Don't Fear Internet Anonymity Tools

Thanks, P2K. I got an answer on the SoundForge.net forum. Here is a portion of the thread.


When starting JAP I receive a "JAVA VIRTUAL MACHINE LAUNCHER" error message stating "Cound not find the main class" and "program will exit". But the JAP starts and seems to work fine. Should this error message concern me?

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sorry but that is a mysterious error, you should ignore the message. You can find some information here: http://anon.inf.tu-dresden.de/fragen/start_en.html#B11

 

Very, very interesting thread I must say. Thank you for all thorough research and input, posters. Like so many other parts of this forum there's so much knowledge and so many educational opportunity.

But, and now I take the danger of being ridiculised for being 'just a ten-forward newbee' for granted, allow me to share my humble opinion...:

If you take care of having not much to hide... why should you become over-paranoid?

Let me explain my approach, and may I be so cocky it might apply to the majority of users?

I like an internet-session which is prefarably as safe as I can make it; but mainly as un-interupted as possible by things I haven't asked for (spyware, pop-ups, spam, virii, trojans etc etc.)
That's why I came to Wilders in the first place and am & will be thankful of for ever!
Regarding privacy I agree with those who have the realistic approach: on the net it's a hell of a job to keep your privacy.
Are you willing to go through to that 'hell of a job' (and apparantly get dissapointed again and again...)? Well, you have my respect and this thread may have some really useful info for you.

Me, I've made sure I've got nothing really important (or for that matter substantially compromising; interesting; illegal; shocking; mind-blowing etc. ) to hide. I (still) don't use credit-card on the net.
So why bother ( beyond the actions I do take, and have described above).

Besides that, I'm a poor bastard
And have no illusion that my tiny little moves -among the billions of others that take place daily- on the net could really be of any interest to any other person - apart from the needle in a haystack geek that happened to stuck on me and would fancy to have a stalking-parade. If that would happen (NO invitation!! hahaha )...have fun with it.

amen.

regards,
slam

 

By the way, my post where I said "I honestly don't know" who funded JAP is true in the sense I meant it. I don't know that the GRF has ties to German intelligence. However, we do know that, at least on the record, it is funded by the GRF and a German government ministry.

 

Hey, P2K. I ran the test on my browser, and my Anonymity settings are all "smiles". But my Active Content settings are all "frowns" (see below). Their link on how to modify settings for IE does not work. But how important is it that I take steps to fix this??

 

Hello, Slammer. Well for me, it's just the fun / educational value. See my real early posts in this thread...

 

Good question. But, I have an answer because that is a question that is asked often from those of us who work on privacy issues.

1. It is not so much "hiding" information as it is that what you do on the Internet is nobody's business. Period. I may be doing nothing but checking movie times - but if I want that to be my business and mine alone - I have that right.

2. What you consider "nothing to hide" - may be illegal tomorrow. A good example, would be some European countries that have made it a crime to speak out (some say even think) about the Holocaust except the "official" view. Now mind you, I agree with the "official" view - don't get me wrong. But simply compiling information in some countries about this topic could get you arrested. There are many examples of this and it is especially true in repressive countries that closely monitor Internet activity.

3. The "I have nothing to hide" argument also suggests that anyone who simply wants to maintain their privacy does have something to hide. That is dangerous thinking.

In a nutshell, that would be my stock answer to an oft-asked question.

All the best!

 

Oh, but I can relate to that.
Sure is great to learn, explore, get educated and have fun in the process as well.
It's one of the most exciting things in life to me. And at Wilders I am well met.

regards,
slammer

 

Totally understood and I respect your points!

(One remark to point 3 -to be absolutely clear : agreed, the danger is there, but I did not intended to suggest that at all.
For that reason you might consider to change the line in:

"The "I have nothing to hide" argument also COULD suggest that anyone who simply wants to maintain their privacy does have something to hide(...)

regards,
slam

 

I was about to ask where your information came from... In my view, the German government seems to have a good record of funding privacy initiaitives with the likes of Gnu Privacy Guard also receiving funding from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and in JAP's case you do have other groups involved in the running of their mixes like SPLINE, Project Ecstasy Online and AN.ON.

Your browser will provide plenty of information about your system unless you take steps to stop it (check a site like BrowserSpy or Privacy.net's Analyze my Connection). In addition, Java or ActiveX can be used to return your real IP address regardless of the proxy you use.

It is therefore a good idea to disable these (only allowing them for sites you trust) either using your firewall or a specialised web filter like Proxomitron (the most powerful and flexible and can filter HTTPS with extra software - see The dangers of HTTPS thread for more on this) or Webwasher Classic (easier to use) - both are free for personal use. You may also find that alternative browsers like Firefox or Opera provide better control over these settings than IE (and have been less susceptible to security compromises).

 

Countless times I have read comments from Users Saying "they have nothing to hide"..........nothing illegal.....doing nothing wrong...........I can't but wonder if by making such a statement the User is failing to see several issues.......FE: why should anyone anywhere be poking around inside your computer to even see if you are doing anything illegal Would you allow anyone to randomly enter your home without your permission......monitor your children.....copy your credit card numbers.....etc..etc..etc....
Who in hell gave anyone permission to monitor us to begin with...I sure didn't give my consent to anyone.......what have I to hide......I am not hiding anything.....but I am saying to the monitors....KISS MY LILLY WHITE...you are not going to step on my privacy and self-respect like it was a floormat.........its not what I may do that is wrong...its WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ALL OF US ON THE INTERNET THAT IS WRONG.........thats one reason to use such programs as JAP.....an anything/everything else.......
This monitoring nonsense began many years ago.....it was illegal...but it was done........so much info has been gathered already that it will take years to catalog........smoke and mirrors.....an not on the part of the public........so perhaps instead of asking why use privacy software....ask why would you knowingly allow yourself..your family...your business....to be monitored......without any notice..or due process.......

 

The best book, in my opinion, on solid, practical privacy suggestions (available at most libraries) is the second edition of the book, How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Personal Privacy, Your Assets, and Your Life. The revised edition is a must because it covers post-9/11 changes. Excellent book.

 

I think many will be very surprised, even shocked when they find out all the many secrets the governments (not just the US) have been hiding from us.

Some things so incredible that there will be extreme outrage when they are discovered. Some things they just have absolutely NO RIGHT to hide from us.

You think i've seen to many late night movies as Dazed & Confused accused that other poster of? Well, just wait and see. Time will reveal the truth.

And I am not talking about things pertaining to national security, that should probably remain hidden. So excuse me if I say I don't trust my government.

Not that the entire government body is in on some kind of giant cover up. Only the select few are privy to certain information, but this will change.

The truth can only remain hidden for so long and then it must be revealed. And it will be revealed for the benefit of ALL and not just for those few at the top who would hoard it only for themselves.

But stick around, things are just starting to get really interesting in this world of ours.

 

In my state a person must give his social security number to obtain a hunting permit....give it to a store clerk at wallmart if thats were he gets the permit...its then written on the permit....lose the permit......lose your privacy..............real smart state government.....


Ronjor........for years I have tryed helping others maintain their privacy and dignity on the internet.......an finally just realized that its a useless effort.....a waste of time......because only a rare few even care....the rest come around after they are infected....after their computers are burnt...after they have lost their personal info........always "after".......
Now I help those rare few who do care..(if I can)...an let the rest go their merry way.....it was their choice...their personal weakness......their shameless shame........of course its too late...it was years ago.....privacy in now nearly a crime......an perhaps soon will be....

 

TENyEARSGone

Indeed there is much that has been hidden.........an I have come to believe that many people prefer it that way because they have totally lost their Will to be an individual.....they want the monitoring......they want to be led like cattle..........my personal opinion..............I am not some radical....just an average joe....with eyes that see......

 

i always get that too(cannot find the main class) when i install JAP. you have to right-click the JAP icon then >properties>find target and pick JAP.jar. then when you have done that you again right-click JAP icon>properties>change icon and pick the JAP icon

 

What honestly SHOCKS me is at this late date anyone would even question the need for privacy protection...........what does not surprise me is the FEAR many have of using privacy protection........now why would anyone FEAR protecting their privacy.............what do the really fear

But no matter.....whats done is now done. Each time I return here to the forum I notice fewer old privacy advocates around.......fewer people willing to do research.....am not sure how many even know how to discover spyware...or how to tell if the are being monitored...........

 

Good to hear from you again, Snowy! I am assuming this is the original snowman?

 

Thanks, iceni. I changed it as you (and P2K) have suggested, and that did the trick.

 

L2B


Heya dear friend John.....have missed you....yupper its The Snowman...stiring the pot LOL......liven it up just a tad.....
You doing ok.....sure hope so........been awhile an I am so far out of touch with all my dear friends such as you...my apology....but for sure you were being remembered in my heart of heart........
Now I'll settle down and just read posts......am not on my IP....so just going to pass-through for the weekend...........

 

Hello again P2K. I always thought the setting below on my Zone Alarm firewall would block the JavaScript. I guess not.

 

They should do for non-HTTPS pages - however Proxomitron can be more selective and block "nosey Javascript" only (those commands identifying referrer, plugins and cookies - Javascript cookies are separate from "standard" HTML cookies - and screen resolution and colour depth) while allowing other Javascript commands to run (though it is safer to block Javascript completely, some sites won't work without it). For HTTPS pages, only your browser or Proxomitron (with the OpenSSL libraries installed) will do.

The sites I mentioned previously should give you full details of what is being revealed so the best check is to see what results you get with ZA blocking or not.

 

I did, P2K, and Privacy.Net still shows that I have JavaScript and VBScript enabled and working. But it couldn't tell what my IP address is.

Edit. By the way, I thought that JAP requried Java. If I turn Java off (see below), won't that disable JAP?