first become ubiquitous I asked the same thing. Who the hell would put up with any appliance that 1) had regular and nearly unknowable maintenance needs (commonsense means nothing with a PC) and 2) came with no instructions, period. Those you had to buy from a third party in a publication that rivaled the phone book in heft and size.