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IP blockers, etc.

MayabirdMayabird Pecking at the keyboardRegistered User regular
in Help / Advice Forum
I'm terrified for the future right now, and at the very least I want to be able to block my IP address (and that sort of thing) and try to give myself at least a modicum of protection/privacy while online. I don't really know what the best way of going about this is, if there are threads around with info, if there's anything to do about my history other than clearing browser caches, and so on. Please help. I'm sure others around are thinking the same thing.

Posts

  • BasarBasar IstanbulRegistered User regular
    You mean like using a Virtual Private Network? You can do that but bear in mind when and if the government wants the VPN service to hand them your info (hopefully with a warrant), they'll have to provide your real IP address to the government.

    As far as options:

    1. You can use a free browser extension such as Zenmate or Hotspot Shield but they are pretty slow when you are using the free version.
    2. You can use a paid VPN service such as one of the above or non-browser based ones such as StrongVPN.
    3. You can rent a server on a cloud farm and setup your own VPN service for as cheap as $5/mo. This is what I do as I live in a country ruled by a nut job dictator. This is also very easy, not technical at all. Let me know if you decide to go this route and I'll be happy to help you set it up.

    Also life goes on, cheer up!

    i live in a country with a batshit crazy president and no, english is not my first language

  • ShadowfireShadowfire Vermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered User regular
    One of the current Humble Bundles includes CyberGhost VPN. I have no idea how good it is, but that's a cheap option.

    PSN: Bradcopter | Steam: Shadowfire
    https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
  • firewaterwordfirewaterword Satchitananda Pais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered User regular
    Private Internet Access is pretty great - it's a VPN and includes proxy service. I think I pay less than $30-35 a year for it. According to their promotional material, they do not keep VPN logs. I use it mostly when I am on the road for work, and it has worked great so far.

    Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
  • SanderJKSanderJK Crocodylus Pontifex Sinterklasicus Madrid, 3000 ADRegistered User regular
    The problem with VPN is that you trade your risk of government for risk of company intrusion.

    By the nature of vpn anything on the connection could be read or altered by the host.

    This is why free VPNs, which usually use crowdsharing (I become your vpn node in the Netherlands you become one in the US) should really not be used for secure or private anything. If that person is malicious and technically skilled you aren't just giving your emails, but any login info too.

    You could go all in on a vpn in a foreign country. The odds of them complying with US warrants are small. But you'll be paying, and that payment might be trackable unless you also get into the bitcoin circus.

    Steam: SanderJK Origin: SanderJK
  • firewaterwordfirewaterword Satchitananda Pais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered User regular
    SanderJK wrote: »
    The problem with VPN is that you trade your risk of government for risk of company intrusion.

    By the nature of vpn anything on the connection could be read or altered by the host.

    This is why free VPNs, which usually use crowdsharing (I become your vpn node in the Netherlands you become one in the US) should really not be used for secure or private anything. If that person is malicious and technically skilled you aren't just giving your emails, but any login info too.

    You could go all in on a vpn in a foreign country. The odds of them complying with US warrants are small. But you'll be paying, and that payment might be trackable unless you also get into the bitcoin circus.

    I believe most (PIA does at least) VPNs will allow you to pay with cash purchased gift cards (i.e., Target, Starbucks, et cetera). I don't bother since it's not something I'm super worried about at the moment, so I can't say for sure how simple that process is.

    Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
  • JustforspiteJustforspite Registered User regular
    @jonrog1 Is a good person to follow for information on this subject.

    According to him:
    1)Get Tor
    2)Get Signal
    3)Get a VPN
    4)2FA on your emails

    This is a good website for resources etc.

    https://ssd.eff.org/en

    Thanks to @pkkaos for the awesome avatar!
  • BlindZenDriverBlindZenDriver Registered User regular
    As the others mention one can jump through hoops a lot and try to hide ones tracks, but really complete safety and using the internet simply does not exist. However following the tips given here sure does help.
    If on top of that you go on the internet through random hot spots rather than a personal internet connection you can hide even more, but that then of course brings it's own set of challenges.

    Bones heal, glory is forever.
  • MayabirdMayabird Pecking at the keyboardRegistered User regular
    Question: would downloading any of these security programs get a person put on a NSA watchlist for suspicious behavior or something along those lines?

  • amateurhouramateurhour One day I'll be professionalhour The woods somewhere in TennesseeRegistered User regular
    Mayabird wrote: »
    Question: would downloading any of these security programs get a person put on a NSA watchlist for suspicious behavior or something along those lines?

    If anyone here actually works for the NSA they're not going to answer that and anyone else doesn't know for a fact whether it's true or not.

    are YOU on the beer list?
  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    To be honest I assume pooping puts me on a list anymore. It's apparently ludicrously easy to end up on something like a no-fly list.

    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • BasarBasar IstanbulRegistered User regular
    Nobody here knows the capabilities and to what extent NSA can track someone.

    If you are really that worried about your privacy, you should do #3:
    Basar wrote: »
    3. You can rent a server on a cloud farm and setup your own VPN service for as cheap as $5/mo. This is what I do as I live in a country ruled by a nut job dictator. This is also very easy, not technical at all. Let me know if you decide to go this route and I'll be happy to help you set it up.

    i live in a country with a batshit crazy president and no, english is not my first language

  • DjeetDjeet Registered User regular
    edited January 2017
    In the words of Martin Lomasney "Never write if you can speak; never speak if you can nod; never nod if you can wink." Also.

    Djeet on
  • BlindZenDriverBlindZenDriver Registered User regular
    Basar wrote: »
    Nobody here knows the capabilities and to what extent NSA can track someone.

    If you are really that worried about your privacy, you should do #3:
    Basar wrote: »
    3. You can rent a server on a cloud farm and setup your own VPN service for as cheap as $5/mo. This is what I do as I live in a country ruled by a nut job dictator. This is also very easy, not technical at all. Let me know if you decide to go this route and I'll be happy to help you set it up.

    That helps, but if those tracking are advanced enough they can still track and eventually identify those that hide. Even with encrypted communication thee will be patterns and bits of data which will be like signatures, so it "just" a question of putting those together.

    Bones heal, glory is forever.
  • BasarBasar IstanbulRegistered User regular
    BlindZenDriver wrote: »
    Basar wrote: »
    Nobody here knows the capabilities and to what extent NSA can track someone.

    If you are really that worried about your privacy, you should do #3:
    Basar wrote: »
    3. You can rent a server on a cloud farm and setup your own VPN service for as cheap as $5/mo. This is what I do as I live in a country ruled by a nut job dictator. This is also very easy, not technical at all. Let me know if you decide to go this route and I'll be happy to help you set it up.

    That helps, but if those tracking are advanced enough they can still track and eventually identify those that hide. Even with encrypted communication thee will be patterns and bits of data which will be like signatures, so it "just" a question of putting those together.

    Of course, there is no way to stop one who has the will and resources to track you :)

    i live in a country with a batshit crazy president and no, english is not my first language

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