One of the best things about the Firefox browser is the vast array of cool extensions available. Before we even begin, make sure you’re not using a Microsoft IE browser, it’s slow and filled with security holes. If you keep with the news, you’re probably aware of the Google-Viacom situation brewing. It concerns your privacy – check out Dan’s article Viacom Wants to Know What You’ve Been Watching to get updated.

Maybe you’re watching strange videos like, “Indonesian Cucumber Sex Secrets,” or “How To Steal Someone’s Identity the Easy Way,” and don’t want anyone to know…LOL. Generally speaking, if you’re logged into your Google account, everything you surf is logged and written to hard disk – permanently – where it can be studied, dissected and reanalyzed. Your entire on line life forms your secret profile. Imagine that everywhere you drove, everything you bought, everyone you talked to and so forth was recorded via outer space satellite and studied by governmental computer algorithms (they’re probably already doing that already). Well, that’s what Google and other search engines are doing. I personally don’t want Google or anyone knowing everything I do on line. It’s not so much having privacy because you’re a weirdo freak, it’s because you’re normal and Google wants to know your every move.

Here are a few Firefox extensions that can help protect your privacy:

  • TrackMeNot – This is an older extension that sends randomized queries to popular search-engines. It’s easy to use, but some people have reported it slows down their browser a little. It worked fine for me.
  • SquiggleSR – A newer extension that is similar to TrackMeNot, but is more customizable. I think it’s a little better at deceiving the search engines. This is the one I use, and it seems to work great.
  • FoxyProxy – This extension works with the Tor Onion router which you’ll need to download and install on your PC. It offers a higher level of security for paranoid surfers. It will slow your surfing down quite a bit though. I don’t recommend this if you know nothing about proxy servers.

Other Privacy Measures

Most people are always logged into their Google accounts, and have tons of unexpired cookies. If this is you, you have no privacy at all. Here are some other unrelated tricky privacy tips from the Revellian Files:

If you have a spare computer and are using a modem with both a Ethernet and USB connection (most have both), you can plug in a spare PC into the USB internet connection. You may be unaware that you can plug two computers into a single modem. Your main PC should always go through a router before the Ethernet jack. Your extra USB connected computer can plug directly into the modem, bypassing the router.

Install Linux on the extra PC, or even better, use a live Linux CD as your operating system. With this setup, you’ll have 2 separate computers with two different IP’s. This way, you can do any clandestine surfing on your extra PC and retain total privacy. Of course, you will not be signed into any accounts on the Linux.

I personally use a hacked modem (thanks to a computer engineer buddy, that has 2 Ethernet and 2 USB connections. This gives me 4 separate IP addresses. Fortunately, my ISP has some major switching bugs which allows for this cool anomaly.

Another anonymity program that works decently is JAP. It’s similar to Tor and was once used by the U.S. Navy and Air Force. I haven’t used it in a while. It also offers a paid service which is more comprehensive.

Ghost Surf

A fantastic commercial product that provides great anonymity is Ghost Surf. I use it quite often and it is the best I’ve tried so far. It’s fast and actually works. Click the Image and check it out:

GhostSurf™ 2007 Platinum (includes FREE StickyNote)

I’ll get into more covert coolness a little later…I hope this article helps you.

For additional information, read my basic Internet security – click the link and check it out!

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