Internet Privacy Protection

Now I know why they call it the DarkNet  : )

When I learned that the Republican government relaxed Internet privacy protection so that Internet service providers (ISP) can sell our personal information, I was driven to find ways to protect our privacy. This led to a few of nights of obsessive internet gazing, It was a struggle to escape the information vortex, but, like Odysseus's escape from Charybdis, I brought back the goods : )

First, what are the issues? Well, whenever we use the internet to look for stuff, look at stuff, buy stuff, send stuff, or get stuff, our computer turns the stuff into little packets of information that is sent and received through our ISP.  The packets themselves are information about us doing things ("talking", "listening", buying, selling, looking, reading); the packaging contains information that could identify us; and the packet paths tell where we are and who we're communicating with. So, it looks like we have at least 3 issues:

1. Protecting our identity
2. Protecting what we're doing
3. Protecting who we're doing it with

The strategies that have evolved to address these issues are:

1. Encrypting the packets
2. Tracking protection
3. Virtual private networks

1. As a user, we can tell when our packets are being encrypted when we see "https:" in our web browser's URL window. Luckily, since most of us will look at that last sentence and see gibberish, our most popular web browsers, Chrome and Firefox, have "HTTPS Everywhere" that facilitates our encrypted communication. The following links will let you install them in your browser:

• chrome: install and use the HTTPS Everywhere extension

• Firefox: install and use the HTTPS Everywhere add-on

2. There doesn't seem to be a all-inclusive strategy to provide tracking protection. The FoxFire browser allows you turn on Privacy Option: "Tracking Protection in Private Browsing". This option uses a list to identify and block trackers. The Chrome browser has an Incognito Window feature, but it only prevents your browser history from being saved, it doesn't stop tracking. That being said, Ghostery provides a webpage by webpage solution that may work for you. Here are links to install them in your browser (if you decide to create an account with Ghostery, you'll be able to access browser level functionality via the ubiqitous 3 dots in the upper right . . . Even though I did this, I'm wondering if I didn't trade lots of neferious trackers for one sly one : )

• chrome: install and use the Ghostery extension

• Firefox: install and use the Ghostery add-on

3. The last strategy, using a VPN, will construct a virtual tunnel through your Service Provider's "wall" so that you can do your internet browsing on the other side.  The challenges with the VPN solution is that, unless you're Internet savvy and can set up a VPN on your own, you'll be renting a VPN connection (or you should be, because if it's free, it will be your VPN provider who may be selling your privacy).

The problem that you run into when looking for the best VPN is that you need some expert advice delivered in language you can understand. Luckily I found one that does a good job of looking at 110 and whittling it down to 3 VPNs with a clear commentary on the process they used. Here are the 3 listed in order:

1. NordVPN                      ($70/yr)
2. ExpressVPN                  ($100/yr)
3. PrivateInternetAccess  ($40/yr)

I ended up renting TorGuard VPN because my original evaluation track led me through the DarkNet. Speaking of which, if you don't want the VPN route, consider using the Tor Browser with Tracker Protection enabled. (PC mag review)

REFERENCE:

1. How the Republicans Sold Your Privacy to Internet Providers, by Tom Wheeler, New York Times, Mar 29, 2017
2. Worried about companies spying on your browsing? Here's what you can do, by Selena Larson, CNN, Mar 29, 2017

1. Here's How to Protect Your Privacy From Your Internet Service Provider, by Amul Kalia, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Apr 3, 2017
2. Three privacy tools that block your Internet provider from tracking you, by Ian Paul, PC World, Mar 29, 2017
3. VPNs won't save you from Congress' Internet privacy giveaway, by Klint Finley, Wired, Mar 28, 2017
4. The Best VPN, Reviews.com, Feb 20,2017
5. Darknet, wikipedia
6. Tor (anonymity network), wikipedia
7. Tor Browser Review and Rating, PC Magazine, Jan 25, 2016