Privacy/Security 4 Dummies

[mellowyellow]

Hi everyone.

I know that anonymity and security are one of the most important things you can have on the internet and was wondering if any of you who have some knowledge on the subject were willing to share maybe some tips, hints, do's, and don'ts. I have looked through the archives a bit but alot of the links and such seem to be broken and alot of what to do in them is kind of un clear (for a not so computer literate person like myself).

I was thinking if we could compile enough info we could make an updated internet security thread for everyone to benefit from.

I had a few questions to start off:

1. Is purchasing the a security package from a website (www.PGP.com for example) absolutely necessary? Are there better packages out there? Any that are free?

2. What "bases" should we have covered on our computer. So far I know that the important ones are ANON IP,having a good list of proxies, Encrypt the data that your computer sends and recieves, Encrypt your HD (stuff you need encrypted like the photos of last years mardi gras ) .

3. What programs/websites should not be trusted.

4. Is there any other advice you could recommend?

BTW...Big Thanks, Hippie3, Zen and everyone else who make this a great place to be.


MY

[procell]

"I know that anonymity and security are one of the most important things you can have on the internet"
I'm one of those guys who started out with a 9600 modem running at a pentium I with a blazing speed of 66MZH with 64meg RAM., built my first web site in 1995. Have a quick read of the History of the Internet to give yourself a basic understanding of what you need to know. The internet was designed as a file transfer system, a web browsers is basically FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software that reads and displays the files that it downloads.
(Anonymity) Since it was designed as a file transfer system it keeps track of where packets of stuff go. So, an anonamous e-mail would be nice. I don't have one but think someone else here can speak to that issue. Setting up multipl yahoo accounts isn't secure since they would be able to track back and find the first one very easily. The next time I'm out of the counrty I may try to set one up.
(Security) I use a firewall (Free Zonealarm) and don't use the automatic settings. It asks me if I want something to contact the internet, and it allows me to see wants happening with my system. Like the fact that my virus software (McAfee) tries to use 4 different programs to access the net 2 or 3 times each everytime I start my system up. It willl try to automatically dial up each time as well. My Music software is the same way, anyhow; that stops some information from going out. For browsers, as far as cookies go, ERASE ON EXIT, history ERASE ON EXIT. If you use financial software use it by it self, use no other software (especially P2P Software) at the same time and close the window before loading anything else. I use an old computer and only keep my finances on it. USE Virus Protection and keep it up to date.
Then there is also the fact that stuff also stays around in cyberspace, like images that I posted here years ago that are in the archive attributed to me. Still probably easy to find in 10 years if someone really wanted to find it. I've found my original website (from 1995) mirrored on servers who knows where and I can't remove it. So be careful what you post.

[mellowyellow]

Thanks procell.

That helped me quite a bit.

In regards to "erasing" stuff, just deleting isnt good enough correct?

[Invalid Comfort]

Originally Posted by mellowyellow

Thanks procell.

That helped me quite a bit.

In regards to "erasing" stuff, just deleting isnt good enough correct?

No, deleting things doesn't "erase" them. All it does it remove the referance that you have pointed them too. It isn't erareed until the bits that it's occuping are re-written. The best way to encrypt a HDD, is to fll it with random information and different locational referances...

I just went stupid >.<.