Surfing the Web Anonymously – Questions to Ask

 You can gain information by surfing the web, even if you don't want to advertise who you are. This is true even if your machine does not contain viruses or malware. Specifically, easily accessible internet information includes your IP address, nation (and often more IP address-based information), on which computer system you're using, browser kind, browser history, and other information. It's getting worse. People can get the name of your computer and even locate your name if your system supports apps such as identd or finger. Cookies can also track your habits while moving from the machine to the machine.

How do you gather this essential information?

When you visit another website, you can get information. Information is essentially captured and utilized by others to track your Internet activities.

How are you stopping this?

First of all, the web can be anonymous and thus avoid leaving a trail to others. Note that this is not insane, but it makes it much more difficult for people to know who you are. Products known as anonymous proxy servers help to safeguard you. The anonymous proxy server substitutes your own Internet address. This hides your IP address and makes it much more difficult for anyone to trace you.

How can I get a proxy server anonymous?

Many suppliers sell anonymous proxy servers. Free proxy servers are also available to you. ShadowSurf and Guardster are two of these products. Guardster (http://www.guardster.com/) offers several anonymous and secure web access services, some paid and some free. (http://www.shadowsurf.com/) ShadowSurf. ShadowSurf offers free anonymous surfing on its site. Go there, and you'll find a URL field that nobody wants to trace. There are numerous others, but two are often used here.

Another noteworthy product is Anonymizer (http://www.anonymizer.com), given recent headlines about the Google search engine filtering its findings for the Chinese government. This company has lately (Feb 1, 2006) urged that it "develops a new anti-censorship solution to enable Chinese citizens to access the whole of the Internet without filtering" (http://www.anonymizer.com/consumer/media/press releases/02012006.html).

Is an anonymous proxy server 100% safe for you?

No. However, if you employ such technologies, you are much better off.

What else should I worry about when trying to keep my sensitive information hidden?

When you strive to keep your information secret, three other items spring to mind. First, you can mask your surfing via an encrypted connection. This post does not go into detail, but searches the website and you may discover a lot of information. Secondly, after each session, remove cookies. Thirdly, you can delete JavaScript, Java and active content for your browser. This in fact leads to limits, thus the cost/benefit of this course needs to be considered.


Anything else? Anything else?

Want to surf happily and safely!