A small tool for privacy.

[Kutjara]

For about a year now, the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) has been developing an online privacy tool called Tor. It has no doubt been mentioned somewhere on DU in the past, but all the recent NSA snooping news makes me think its time for another post to let people know that there are alternatives to allowing the State to trample all over our privacy.

In the words of Tor's developers:

"Tor is a toolset for a wide range of organizations and people that want to improve their safety and security on the Internet. Using Tor can help you anonymize web browsing and publishing, instant messaging, IRC, SSH, and other applications that use the TCP protocol. Tor also provides a platform on which software developers can build new applications with built-in anonymity, safety, and privacy features.

Tor aims to defend against traffic analysis, a form of network surveillance that threatens personal anonymity and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security. Communications are bounced around a distributed network of servers called onion routers, protecting you from websites that build profiles of your interests, local eavesdroppers that read your data or learn what sites you visit, and even the onion routers themselves."

So, if you're interested in protecting your privacy, thwarting the ability of online criminals, NSA agents and other ne'erdowells to read your life like a book, or would just like to feel your taking a bit more control over your personal information, Tor may be the tool for you.

Read more and/or download the free software at tor.eff.org.

[Faux pas]

1. Sounds like a good idea. Have you tried it yet? n/t

[Kutjara]

2. I've been using it for about six months.

It's fine for normal web browsing and emailing, but you probably wouldn't want to try to play an online game with it switched on. Breaking up and distributing data packets across a network of computers does add a bit of latency, which would be noticeable in any activities requiring real time control.

For everyday purposes, however, the slight delay is perfectly acceptable. And, more importantly, I haven't been arrested yet. ;D

[Faux pas]

4. LOL sooooo glad you haven't been arrested yet!

Thank you so much for the information. :hi:

[Canuckistanian]

3. Thanks Kutjara

I'd heard about this before but forgot about the site. I'd like to be able to run a server someday when I've got the bandwidth.