Internet Privacy

Internet Privacy.... This is the biggest contradiction in terms that I have ever heard. We are connected in ways that everybody has access to everybody else with the stroke of a few keys. ISP's have contracts with government agencies to monitor what you do in the name of preventing terrorism. Every computer is networked to the next computer WORLDWIDE. So how can you protect your privacy online? YOU CAN'T!!!

As some of you may know I am a reformed computer hacker. I remember when I first got the internet thinking to myself that this is the window to the world. I can connect to anybody anywhere in the world with just a few keystrokes. I can bounce from New Orleans to Chicago to Munich in a matter of seconds and see live web cams of the streets of those cities. What an amazing tool this is. I was hooked.

I too thought about safety online. How can I protect my activities? How can I stop myself from getting into trouble with things that I was doing? The answer is simple. With a simple piece of software that can be downloaded on your computer called a Trojan Horse everybody can access your files, folders, browsing history, etc. With another program called a Keylogger everybody can copy every keystroke that you make for retaining your passwords and other secure data.

The simple answer to protecting your privacy is to keep all of your sensitive documents on a stand alone computer. This requires you buying another computer and not connecting it to the internet EVER. Yes I know that can get to be expensive but it is the best security that you can hope to have. You can not get a Trojan to access your files because there is no internet for remote accessing. Keyloggers will work if someone is physically at your computer but they can not access them via the internet.

Oh by the way when I say a stand alone this means no Ethernet wire hooked up no wireless card (even the ones you have to push a button to turn on are no good). No networked printer. This is the safest and most secure way to keep valuable electronic media to yourself and keep important documents out of the hands of hackers.

Just a friendly tip.

Anthony Allen
Biloxi, Ms
The Southern Conservative