The concept of anonymity on the Internet is a sliding scale. Can you make up a fake name, fake email address, and fake life story on a multitude of websites? Sure. But there is always one little tell, that pesky IP address permanently attached to all of your web activities. So how can you legitimately employ the “invisibility cloak” of IP address masking, and is it really necessary to prevent privacy attacks?

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First, most users do not need to worry about IP masking to protect personal files and computers from hackers. Why? Well, most elite hackers are not going to take the time and effort to break into personal computers because it isn’t worth the pay off in information or bragging rights. True threats to personal identity, or malware attacks use more legitimate ways of attacking computers, like email attachments or riders on legitimate downloads.

If you happen to frequent websites that are notorious for spyware and adware, IP address masking can help in the crusade against tracker cookies and keyloggers. However, many of these websites, like gaming and social networking sites rely on legitimate cookies to provide functionality and speed. Employing IP masking may unintentionally bar you from accessing these favorite sites altogether, or significantly hamper performance.

An IP address stands for Internet Protocol, and creates a virtual “location and identity” of your computer for data transfers. Data transfers, also called package transfers, are what make the Internet work. Most people rely on their Internet Service Provider (ISP) to assign an IP address. The only true way to hide this IP address from the world is to use a proxy service.

A proxy service allows you to login, and then surf the Internet using their IP address. There is a danger to this practice because while it will allow you to possibly override access restrictions based on your country or state location, as a user you are still responsible for your actions. Just because there is a way, doesn’t mean it’s legal. Using IP address masking to engage in illegal activities, download copyrighted material, or access websites legally barred from dealing with your country is not a safe way to get around laws and restrictions. Once traced back to the proxy service, a quick subpoena of user names is all it takes to follow the crumb trail back to you.

Another problem with proxy services for IP masking is it places an extraordinary amount of trust into one company by an individual. Proxy services act as a type of filter, and now there is a centralized location of all actions you take on the web. While most proxy service companies claim to not track their users’ online behavior, it may still know when you are using IP address masking to access areas you are not otherwise permitted to go.

Overall, if you cannot access a website due to your IP address, you really shouldn’t try to work around the restriction. Few websites employ htaccess (Hypertext Access) restriction files unless it is absolutely necessary for the management of the site. Online protection is more a reality with professional malware monitors like Paretologic’s security offerings than with IP address masking. The true threats to privacy are the openings granted to your computer from email and downloads, not someone attempting a difficult hack with your IP address information.

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If you could only see my Internet searches, you’d be mighty surprised at what they reveal

Likewise, if I could only see your Internet searches, I might find out far more about you than you’d care to share. Your searches reveal all kinds of information about your interests, illnesses, shopping habits, political leanings, and more! In fact, your Internet searches can even give clues about where you live. And no, they are NOT private.

First, anyone with access to your computer can easily look at your Internet browsing history

The easiest way to see what Web sites you’ve been to is to enter “a” in the web browser’s address bar. This lists all URLs starting with “a.” Next, “b” lists all the Web sites you’ve been to starting with “b” and so on.

The Index.dat file is smarter than us all

Okay, you’re smart enough to disable AutoComplete for Web addresses (go to Internet Options, click the Content tab, click the Setting button next to AutoComplete, and remove the check mark next to Web addresses) and you know how to delete your Browsing history (Internet Options, General, Browsing History, Delete), but did you know that a hidden file remains on your computer containing a log of all Web sites ever visited? This is called the Index.dat file. Computer savvy snoops simply have to find this file and bingo! they have your complete Internet history including the URLs as well as your Internet search terms.

Even if no one else has access to your computer, your searches aren’t private. Spyware and adware programs often record this information, send it to a third party, and then serve up targeted pop-up ads based on your previous searches. For example, if you recently did a search for luxury handbags, you may find pop-up ads from Coach or eBags.

Search Engines have a Profile on you

Search engines also maintain huge databases with search terms that they occasionally make available to others. While personally identifiable information isn’t typically included, “profiles” are made. In an infamous AOL breach, search information was released. AOL had taken the precaution of removing the AOL user’s name and replacing it with a number. However, many people were later publically identified because their search histories provided enough clues.

For example, let’s say I have a search history that includes the following inquiries:

• Oprah’s book of the month club
• Caring for Siamese cats
• Apartments for singles in Des Moines, Iowa
• Librarian jobs in Des Moines
• Starbucks 5^th Street Des Moines hours
• Jacqueline Marie Johnson
• How to pick a OB/GYN
• AARP membership
• Investment advice for millionaires

What can you gather from such a profile?

Let’s see, could this be a single woman who lives in Des Moines? Looks like she loves books and is seeking a job as a librarian. She also appears to be wealthy senior who may be named Jacqueline Marie Johnson (people love to Google their own names). Jacqueline is perfect prey for a con artist. Plus, she frequents the Starbucks on 5^th street. In the wrong hands, a con artist could find this mystery woman based on her Internet search history.

Scary, isn’t it? 

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Privacy policies are legal notices posted on a Web site detailing how the Web site will use personal information. Privacy policy requirements vary depending on the privacy laws governing the Web site. For example, privacy laws are different in Canada, the United States, and the European Union. Since you may visit Web sites from around the globe, you can’t be sure that your privacy is being protected according to your country’s laws.

While various laws or even an absence of laws dictate privacy policies, most contain similar information. Privacy policies generally tell you whether the Web site uses cookies or other data mining items, what personal information is collected, how they will use the information, who will receive the information, and how they will protect the information.

Most privacy policies are readily available through a link on the home page, often at the bottom of the page. For example, the Filetonic Web site provides a link to our privacy policy in the “footer” area located at the bottom of all pages. This privacy policy, like many privacy policies on the Internet, is based on US Safe Harbor principles.

US Safe Harbor for Privacy is a framework of data protection principles covering: notice, choice, onward transfer, security, data integrity, access, and enforcement. The safe harbor addresses the stricter privacy requirements of the EU and provides a means of providing privacy protection that meets these requirements. You can read more about Safe Harbor here.

It’s important to ready privacy policies so that you completely understand how your personal information is being used and protected. For example, if you purchase a product, you must reveal your credit card number as well as other personal information. Does the Web site have security measures in place to prevent someone accessing their servers and stealing their data?

Even if you aren’t going to purchase products from the Web site, you may be giving up personal information simply by landing on their home page. It’s not uncommon for IP addresses to be collected and recorded. While not necessarily personally identifiable, some users object to this.

If you can’t find a privacy policy posted on a web site, try Googling the Web site’s name followed by “privacy policy.” For example, typing in “Amazon privacy policy” immediately displays a link to Amazon’s privacy notice. Of course, had you scrolled to the bottom of the Amazon home page, you would have found a privacy notice link right next to the copyright notice.

Your assignment as you browse the Internet over the next few days is to start reading privacy policies. These are good measures of a Web site’s credibility. As you learn more about privacy issues, come back to Filetonic.com for advice covering protecting your privacy. 

EULA stands for End User License Agreement. This is an agreement between you, the end user, and the software provider. EULAs come in two forms: paper and electronic. For example, if you buy software at your local electronics store, the software will come in disk form and likely have a EULA printed on paper and may even have an electronic version as well. If you buy software online and download it, it will have an electronic EULA as part of the installation routine.

EULAs define and restrict what you can do with the software. For example, most EULAs strictly prohibit copying and distributing the program. While this serves the software provider’s best interest and is a reasonable agreement, other clauses in EULAs take away your rights to sue should the software be poorly coded and damage your computer. In addition, EULAs often spell out that they will impose upon your privacy in some manner. Would you voluntarily allow a program to monitor how you use your computer? Chances are you have readily agreed to just this, not once but time and time again.

Do you really read the EULA? Paper EULAs often have tiny print and are filled with legalese. Electronic EULAs are also filled with small print, complex language, restrictions, exclusions and other notices. Plus, they require that you click “I agree” before you are allowed to install the software. As a consumer, if you want to use the software, you have to agree to the terms of the EULA.

What’s so bad about agreeing to EULAs? If the EULA is straightforward and fair and doesn’t strip away your rights or impose upon your privacy, then go ahead and agree. The problem with EULAs arises when they contain unreasonable conditions, limit liability, or invade your privacy. For example, did you know that many EULAs actually prohibit criticism of the product? Other EULAs admit that they will be adding programs such as pop-up ad generators and then go on to prohibit removing these unwanted programs.  

So, what can you do? Not much. When possible, read the EULA before you buy. Some software developers post their EULAs on their websites including Adobe and Symantec. However, most EULAs aren’t generally available until after you’ve made the purchase and opened the box - which makes your product virtually unreturnable thanks to stores’ “no return on open software” policies.

If reading the EULA beforehand is not possible, take the time to read the EULA carefully after you buy the software. If you are not comfortable with the EULA’s terms, don’t install the software. Call the software vendor directly and complain, asking for a full refund. In addition, let the electronics retailer know of your dissatisfaction with the product’s licensing agreement. The more consumers speak up, the better the chances of drawing attention to these concerns.    

Finally, get involved. Several consumer organizations have formed to speak out against unfair EULAs. Here are a couple of good resources to learn more:

AFFECT - Americans for Fair Electronic Commerce Transactions

Stop Before You Click - A campaign to promote fair terms

 If you use a computer, your actions may not be completely private. For example, if you are using a company computer at your workplace, your employer may be monitoring some, if not all, of your actions. Similarly, your personal computer may have software installed on it that records your usage. This software may be “monitoring” software or it could be “spyware.” What’s the difference?

While both monitoring software and spyware are intrusive, they aren’t the same thing. First, monitoring software is often installed with your knowledge. Employers may have clear policies covering computer and e-mail usage with full disclosure that monitoring software is in place.

Why would your employer want to monitor computer usage? One of the main reasons has to do with productivity. Employees at workstations “look” like they’re working. However, are they really working or are they checking out the latest You Tube videos? Another reason involves liability. For example, if an employee is viewing porn and co-workers are uncomfortable when passing by and seeing the images, a “hostile work environment” has been created.

At home, monitoring software is often used to keep tabs on how the children are using their computers. This type of monitoring software is typically categorized as “parental controls.” Parents can allow and block certain classes of Web sites and games as well as monitor Instant Messages and e-mail. Additional features include setting computer time limits, program usage, and download restrictions.

In addition, legitimate monitoring software could be used for spying. For example, if you have a jealous or suspicious spouse, monitoring software may have been installed on your computer without your knowledge. This type of monitoring reports back to your partner which Web sites you have visited, e-mails sent and received, Instant Messaging and chat transcripts, pictures or videos you have viewed, and other information. These programs are designed to run in the background without your knowledge. You won’t find a desktop icon or the program in your Programs list.

Spyware is another type of program that monitors computer usage. Spyware is installed without your knowledge, often as a hitchhiker to a legitimate download. Once installed, these programs collect data and transmit it to a third party. Each spyware program has its own mission ranging from sending you targeted advertisements based on your Internet history to stealing your financial information by capturing your keystrokes.

There’s not a whole lot that you can do about your employer’s monitoring software other than play by the rules and perform your job as expected. Likewise, if you suspect your spouse has installed monitoring software, you have trust and privacy issues that you will need to work out as well as a potentially dangerous situation should your partner have violent tendencies.  Of all the different types of monitoring, spyware is the easiest to deal with. A good anti-spyware program such as ParetoLogic’s XoftSpySE or Anti-Virus Plus removes existing spyware infections and prevents future ones.

There are a few different issues to consider when discarding your old computer. If your computer is fairly new, then it can likely be donated to a service that will find a new user for it. There are numerous causes that you can benefit by fitting your unwanted hardware for reuse. There is a community technology group called Free Geek based in Portland, Oregon who pride themselves on “helping the needy get nerdy since the beginning of the 3^rd millennium”. On their website at http://www.freegeek.org/ you can find information about partner organizations in several states and countries around the world. You can probably think of other places to donate close to home, like schools, women’s centers and community centers.

Before you give your computer to be reused you will want to make sure that you have removed any sensitive personal information. Make copies of your files and folders to a removable device, like a CD or a USB stick so you can reload them on to your new system.

Deleting data from your computer isn’t always enough to ensure that it is gone and, especially in the case that your computer has been used for business or financial purposes, you have to clear the hard drive. When you delete a file and empty the contents of the Recycle Bin the data is still on your system. When you delete a file this way, the computer deletes the information related to the location of the file, not the file itself. By removing the location of the file from the computer’s memory the computer views the space as empty and will write over it with another file saved in the future. Even when files have been written over, sophisticated data recovery programs are still capable of retrieving the information. So, to really clean the hard drive of any information, you need to use a disk cleaning software program like WipeDrive, DataEraser or DiskEraser. For more information and details on how to prepare your computer for donation visit the EPA’s website page at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/plugin/pcthing.htm.

If your system is more than five or six years old, then it is more likely that you will have to recycle it. Many companies will offer to take your used computer off your hands and arrange for recycling, but you want to make sure that they will follow ethical and environmental laws. Asking questions is a good way to find out the company’s methods. Many computer manufacturers offer computer recycling as well, and might only ask that you take care of the packing and shipping to keep costs down. Since a lot of the materials that comprise computers are toxic, or have been in contact with toxic materials, they can’t go in with your regular recycling. Computers and other sophisticated technologies are made from heavy metals and produce toxic chemicals that create environmental hazards. Proper disposal of your used electronics will ensure that harmful chemicals and carcinogens don’t end up in landfills or leeching into groundwater.

In the past, developed countries like the United States and Canada have shipped large portions of their electronic waste to be recycled in countries like China, with large, cheap labor pools and low environmental controls. To recycle your computer responsibly you might have to pay a fee to make sure that the e-waste is properly disposed of. Consider it a cost of computing, definitely worth the extra pennies to make sure that your computer use doesn’t harm the environment.