Having stated the above, some sites are very clear on their privacy policies.  For example, look at the Trollbeads privacy policy.  They state that they do not give out your information.  Given that this is a jewelry site, they would gain very little in giving it out.  The site’s goal is to sell jewelry.

Google on the other hand is interested in your information.  They make money based on it.

If you are concerned about privacy, there are two simple steps you can take to obscure the information that any website or search engine sees.

1. Use multiple user names or ID’s when you access a site.  This spreads your data across accounts which breaks any direct linkage to you.
2. Use an anonymous proxy that changes your IP address so that your accounts are not linked to your IP address.  Even better would be to use a shared proxy because many people will be using the same IP addresses thus rendering the information collected by the website useless.

Computer security is so much more than checking your laptop for viruses every week.  If that’s all you are doing then you have left yourself vulnerable.  The bad guys can install malware on your computer and track your every click as you surf the Internet.  If you do a lot of shopping and banking online then you are particularly vulnerable.  But it’s not just criminals that you need to be wary of.  A lot of marketing companies are competing to acquire and sell your information to advertisers.  You’ll stop them before they start by using a proxy server.

If you’re like most people you probably have no idea what a proxy server does.  The server you use to connect to the Internet has a unique identification code called an IP address.  This identifier allows someone to follow your every move online.  When you connect through a proxy you keep all that information hidden.  The bad guys follow your history back to the proxy not to your computer.  This is a stellar tool for getting around firewalls at work too.  A lot of sports games and tv shows are blocked based on your location.  Use a proxy to get around these restrictions.

There are a few must-have features you should look for when you buy proxy software.  It shouldn’t be complicated to use and you don’t want anything you have to configure yourself.  Fast service should be guaranteed and they should not censor your activity.  It doesn’t make sense to protect yourself at the expense of using the Internet how you want.  There should be no restrictions on files or images and there should be unlimited bandwidth.  At the top of your list should be top of the line security.  Make sure they use data encryption for unsecured sites and that they rotate through a lot of different IP addresses.  Make sure that low price doesn’t mean you’ll be subjected to a lot of ads.  You don’t need to put up with that kind of business.

Protecting yourself and your computer by using a proxy server should be just as natural as using the Internet.  Use a proxy server to thwart the forces that want to track your every move online to get your personal information.  You’ll be able to use it to get around firewalls and watch restricted shows online.  Look for a system that is super easy to use, prioritizes security and doesn’t force you to see ads to use it.  Surf and shop in peace knowing you are fully protected.

There are certain questions that arise when thinking about an IP address”

Q. Can I be traced through my IP address?

A. Your IP address reveals only the locality and name of your ISP. Your Internet service provider by itself might have records of your PC using their system at such and such a time, but an Internet service provider will as a rule not reveal this information without a search warrant / court order.

Q. How long does an Internet service provider store logs of client IP addresses?

A. No one knows, although it can be somewhere from several weeks to a few years. This is necessary to monitor bandwidth usage.

Q. Someone over the internet has threatened they can find me due to my IP address. Can they do this?

A. Most likely they’re bluffing. Unless you administer your personal server or reside in the same building as your ISP’s headquarters, a stranger can’t locate you using only your IP address.

Q. Can someone find my username or password based mostly in my IP address?

A. No. Your ISP is the single one that is aware these details.

Q. Do my emails show my IP address?

A. Yes. To send email secretly, you’ll want to use an anonymous remailer or an anonymous proxy.

Q. What is a proxy server?

A. A 3rd party server used as a go-between by a customer PC that doesn’t want to attach directly to the world wide web.

Q. Can a proxy server give me internet privacy?

A. Not if it is merely a surrogate server. A simple proxy server will reveal to our online world that it’s acting as a substitute for such and such IP address user (your PC), so you can nonetheless be traced because of it.

Q. What kind of proxy server should I use to be able to surf secretly?

A. You want an anonymous proxy server that is secure, trustworthy and consistent. You will most likely have to pay a fee.

Q. How will an unidentified proxy server guard me?

A. Largely by hiding your actual IP address and blocking malicious scripts and computer programs from entering your system. You might get a different IP address every time you make use of the proxy. Additionally, a number of anonymous proxies allege they can’t reveal your data even if subpoenaed (court ordered) since they don’t save client logs.

Q. Are open proxy servers reliable to use?

A. Not if you are serious concerning your security and privacy. Numerous open proxies are either incorrectly set up, or owned by evil people who want to use your data for their personal ends. Beware of using free proxies and unidentified proxy servers that don’t allocate secure connections. And no matter what server you make use of, always encrypt personal data.

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.

Anonymous Proxy usage is on the rise. This is because an anonymous proxy can help you bypass Internet restrictions or Internet censorship. An anonymous proxy is an Internet server that you connect to and that appears to be your ISP’s Internet server to any site that you visit. The websites that you visit when connected to an anonymous proxy see the proxies IP address and not the IP address of your ISP, or employer. This helps bypass restrictions based on IP address. If your IP address is banned or blocked, then by using the IP address of the anonymous proxy, you are bypassing the ban.

Anonymous surfing is slightly different. In addition to hiding your IP address, anonymous surfing is the process of being invisible on the web. With an anonymous proxy that encrypts your website traffic, you make virtually impossible for someone to monitor your Internet surfing. All they will see is the encrypted traffic which is almost impossible to decipher.

When you surf anonymously by using encryption, then the data that you send not only can’t be read, its hard to block. Let’s say that you are in mainland China and researching democracy. By encrypting your searches, the Chinese government won’t know what you are looking for. This bypasses the block on those searches. Let’s also assume that the New York Times website is blocked by the Chinese. Again, the URL that you enter into your browser is encrypted so it cannot be monitored. This also means it can’t be blocked.

Anonymous Proxy and Anonymous Surfing are keys to being safe on the Internet. Safe from hackers and thieves. And safe from repressive governments.

For most of us, we don’t worry about being anonymous because we don’t live in a repressed society. However, governments aren’t the only ones watching you. Hackers and thieves are watching you too. Using an anonymous proxy can also protect you from would be thieves.

What is an anonymous proxy, you may be asking? First of all, there are two types of anonymous proxies. The one that most people use is the web-based. This is because it is simple to find. All that is required is a search on the Google site for “anonymous proxy” and a vast amount of results will be shown. Choose one of the results and go to the site. An empty URL box will be shown and you need only type the web address of the place you want to visit. The anonymous proxy will then take you to this address without showing your IP address. When you leave the website there will not be a record of your having been there. The anonymous proxy acts as a combination protection and retrieval tool. It gets the website for you and keeps anyone from accessing your IP address. Your IP address can tell a thief where you are located. How many people do you want to know your name?

The second type of anonymous proxy is a software proxy. This is somewhat like the web-based one however, software proxies work by downloading a program to your computer. Many of the software programs are set up so that when the traffic from your browser goes through the IP servers to be changed, they are put through encryption.  This encryption protects the data stream so that a hacker cannot read what you are sending over the Internet.  Without encryption your data stream is wide open for anyone using a packet sniffer.  Unprotected Internet communications is one way that people lose their identity or their money.

Setting this up is a very simple process. All you have to do is download the software for the anonymous proxy server. The software you are using will have an icon on your desktop. Open the program from here and put in your user name and your password. The next thing will be to choose the anonymous proxy from the ones available that you wish to connect to and hit enter. Your computer will be connected to the server you chose. The browser you use can be opened and your IP address is changed to one from the software program. Eliminating your IP address from showing on whatever site you choose to visit is a terrific move. The electronic trail that is left by your computer every time you go online no longer leads back to your computer. It goes to the server company that has the program you are using. This type of anonymous proxy has more servers to handle the traffic they are getting so it is faster than the ones you can choose free from the Internet. In addition, you are not inundated with the advertisements often put on free proxy servers.

The whole process makes for a safe and secure way of doing anything online. Instead of them being able to have full access to all your pertinent information, the IP address is routed through anonymous proxy servers. This eliminates the chance of a hacker gaining control of your information while you are online. Using a wireless router or a laptop on a hotspot allows everything you are doing to be seen by those who are just waiting for an unsuspecting surfer to come along. Did you know that your ISP even has a log of everything you do on the Internet? The law says they have to keep a record of the sites you visit. Do you think this is anyone’s business besides yours? The best way to make sure no one knows what you are doing while you are online is to make use of the anonymous proxy software that encrypts your communication and keeps them private.

First of all, usage times. It is inevitable that there will be some squabbling over who gets to use the computer at what time, or that some needs to use it now because it is an emergency, there are ways to solve this. Consider making a chart of times, and have everyone pre-sign up the day of for the times that they would like to use the computer. Everyone lives different lives, so this should work out well. Parents can use it before kids get home, and then kids to do homework and socializing, and then switch again. Having a schedule will stop people from getting into a computer fisticuffs.

If the system allows it, and most do, set up multiple accounts. This will allow everyone to have their own personal settings, and not argue over a universal desktop! This way also, the parents can set restrictions of time or block certain content from the child accounts, while letting their accounts go free. This way can help for documents as well. If the adults are working from that computer, this will stop an unknowledgeable kid from accidentally deleting a big document or spreadsheet the parent was making for over a month.  This can also help too if the family has a music sharing program. While they still can see everyone else’s content if they wish, the different members won’t have to sit through each other’s likely clashing music tastes.

Sites to go on is an important one as well. Some sites are just riddled with viruses and other mal ware. Teach your kids (or teach your parents!) which sites are dangerous and which are perfectly safe. There are many websites that can do this and will offer exciting ways to learn, and not just be boring and say “don’t do this… don’t do that.” Kids learn by exciting methods, not by mindless drilling, and there are many sites that know this and cater to it.

If the computer is not able to have more than one user account, remember to never check the “keep me signed in” box on many log-in and password websites. If this is checked, everyone will be able to be you as you are signed in, as there is no way to discern who is who without having multiple accounts. This will also save everyone the hassle of signing out of your account every time they wish to log into theirs.

If you are running a proxy server, teach your kids its value and how to boot it up. Teach your kids about an IP address and what it is and how it is risky to keep public. If you show them how it can locate you, and then activate the proxy and make it say you are in Switzerland, they’ll be hooked!

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.

Hackers will often locate you via your IP address. Your IP address is like a virtual name tag for your computer which shows people your browsing history, browsing speed, and your location. That’s right, location. Criminals will identify you based on this IP address and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Except one thing; an anonymous proxy. This proxy will change your IP and allow you to surf the Internet anonymously and safely, and will prevent any privacy issues caused by someone knowing your location.

In the first place, remember that the term itself is short for “Internet Protocol.” This is a label that has been applied to allow you to connect to a wider network, and if you are on the Internet, you are using an IP address to get there. Remember, though, that you are looking at something that has several functions. For instance, websites have IP addresses too; from your computer’s point of view, they are both a pathway as well as a location. When you are thinking about the way your computer interacts on the network, remember that it should act as your passport. If you are not getting an IP address, you are not going to be getting online at all. Your IP address is something that is granted to you by your Internet service provider, or your ISP. In many cases, you will be able to simply plug your computer into the wall or into your cable modem, depending on what your service consists of, and you will be able to get online right away. In many cases, you will first need to deal with authenticating yourself to your ISP, and you need to verify that you have service with them, but it usually takes very little time at all. With a greater interest in convenience and speed, there are companies which are deliberately working for plug and play Internet, where you can plug your computer in and simply start surfing as you please. This can make a huge difference to the way that you connect.

When you are thinking about your IP address, remember that things that are not your ISP that can still hand out IP addresses. For example, take a look at your wireless router, whether you use it at work or at home. You are only going to be getting one IP address through the router, but the router arranges the information so that multiple devices can use the connection at once. Remember that the IP address that is given out by your ISP is going to go through your router and then the router will generate an IP address for your computers. An IP address that begins with 192.168.1.0 or 192.168.1.1 is a sign that you are being given an address by a router rather than a direct connection.

When you want to learn more about networking in general., you need to look into being able to tell the difference between an IP address and a MAC address. Though people often confuse them, the truth of the matter is that they do not have a great deal in common. At the most basic level, a MAC address is simply a twelve character long string of numbers and letters; typically, when they are written down, they are divided into pairs through the use of dashes. If you have a device that can connect to the Internet, that device will have a MAC address. A MAC address can be used to identify a machine on the system and you will find that this can be an important security feature. When machines go through a router, the network as a whole can only see the MAC address of the router, not the machines behind it. Take some time and learn how to find your own computer’s MAC address. You will discover that one way to secure a network is to make sure that it is only open to a certain list of MAC addresses; as all devices have different MAC addresses, this is a more secure way to take care of a network.

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.

The purpose of companies streaming their television shows onto the internet is so that people will see them, and eventually decide to buy them on DVD. People outside the country however will not be able to buy these because they are simply unavailable. Companies decided that they were actually losing money because such people couldn’t get a hold of their products! They didn’t seem to consider all of the people IN the United States that were buying. After all, what could it hurt if a few foreigners watched an episode of The Office, or even Stargate Universe? Well you wouldn’t think that it could hurt at all, but the production companies didn’t quite see it that way. For this reason they started to block IP addresses outside of the United States. The same went for several social networking websites because they suffered from the same advertisement problem. This however did not stop the military personnel from viewing their favorite websites. They instead turned to proxies.

For those who don’t know, a proxy is a server that one can connect to. This server will then connect you to the internet via it’s own connection. What does this accomplish? It provides you with a new IP address which is based in the United States. You are not visiting websites via your own connection, but instead you are using the ISP that the proxy subscribes to. What you’re dealing with there is surfing the internet using a computer across the ocean. The moral aspect is up to you, but if you get a proxy with decent encryption, the ISP you use overseas will never know the difference. This is also a great way to protect your privacy. By using a proxy you will be able to hide your identity while catching up on your favorite shows. The one thing you don’t want to do in a war zone is broadcast who you are and what you are doing. With that in mind, start shopping for a good proxy today. Once you arrange a good one, you will be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy your favorite shows.