[binand]

Originally Posted by longhorn

If China can steal stealth plane design from US military servers, that ought to give a fair idea as to how secure our data is. If your PC is connected to the internet, anyone hell bent on getting your data can do it, irrespective of whatever controls you put in.

If you are worried about that, your data wouldn't be on the computer that you use to access the Internet. I don't have the sort of data China'd be interested in, but what data I have (my personal financial records, property docs etc.) I keep in a Truecrypt volume which I attach only when I'm disconnected from the network and that too from a live CD.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by longhorn

Let us know how this [Tor Browser] goes. I believe I should also move to Tor browser.

Don't really have much use for it. I'm not (much) political and, ahem... blush... a married man!

When I have tried it in the past, I have found it very slow. Considering what it does and how it does it, I think that is inevitable. Nobody would use it as a day-to-day browser alternative unless they live somewhere so repressive that much of the net was closed to them or even trivial usage was monitored.

Use it if and when you really, really want to be anonymous. And read their stuff, the FAQs, at least. Your ISP can tell you are connecting to TOR network; your destination knows that you came from TOR network.

Use appropriate tools for real risks, and be aware of their limitations.

[Aditya]

Protecting your online privacy & user data - Posts moved to a new thread.

[adityasiera]

I use a paid VPN service for browsing and use a the double VPN feature.

The only time i switch it off is when i am gaming (to get acceptable ping rates.)

While browsing on Chrome i used certain extensions that keep trackers and beacons out.

Last but not the least, my most important files and documents reside on an Airgapped PC running Linux.

[auxsend]

Originally Posted by adityasiera

I use a paid VPN service for browsing and use a the double VPN feature.

Interesting thread, more so for old school folks like myself who haven't got deep into the above discussed topics.

So, an airgapped PC (from a Domestic/ home use standpoint) is basically one that's not connected to the internet or any other local network ?

[redCherry]

Originally Posted by amitk26

Opera consumer business was sold to a Chinese group and investors and these aggressive tactics to use consumer data emerged after that.

Oh Boy! I am using Opera since ages - nearly 20 years.
I didn't know this browser is now Chinese-owned and no longer a Norwegian.
Need to explore other options now.

[ZenMaster]

I have given up on Hiding from Google especially since we use Google for Business at work (but I try my best with Facebook - I just don't use it anymore other than for finding Birthdays, that too only on the browser.). Its possible for someone with highlevel skills or guidance using Tor browser or networks etc. to hide all kinds of data.
For the normal user, the best way is to spread information across multiple platforms or services and to limit the amount of info you are willingly giving to such companies.

I use a browser called Brave which has served me quite well till now. It has inbuilt Adblocker, tracker blocker, Script disabler etc. I

I now use only DuckDuckGo search engine for almost 99% of searches (especially regarding products and services). There is zero targetted ads or search results based on your search history. Because of this I am actually getting Good search results that are not biased by my search history.


Three consecutive visits to Indiamart links on Google and you are doomed, from then on the first page will always be filled with Indiamart results, whatever product or instrument you search for.

As for Data I try to distribute my data and searches is such a way that none of the companies have a full picture (or so I hope).
The results are visible, Google doesn't know what I want now and show random ads!
Amazon is only suggesting products I am searching on the app.

Oh! if anyone wondered about Amazon suggesting products you talked about out aloud, yeah its real. Me and my friend have purposely talked a lot about stuff we don't want or care about and guess what Amazon started promoting

To that problem the only solution to boycott Amazon(not possible) or just keep your thoughts to yourselves!!

Yes they definitely know some aspects but not too much. (Unless they all decide to merge).

[dark.knight]

Originally Posted by ZenMaster

Yes they definitely know some aspects but not too much. (Unless they all decide to merge).

They are all strange bedfellows in any case, they are all united when it comes to the macro picture, I'm surprised you aren't aware of this since you've done quite a bit to keep yourself safe online, which is commendable all the same.

While there is NO privacy on the internet (internet is the antonym of privacy), some sites like Wikipedia (no targeted advertising), DuckDuckGo (apparently no recording of searches, no targeted suggestions for sure) and some video hosting sites free from censorship where the alternative media thrives, are what remains of the "people's" internet today, rest are technocratic and autocratic in nature.

If you're using a Google phone (Android), all keystrokes and searches on other engines are recorded too, Microsoft SwiftKey also records all keystrokes. DDG seems to be safe for now, but we have no idea what they're doing in the background.

While many here might say that they're not afraid of being tracked, traced and recorded and while that might be fine, what they don't realize is that the internet works by subtle manipulation, not over-the-top manipulation, even all requests to not be tracked will only result in the AI making the tracking even more subtle, but never a full stop. Most technology experts who've worked in the highest positions in the top tech companies simply laugh at the idea that privacy is even possible online. It is our fault though, we signed the devil's deal when we wanted unlimited maps, videos, songs, email etc for FREE, television doesn't even offer .01% of the internet and it costs 300 bucks a month. Can't blame the big tech people hence.

As for me, never shopped online, have zero social media site memberships (most will ask me what about this site, but Team-BHP is an automotive forum, not social media and should not be bunched into that) and no WhatsApp either (YES!). I belive life is more peaceful this way, social media is just a place where pomposity and dumb entertainment exists and since I'm an entrepreneur, I define how I want to network with clients and WhatsApp is not one of the ways, SMS and phone calls are more than adequate. Toxic inspirational videos, toxic fear mongering, toxic dependency on 24/7 connectivity etc have ruined life for many people I know and is re-programming people to be less and less intelligent emotionally. I hope our tribe grows. All due respect to those that perfectly balance their tech, social media and personal lives equally well, its a hard task.

[ZenMaster]

Originally Posted by dark.knight

As for me, never shopped online, have zero social media site memberships (most will ask me what about this site, but Team-BHP is an automotive forum, not social media and should not be bunched into that) and no WhatsApp either (YES!). I belive life is more peaceful this way, social media is just a place where pomposity and dumb entertainment exists and since I'm an entrepreneur, I define how I want to network with clients and WhatsApp is not one of the ways, SMS and phone calls are more than adequate.

Alas, those are freedoms a very lucky few can affort(atleast for young people, who are not yet settled professionally)

I never used Facebook much. Uninstalled Instagram 2 years before and have been peaceful since. The main culprit now is youtube. What used to be a video search engine had become a full fledged mindmanipulaing impulse-exploiting social media site filled with trigger happy keyboard warriors. I have reduced usage to mostly live TV news (since I dont have a TV)and car & tech reviews and have found a lot of peace.

Have been thinking of quitting WhatsApp since Facebook bought it. But the problem is Work colleagues, vendors, friends, older releatives and parents.

Once the older people in your family starts using a technology it will be very difficult to get rid of it.

Older people who used to berate youngsters for spending too much time on phones are now the ones spending most time on useless Facebook and youtube videos watching "news" made by a bunch of jokers with a Green screen and some Video editing knowhow.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Wife, "How long did you have to wait for the doctor?"

Me, "I don't know, but hang on, google will."

It's probably the most intrusive thing that Google does, to, literally, follow us around. It can be turned off. I don't: I find it useful. Sold my soul for that!

I use Instagram as a viewer: I have never yet posted anything. One day I will get un-lazy enough to do so, as my pics are of a specialised nature (carnatic concerts in Chennai) and there are only two or three of us that regularly cover, so they might be welcomed by some. I am not interested in followers or likes (except it is nice to get appreciated); I'm never going to be an influencer. Hey, Ramraj: free vestis please!

Instagram's advertising is fairly intrusive. I take comfort in the fact that it is almost always entirely inappropriate to me! Plainly, they don't know much about me. Probably because I don't facebook. Look, I almost entirely follow engineers and machinists: how hard would it be to figure out that tool ads might be my thing? Zero marks to Adstagram on that one.

I hardly use gmail, or any other free mail service. I have my own domain and pay not-much for that to be hosted. That wasn't inspired by privacy, more that I was snobbish about hotmail and aol addresses! I deduct points when considering any business that uses a free mail service.

I'm a shopoholic. Online and off. I usually go to Amazon with a specific product in mind, but sometimes I browse. I don't take much notice of what they want me to buy. I do wonder why their searches can't be better. They are a tech company, and unlike Google, they don't need to be librarian to the world, just what they sell. So why can't I get only products matching my search terms? Do they purposely make wild guesses with utterly unrelated stuff? I watch Youtube.

I have completely skipped the whole generation of home-automation, internet-of-things, google-devices and stuff. And I probably always will. I also don't belong to any music-streaming service. I have nothing on my home network that anything, including me, can call in to from outside (I hope!). Probably the phone might be a weak link. Horrified to know that google knows what I'm typing? Privacy-oriented android keyboard with swype-style typing, please?

[Durango Dude]

Online privacy is a myth! That said keep sensitive info like user id and pw's to yourself and safe. When you like some thing on FB you're bombarded with ad's about that product...across platforms...

[Aravind_M92]

I really have a question on these "VPNs" everyone's been talking about. Most of us, rather all of us are using a paid VPN service which inturn are a Third party service provider who exclusively channels 'your' data through through 'their' servers. Paying for a service doesn't exclusively mean your data is safe. Given the added benefits of Cheaper travel tickets and exclusive contents, I strongly believe data secrecy and privacy is not a key point in these VPNs. I have no technical understanding of how a VPN works but as a commoner from outside this is my perspective. A local storage and minimal online data to avoid phising would be my safe to go option

[lifebuoy]

Originally Posted by longhorn

Still using a VPN can help you a fair bit in masking your geo location among other things.

Can you trust the VPN provider so much ? Isn't handing over ALL your traffic to it on a platter ?

[Turbolove]

Originally Posted by Aravind_M92

I really have a question on these "VPNs" everyone's been talking about. Most of us, rather all of us are using a paid VPN service which inturn are a Third party service provider who exclusively channels 'your' data through through 'their' servers. Paying for a service doesn't exclusively mean your data is safe. Given the added benefits of Cheaper travel tickets and exclusive contents, I strongly believe data secrecy and privacy is not a key point in these VPNs. I have no technical understanding of how a VPN works but as a commoner from outside this is my perspective. A local storage and minimal online data to avoid phising would be my safe to go option

You are true to an extent. But, the main usp for some of the vpn's out there is not just about channeling our data, rather also protecting it. When choosing a vpn you could check there policy on logs, jurisdiction where there servers are placed and also check online for news about them giving into government requests and get a rough idea of how the firm actually is. That being said, the best way would honestly be to setup your own vpn, but thats alot of work for people who just want to protect their data and dont deal with sensitive information.

[dark.knight]

Originally Posted by ZenMaster

Older people who used to berate youngsters for spending too much time on phones are now the ones spending most time on useless Facebook and Youtube videos watching "news"made by a bunch of jokers with a Green screen and some Video editing knowhow.

Its more than ok for our elders to operate internet as long as they know what to do with it, its like learning to swim, or operate a chainsaw.. you need to know the basics and I told my parents the same thing - official news channels on YouTube are ok, serials (soaps) and bhajans on mobile are cool as they're more like portable television, but other than that the internet is purely speculative and many articles and videos on health, current affairs and assorted tips are to be taken with utmost scepticism.

Like anything else, a healthy balance followed by sound reasoning/logic is required before entering the internet. One thing still remains true - there is zero privacy, logging in is the equivalent of shedding our clothes and stepping out in full view. People have to start taking this seriously instead of the ridiculous argument that they don't "mind" being tracked as they're doing nothing illegal.. its like saying, anyone can come into our home and audit our movements and speech as we're doing nothing wrong. Here the only wrong that is being done is by the tech conglomerates.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Horrified to know that google knows what I'm typing? Privacy-oriented android keyboard with swype-style typing, please?

I don't suppose that I need to tell you that, whatever you type, using any keyboard, the strokes/swypes still go to Google/Microsoft servers to search up stuff, and hence are automatically stored. Also Google Play Services was loaded into Androids later on purely due to the fact that it acts as a visa consulate to keep a track of apps that keep a track on us, however, all that the Play Services does is to offer uniform permissions to all apps (unless we intervene which 99.99% won't), and in turn, harvest the app data to itself. None of this of course, is obvious.

Google+FB+Microsoft = SKYNET (Terminator version) or Brainiac (Superman version)