Privacy

I hope this is the proper forum for this. I can't find one where privacy is the main topic, and software is presumably always involved in trying to achieve privacy.

I am 62, and I have been involved with digital electronics and the internet almost since it started. The first computer I worked on was a military unit with vacuum tubes. My first account was with Compuserve that had a username like "31UVK64", when plain text forums to talk to other geeks was about all that was offered.

I have a couple of questions and comments that have been triggered by the recent demands from the US Government for individuals records from several search engines, and a comment by a supporter of this data gathering that the same information can be obtained from ISP's without going to the search engine owners. Google has resisted this so far, but AOL, Yahoo, and MSN have rolled over. I do not believe I have any search traces that would bring me negative attention, but the fact that they CAN get this is a big concern for me.

My questions concern privacy software. I already have plenty of spam, spyware, firewall, and anti-virus protection. But this just protects me from outside weasels. Would using PGP negate any subsequent data fishing through my ISP or search engine records? Or would the search terms still be available even though any message content would be encoded? How about anonymizer websites? It seems that the data between your PC and the ISP would still be in the clear.

And, last question, what is involved in becoming your own ISP?

I can always just stop using the web, but I find it useful in many ways. If is is going to become a tool for record building by either the government or private firms, I can do without it.

Thanks.

 

Seems to me that if you log in to your ISP, anonymize thru proxy, then hit Google et.al. they cannot tie that to you.

http://www.proxy4free.com/page1.html

is a good site with proxies and details of levels of anon they provide.

 

Even using a proxy to browse the net you have to connect via your ISP to the proxy. Information is then sent/received through the proxy to & from your puter so it is still going through your ISP.

 

Correct. I guess my point is that Google wouldn't have a name to match the data too. And if memory serves, ISPs tend to want warrants for specific individuals, rather than dumping raw logs of all users over to the authorities.

You'll never be safe from prying eyes completely. I guess going to a for cash cybercafe and creating accounts with web providers for mail/web would give you some anon.

 

The ISP position is what I would expect: give up individual information after a legitimate subpoena, but refuse random fishing expeditions of millions of accounts.

If the government agency can demonstrate that individuals a, b, and c need to be investigated because of some suspicious or suspect activity, and they can present the same level of proof that would be required by a Judge for a normal search warrant or phone tap, then it is perfectly OK. But a raw grab of millions of searches just to SEE if there is a pattern seems unacceptable to me.

Thanks for the help.