Recently we included static IP addresses to our Private Proxy application.  This is in addition to the randomly changing IP addresses that our private proxy already offered.

So why would we insert static IP addresses?  It would seem that randomly rotating IP addresses would include an extra layer of anonymity.  So why avail yourself of static IP addresses?  The solution is rather straightforward, however I will confess was not obvious to us when we initially planned the system.  The key reason to employ static IP addresses instead of randomly rotating ones is to include some level of consistency when going to the same website over and over again.  While usually you would think that you would not need to be recognized by your IP address, from time to time you do.

Think about your Web banking.  If you attempt to get into your web-based bank account from randomly changing IP addresses, it may appear to the bank that someone is trying to hack into your account.  Thus the requirement for static and regular IP addresses.

But this is not just about online banking.  It’s also about consistency used for any site where you want to keep a profile.  Even if you are trying to keep an unidentified profile, it still helps to be consistent.

None of this means that randomly changing IP addresses are a bad suggestion.  They nonetheless offer that added layer of secrecy.  Plus you should still use the rotating IP addresses when you are trying to stay unidentified when you are surfing the web.

Everyone knows about hackers and how they must keep themselves safe and secure so that they won’t be hacked online. These criminals can actually break into your system and completely take it over; they will be moving the mouse and not you! A virtual hijacking if you will. More common is the practice of just breaking through your security programs and reading through your personal and sensitive documents, and trying to recover some sort of identifying or useful information; think bank account numbers, passwords, log in names, credit card numbers, etc.

This seems like it would take a master hacker to do, but it really doesn’t. These hackers often are just somewhat computer savvy people with online guides (yes, these are published) on how to break into someone’s system. The great thing for them is that people usually all just keep their stock firewalls and virus protection programs for a false sense of security. These are easy to hack for hackers because you get what you paid for, and they were free. After doing so many of them too, they learn their way around a standard firewall.

Because of this, hackers try to stick to the people who simply have no protection, or just very minimal extra protection. Some people’s Internet signals are completely unsecured, and a criminal would have no problem breaking in. When you log on to your home Internet connection, did you have to put in a password? Look and see if the status is “unsecured” or “open”. Try to avoid this and install a WEP key which is a bunch of figures you put together that acts as a password. This might not stop a pro hacker from getting into your computer, but it will stop your neighbors from mooching off of your connection, reading your documents, and possibly giving you a virus. When they are on your connection, you may notice slower browsing speeds than normal.

Creative criminals: with its nice alliterative ring, it sounds like a harmonious title of a reality show. Or perhaps some blooper reel where the “creative” is in a less reverent sense. This is nothing to do with television though, but rather another medium: technology. The human race had its humble roots with a barbaric caveman who first struck fire and was maddened and frightened by its implications, although he probably did not know what “implications” were. Soon enough though, or really through millions of years of natural selection, we found ourselves in the year 1950. At this point technology is just making its strong debut, with the radio and the television dominating the airwaves and creating sparks in the minds of the greats who will bring us even more advanced technology later.

Anonymous Proxy to avoid identity theft

Although we did not know it the abstract concept of a grassroots link between users would be manifested to the tangible, yet paradoxically intangible, Internet. This system allowed people to set up their own sites via the WWW service, and brought about many great things. Unfortunately, it is through the Internet that we find ourselves the victims of some of the most creative criminals.

The creation of MySpace, FaceBook, and other social networking sites where people can communicate to one another through personalized profiles and comment, blog, and rate each others own pictures brought about a social revolution. People became addicted to these sites, and soon enough criminals began to notice and try and exploit the general public’s naivete regarding Internet safety. Through the wonderful power of deceit the Internet provides, these ingenious crooks posed as friends of some people, and lured them into the real world to steal, abduct, etc. The more sophisticated criminals even earned themselves a special title of reverence: a hacker. These hackers manipulated computer infrastructure and security systems to go right into people’s documents or bank accounts and take whatever they want.

The men and women of the United States Armed Forces are overseas right now fighting for your freedom. They made this choice on their own yes, but it is a choice they made because they love the idea of freedom, and because they want to better themselves and their country. Remember it is not a choice that is made lightly by any means. It is something that they considered, and probably for several months. In the end they decided that fighting for freedom and making a stand was worth more than anything-even their own lives. That being the case they signed the papers, they boarded a plane, and now they sit thousands of miles away from home. Fortunately there have been some innovations that have provided soldiers with more entertainment than they would have had access to in the past. These innovations are centered around the internet.

Use an anonymous proxy to stay safe overseas.

So what would a soldier want to access on the web. Believe it or not, one of the things they do is watch TV online. They can catch their favorite programs or watch hockey. Most of the TV networks put their some of their latest episodes online. For others, they can access media sites that aggregate content. Another source for media is the online newspapers like the New York Times. Or maybe they want to read their home town newspaper online. Today most, if not all papers, have an online version. So between TV, sports, and newspapers, they can catch up on the latest US media and news.

Instead of TV, they might be on social networking sites like FaceBook or MySpace. For those who have not served in the military, you can’t imagine how much of a gift these sites are to lonely young men and women far from home. With a click of the mouse, they can see friends and loved ones. They can catch up on the latest happenings in their families or circle of friends. They can see videos, pictures and general updates. And maybe, just maybe, some of the loneliness might go away. Sure, they are still at the front. Sure they are still in harm’s way. But they have a connection back to their normal every day lives. Unfortunately, they can’t always connect back to these US sites. You’d think the web is available everywhere.