VPN's

[snappy71]

what a great post Popster, i will definitely be doing some serious reading later

Thank You!!

[barq2]

selfless-desiresSorry I haven't been posting guys been extremely busy at work with our new store. 50 hours of overtime for me.

The problem with tor and tails is that if you're not running everything properly, i.e. VPN or the like, then your using them will be widely known by your isp. Also if someone were hot on your trail and your usernames were constantly being logged in with IP addresses from all over the planet that would be a big red flag.

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This is a good point about TAILS. There are enough people using VPNs for bittorrents that you are keeping company with people breaking copyright, rather than doing more serious criminal things. I have heard that TAILS is on "the list" of websites and keywords that they look for. So I suppose it might get noted. There is also potential to use these things poorly, which seems like worst of all worlds (i.e. attract attention, but fail to actually cover your tracks).

ISPs do notice bittorrenting, but their main interest is that those users tend to be gobbling up a disproportionate about of bandwidth.

Real security is hard. This isn't my job, but I have three servers that need regular attention to keep them secure(ish). My webserver in France was getting 1/4 million break in attempts a DAY. Lots came from China and Russia, but some of the most sophisticated came from the USA and UK. I have taken measures to block IP addresses, but it is a war.

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Does anyone here bother with full disk encryption? I should probably set it up for my laptop (not that it leaves the house very much). If you do use it, is that more from fear of burglary and then ID theft / fraud? Or does it have any part to play in keeping certain medical needs private?

I noticed the TrueCrypt audit suggested no backdoors. But some people have interpreted the way the developers dropped it, might have been a coded warning to users.

[comingdown]

Thank you for the link Popster, I am sure many on this site will find it useful!

[Popster]

I suggest this line from the Desiderata as a guide:

"Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism".

Keep in mind......that many on the Internet do offer sound advice, and do offer good and free "open source" software such as Firefox, virus protection (as good as Symantec's expensive offerings) and free Proxy Servers.

Many proxy servers that hide your IP address are set up by smart and decent people who's only goal is to be helpful.......there are many more good people in the world than bad.

P.S. it isn't necessary to have a lot of servers available to hide your IP address.........it is only necessary that they be secure......many people do the right thing for the right reasons........

[barq2]

Keep in mind......that many on the Internet do offer sound advice, and do offer good and free "open source" software such as Firefox, virus protection (as good as Symantec's expensive offerings) and free Proxy Servers.

Many proxy servers that hide your IP address are set up by smart and decent people who's only goal is to be helpful.......there are many more good people in the world than bad.

Good point. Before the internet was commonly available, the old dial-up bulletin boards were mostly free. A few commercial ones charged, but literally thousands of hobby ones were free.
I suppose for someone who already has a server, then if they have the capacity, offering a free proxy doesn't have to cost them (depending on their bandwidth arrangements).

[Stripers]

Wow popster you are quite knowledgeable in this area. Would you mind if I PMd you with a few basic questions about VPNs and proxy servers?
I tried a few free VPNs which were terrible.
Sorry to ask and thanks for the advice!

[Purenastyplaya]

Ok.....here's a link to a ton of information about free proxy servers and VPNs.......

This should be of help to all who are interested in this subject......


http://proxy-services-review.toptenreviews.com/

Thanks for link!!!

[Stripers]

Sorry Popster, no need to PM.
I'm about to use HMAs Christmas yearly special.
Will this cover all of my devices and email accounts? That's really what I need to know. Is there anything I need to do to register all devices and accounts?
And I'm taking it HMA is great as I am about to checkout!
Thanks for any advice. It is well appreciated.

[Popster]

Stripers,

Read that link I posted for answers to all your questions....be patient.....ALL software takes time to master and understand.

[Stripers]

Yeah the link wasn't working for me at first so I couldn't read it. I read through it and learned quite a bit. Thanks for the links and all the shared info. You got serious street cred now because I added to your reputation points a bunch of times! Not that you needed it as your posts are always helpful! Thanks again.
With this type of material its just hard work and lotsa reading.