Surf Anonymously For Free (Sort of)

When we read articles as such: http://techland.time.com/2011/08/01/house-approves-data-mongering-isp-snooping-bill-and-what-that-means-for-you/ we feel the need to secure our information we decide to let loose out in the Internet. Anything from e-mails to simple browsing habits, the United States government wants to see it. So... how do we prevent that?


Well there isn't really anything we can do about the information our ISPs already have on us, but if we want to ensure our future data isn't available to them, we should implement VPNs and proxies into our network connections.

Here's what I do...


 Keep in mind before you read further that I only use this VPN and these proxies when I am dealing with information I do not want to be traced back to me very easily and not merely for everyday browsing.

 I use ProXPN (a free VPN client, albeit with limited connection speed)

   -Now you need to realize that when you use this service, as with any other, they are required to retain data in the event the government 'needs' to check it out. So by law, any service that resides in the US will have to abide by the law therein.

So what does that mean? It means they will retain information just as your ISP does. I'll explain more about this below.

To use, simply go to the above link and download the client (or click here). You'll also need to sign up here. 

I also use proxies from Hidemyass.com (these will be manually entered in your browser)



Example:

IP=

213.192.80.226

Port= 3128

Country= Poland

Encrypted(yes)= HTTPS

Anonymity= High

To use, simply enter the IP and port in your browser.

For Firefox it looks like this:  

















Tools > Options > Advanced > Network (tab) > Connection: Settings > Manual Proxy Configuration


So here is a breakdown of what will happen when you use these two services and then access Google, for example:

Your request will go from your browser, through your ISP to the proxy (yes, in Poland), then from the proxy in Poland, the request will be sent to the server at ProXPN and they will then access Google for you. The information will come from Google, then go backwards back to ProXPN's server, then to Poland, and then back through your ISP to your computer.

So from your ISPs perspective, you are getting information from Poland. From Poland's perspective you are getting information from ProXPN, from (pay close attention now) Google's point-of-view you are actually sitting on ProXPN's server requesting data.

So let us say Google is demanded by the US government to release info about who searched for the term 'house' on a certain date. Google will search it's logs and find that someone from ProXPN requested it. So then they will force ProXPN to release it's data and find that someone from a Poland proxy requested it. Now if they can find the info for the proxy in Poland, the government is just a warrant away from getting your contact info (through your ISP of course).

If only you could find services that didn't hold your information you wouldn't have to worry about getting in trouble. Or maybe you should just think twice before doing bad things ;)

PS: Here's a link you can use to show your viewers their IP info:  http://pastehtml.com/view/b2n05ezg0.html