8 Tools for the Online Privacy Paranoid

[Page42]

From TIME Techland...
By Jared Newman | @OneJaredNewman | May 4, 2012

It’s hard to use the Internet anymore without being watched. Tracking cookies follow your every move, so advertisers can figure out what to sell you. Social networks keep you constantly signed in, in part so they can see what other websites you visit. Phone and tablet apps may be gathering information about you, including your contacts list or your camera roll.

If you want to participate in today’s Internet, and all the apps and services that go with it, you have two choices: Accept that your information is out there and try not to worry about it, or arm yourself with some privacy protection tools. Should you choose the latter path, check out these apps and services to help you stay anonymous online and keep your information out of the wrong hands:

Read more

[m00nbl00d]

I should warn that, judging by the contents of the Google Chrome extension PrivacyScore, that it most likely requires Java to be installed. Just a bit of a warning...

[Escalader]

Originally Posted by m00nbl00d

I should warn that, judging by the contents of the Google Chrome extension PrivacyScore, that it most likely requires Java to be installed. Just a bit of a warning...

FWIW, I deleled Java and Google from my life. Zap!

Also using DuckDuckGo as a search engine, works fine.

[PaulyDefran]

I find it ironic that there are 14 trackers on that Time.com page

PD

[kupo]

Originally Posted by PaulyDefran

I find it ironic that there are 14 trackers on that Time.com page

PD

And my NoScript drop down list exceeds my screen.
EDIT: Not really, almost. lol.

[Page42]

Ironic yes, surprising no.
And I counted 8.

[PaulyDefran]

Ghostery had 14

PD

[m00nbl00d]

Originally Posted by PaulyDefran

Ghostery had 14

PD

Did it also detect Disqus? I'm just wondering. Do Not Track Plus didn't, and detected 13 between ad networks and trackers.

[m00nbl00d]

Originally Posted by Page42

Ironic yes, surprising no.
And I counted 8.

Attachment 232737

Not sure if you know, but TL doesn't actually block tracking, it only alerts. It's also very limited.

[Page42]

Originally Posted by m00nbl00d

Not sure if you know, but TL doesn't actually block tracking, it only alerts. It's also very limited.

Actually I hardly ever have TL's Tracker Notification enabled.
I just did it to see what you guys were complaining talking about.
And I'm okay if it is, as you say, limited.
I consider it a piece of my security setup, not something to be relied upon heavily.

[m00nbl00d]

Originally Posted by Page42

Actually I hardly ever have TL's Tracker Notification enabled.
I just did it to see what you guys were complaining talking about.
And I'm okay if it is, as you say, limited.
I consider it a piece of my security setup, not something to be relied upon heavily.

Ah... OK. It would be great if BitDefender could give it a boost. Heck, even AVG Do-No-Track isn't that limited.

By the way, for those interested, I experienced some odd behavior in Internet Explorer with both AVG Do-Not-Track and Abine Do Not Track Plus. Most likely, because I installed AVG Do-Not-Track first, it took the lead, and blocked what its database allowed it to block, but DNT+ could not block anything else, even if it could (which it could). Only disabling AVG Do-Not-Track allowed DNT+ to block everything.

I haven't noticed the same behavior in Chromium, though. Whatever AVG doesn't block, DNT+ blocks, and vice-verse. Granted, they are different web browsers.

Just in case someone's using both in IE (IE9 in my tests).

[CloneRanger]

@ Page42

Thanks for the link, & assisting me with locating BN

*

I tested Burn Note & provided you don't select Plain Text, it works as advertised Taking a screenie was possible, but it only allows portions at a time.



I think it's a worthwhile service to have on hand. & being SSL is a bonus. You can select the timeout for reading, anywhere from 180 seconds downwards. So shorter messages can be given just enough time to be read, before going poof I like it, & would consider using it

[Ranget]

i just don't understand why should i use Burnnote ?

[Page42]

Originally Posted by CloneRanger

@ Page42
Thanks for the link, & assisting me with locating BN

Yer welcome!

[PaulyDefran]

Originally Posted by m00nbl00d

Did it also detect Disqus? I'm just wondering. Do Not Track Plus didn't, and detected 13 between ad networks and trackers.

I don't know...I have every privacy related add-on there is in my FF. Disconnect, Ghostery, and DNT+, and Ad Block Plus with the privacy lists. Ghostery is the only one that shows instantly on the icon, so I only looked at that.

PD

[Page42]

Originally Posted by m00nbl00d

Did it also detect Disqus? I'm just wondering. Do Not Track Plus didn't, and detected 13 between ad networks and trackers.

Yes, Ghostery detects Disqus...

[funkydude]

Haha yeah, TPL list of blocked items doesn't fit on my screen! Gotta love anti-tracking lists.