Stoney McFried
Well-Known Member
Thanks for clarifying that for me. You learn something new every day!
Internet Privacy
- Thread starter RickWhite
- Start date
CLOSETGROWTH
Well-Known Member
Im a computer tech, if you install lets say win xp.. make sure you dont do the "quick format", always choose the "full format", takes longer but it does destroy data for good.
No, it doesn't.
The only difference between a full format and a quick format is whether or not it checks for bad sectors after it erases the master file table. That data is still recoverable by any data recovery pro, probably even if it's been overwritten once or twice.
If you want to remove data beyond recovery, your best bet is to shred individual files, or sanitize the whole disk with a 7 pass cryptographically secure pseudo-random sequence (using software like what I mentioned above). That will stop all but the most resourceful of adversaries (e.g. the NSA). The only way to be completely certain is to physically destroy the disk beyond recovery. Physically shred or melt the hard drive platters.
meowmix
Active Member
2nd this - tor project is awesome. -- id also say its the easiest free proxy service ive ever found.
HardCorps420
Active Member
I use a few things, one i use BestCrypt which obviously is an encryption tool. you can use it to encrypt any physical drive and it also has key-logging protection. you have to buy it but i just dled it from a torrent site. im not big into proxys (i'm looking inot it as we speak) cause im on such a slow internet connection, but all i do is keep all sensitive info on a flash drive and encrypt it. I also have a program calld BCWipe which is made by the same company and completely erases all info. BCWipe complies with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD 5220.22-M) standard, U.S. Department of Energy (DoE M 205.1-2) standard and a set of other standard wiping schemes. You can also create and use your own customized wiping scheme to wipe sensitive information from storage devices installed on your computer. (taken from site). they also have a nice firewall which i will be investing in shortly. heres an exert from the site:
Jetico provides military-standard data protection software for all highly sensitive information and mission-critical data throughout the lifecycle - permanently delete files, erase entire hard drives, encrypt files/folders, encrypt whole volumes and control network traffic.
Approved for use by the U.S. Department of Defense, BCWipe surgically removes all traces of selected data, while BestCrypt disguises the data you need to keep with convenient, reliable encryption. Jetico Personal Firewall protects computers against hackers and malware when networked or connected to the Internet.
I hope this helps you, and while theres pretty much anyway around shit you can get pretty fucking close to where the FBI CIA or NSA would have to help the local law enforcement agency and they would simply laugh at them unless your columbian cartel or a terrorist.
Jetico provides military-standard data protection software for all highly sensitive information and mission-critical data throughout the lifecycle - permanently delete files, erase entire hard drives, encrypt files/folders, encrypt whole volumes and control network traffic.
Approved for use by the U.S. Department of Defense, BCWipe surgically removes all traces of selected data, while BestCrypt disguises the data you need to keep with convenient, reliable encryption. Jetico Personal Firewall protects computers against hackers and malware when networked or connected to the Internet.
I hope this helps you, and while theres pretty much anyway around shit you can get pretty fucking close to where the FBI CIA or NSA would have to help the local law enforcement agency and they would simply laugh at them unless your columbian cartel or a terrorist.
They'll subpoena the log file of visitors' IP addresses, or gather other clues that could help identify an individual, and use this to support getting a warrant or a conviction.
Obscure your shit.
agent11475
Active Member
this is about the topic but not really fallowing the conversation, a lot of people screw themselvs over and not because they dont use a proxy, people put their private information into public view. the best example i have of this is with pictures off of peoples cell phones. http://janezlifeandtimes.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/my-meal.jpg i just grabbed that photo from google and know its been taken with an iphone, the picture has metadata in it called exif, this data gives you some crazy information including a GPS tag of where the picture was taken. if you want to see for yourself paste the link from the picture into http://regex.info/exif.cgi and it will show you on a map where it was taken.
http://regex.info/exif.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjanezlifeandtimes.files.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fmy-meal.jpg
mind=blown
http://regex.info/exif.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjanezlifeandtimes.files.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fmy-meal.jpg
mind=blown
whiteflour
Well-Known Member
BC is good but I wouldn't rely on it protecting too much by the way of LEO. Your best bet is to only use it in conjunction with removable media which you can destroy. If you're really worried about it you should NEVER, EVER put information on your hard drives. Anyway it's wise to keep in mind that any algorithms which have been approved for civilian use by the NSA have already been compromised by them at least, and if it's anything less than 256-bit it can be feasibly cracked with distributed computing. Everyday those resources get cheaper.
MediMary
Well-Known Member
damn my mind is blown now to .. fuckin eh
agent11475
Active Member
to get rid of all of the exif data from a photo you should use a program like photoshop or gimpshop(free) and resave the photo when you go to resave the photo under options uncheck the box that says "save exif data" thats what i do with gimpshop
brownguy
Member
One of the best way to protect yourself online is to use TOR. It is a free software. You can download it by Googling for it. It comes with Firefox browser which operates in "private browsing" mode. Java/Flash,etc are disabled to protect your privacy further.
All the data sent between your computer and the Internet is encrypted. At the same time, your IP will also be obfuscated, so no one can trace you.
All the data sent between your computer and the Internet is encrypted. At the same time, your IP will also be obfuscated, so no one can trace you.
