Online Privacy: better protection

Well folks, I feel there needs to be a sticky about this in this section or wherever else felt appropriate by admins

I'm no computer tech guy, but have used computers since age of commodor 64 and when i was like 5 lol

anyways

I see that many people log in here and share their pictures and since i'm a paranoid person myself, i figured some people like me may share more/easier if they knew some ways to increase their privacy-security online

read this as to why and how u can be identified easily by your ip
What is an Ip address and how can the police use it to track your down? - Yahoo! Answers

here is a list of methods i have found myself to improve privacy online, but by no means I can guarantee the accuracy or effectiveness of them, but I'm sure some of them will help to some extent!

1. Your ip can be traced right back to your door, with ease!

u can ask the admins here to confirm, but I'm pretty sure all of our ips are logged and may be accessed by some people possessing the knowledge about how to access that log. same log is used for banning users ;)

So, try not logging in from your Grow location address as much as possible
pretty much all digital cameras these days can be connected to random pcs as a plugnplay usb device or u can have your pics burned into a pc or copied to a usb flash drive and use a non-grow location to get online and post, like Barns & nobles or other free wifi locations. BUT DON'T jack your neighbor's wi-fi without their consent or for that matter any1 else's public wifi withour permission, its a felony and can land u 5 years in the pen!

OR

use paid products such as
Hide-My-IP.Com - Hide Your IP Address, Surf Anonymously, Protect Your Identify, Guard Against Hackers
Anonymous Web Surfing by Anonymizer

or u can use free services such as anonymous proxies, here is one YouHide.com - Anonymous Proxy Server

AS A PRECAUTION
if u grow, and if u connect to internet from ur grow location (e.g. your house) AVOID ALL illegal activities on your computer, such as using p2p networks for copyrighted materials... i would say u r exposing yourself to too much risk online, they can [and have done this in the past] easily have an arrest/search warrant on the basis of having your ip caught downloading illegally... but when they knock on the door, they will have much more to charge u with!


2. Use firefox(v.3 still has got some issues) browser and get some of the security add-ons with which u can minimize the traces u leave about which pages u visit online. IE8 supposedly has added a similar feature, but its still beta



3. Use ip blocking softwares such as Peerguardian2 or Protowall

they are not a 100% protection by any means, but can increase your online security from snoopin authorities... this is not to give u a false sense of security but to INCREASE YOUR CHANCES!

4. Delete all online data stored on your pc after each time u go offline, cookies, history, temp files, etc... most updated browsers have made this a simple 1 click option now

5. for broadband users, periodically disconnect the power cord of your dsl/cable/satellite modems for a few minutes while your pc is off as well, then reconnect. This will usually assign u a new ip if ur ISP offers dynamic ips for the service u use. Online spooking is done warrantless many times, which means people who do it, don't have any warrant to have the isp turn over your track records. so they are on their own to monitor your activity, thus a mere ip change can cause problems

6. for one of the safest methods of staying online (but with its own drawbacks, read up on it) u can use Tor network which also has an add-on for Firefox

thats all that comes to my mind now, if anyone else has any other ideas please feel free to share. I will add more if I come across newer/better ways for maintaining highest possible privacy levels for the poor end-consumer online! big brother always got the higher hand on all of us in the digital world, unless u r a super Chinese hacker lol most professional American hackers have been caught & prosecuted rather swiftly, and they probably have had better privacy than any of us could possibly have!

oh u may wanna read up on this as well, P Box

keep tokin & B E-Z:rasta:

3. Use ip blocking softwares such as Peerguardian2 or Protowall


this software is garbage and doesn't work

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slogro

3. Use ip blocking softwares such as Peerguardian2 or Protowall

this software is garbage and doesn't work

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I use PG2 all the time and it works just fine as much as its designed to give protection... updates have not come in lately but it works @ tcp/ip level to block out access to your pc from known ips

u got your opinion, i got mine, I have seen the results first hand so my decisions/suggestion is not due to the "hype" especially that PG2's hype has kinda been dead in the past year or so

i dont wanna turn this into a debate about these 2 particular softwares, so if u want such debates, please create a new thread
u can state your reasons explaining your stance that they don't work and we see how it goes from there, maybe u can prove your case and change my mind, maybe not!

1st update:

just read Yale Students' Lawsuit Unmasks Anonymous Trolls, Opens Pandora's Box to get an idea of how shit can go really really wrong!

The reason there is not a sticky as far as I am aware because, (and I have been here for years) is that there never has been a problem with security not that I have heard of, the bottom line is if you are paranoid about posting then don't do it or as has been suggested install the appropriate software for security
I understand your concern but I don't think we need make an issue out of it really.
I had better go now there is a loud knock at my door and I can see blue flashing lights in the driveway LOL :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nightcrewman

I had better go now there is a loud knock at my door and I can see blue flashing lights in the driveway LOL :)

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XD

i really wasnt serious about the sticky thing, just mentioned it as a possible idea.

I remember the good old days when there was no internet the only thing we had to worry about was some old dear next door peeping through her net curtains, or perhaps a postman with an extra ordinary sense of smell, those were the days.

NCM

The number one thing you can do to improve your security (other than using some common sense) is remembering that this is a MEDICAL site, and by avoiding any references to dealing and cashcropping, as site rules state, you do your part to help keep this place off the radar.

The best IP anonymizer I am aware of is called TOR- look it up.

Thank you for your concern, this is quite informative and will be moved into the technology section.

Be safe, and relax! :jointsmile: