[dba-Tech] Personal security

Eh, unfortunately, if Steve Gibson is right, it might not possibly matter, because he theorises that the NSA is splitting the optical cables (hence PRISM) right from the ISP at a location close to these companies data centres and just sucking up all the packets - the idea being that by being at a close proximity of the data centres, there is a higher probability that the packet is destined for these companies services. Basically, they are wiretapping Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc. The reason this matters is that this now means that these companies are completely right in denying claims that they are giving backdoor access to their data to the NSA.

Anyways, I recommend listening to Steve Gibsons recent Security Now podcast episode 408 (the state of surveillance): https://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm

- Hans


On 2013-06-19, at 11:33 AM, "Jim Lawrence" <accessd at shaw.ca> wrote:

> Right after the NSA scare and the realization that not only the US but all
> countries now have or will soon have similar systems in place, to monitor
> their citizens, personal privacy, there is a move towards concealing your
> surfing identity.
> 
> Enter the Tor Browser: http://tor-browser.com/index.html
> 
> When the package has been installed on your system your roaming IP address
> randomly changes per session or can be changed at any time. This product
> does not encrypt your data but just makes it difficult for businesses to
> reap your personal information, easily cross-index your search pretences,
> limit your access to regional content and stops their continually monitor
> your location. If you are at all politically active it will also make it
> difficult for government to monitor you, if they decide you are in
> disagreement with their current position.
> 
> The browser is built on the Mozilla engine and its features and it browser
> functionality is similar to Firefox. It supports all major platforms but if
> you are using Debian Linux distros like Ubuntu or Mint etc, there is a much
> better and easier method of installation.
> 
> 1. Go to your terminal window. (Alt-Ctrl-T)
> 
> 2. Enter the appropriate repository for your hardware type:
>    32 bit: $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:upubuntu-com/tor
>    64 bit: $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:upubuntu-com/tor64
> 
> 3. Do a general update of all the libraries, download and install the Tor
> package:
> $ sudo apt-get update
> $ sudo apt-get install tor-browser
> 
> 4. Set up the tor directory ownership and access rights for the current
> logged in user.
> $ sudo chown -R $USER ~/.tor-browser
> 
> I have already installed the package and it seems to work well...so far.
> (Now if I can get access to my PBS videos...) ;-)
> 
> Aside: There has been some troubles with the Tor sites as it seems that
> interest in the Tor browser has jumped sharply and this has invoked internet
> wide certification issues as governments and businesses don't want this
> package available as there is a feeling that the program will impact both
> (their) web security and their business (financial) models. So what are your
> feeling on this?
> 
> Jim
> 
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