The first thing, and the one I used for a while, is PeerBlock. PeerBlock is an open source program that uses frequently updated IP lists to block known tracking software from seeing your activity online. Some say it works, some say it doesn’t. I’ve never experienced anything bad when it comes to PeerBlock, but that doesn’t mean anything. It’s a very basic solution that relies on well-known lists that everyone has access to, including the folks it intends to block. All they have to do is get a new IP, and boom. PeerBlock used to update for free, but now they charge around $10.00 per year for their lists, or you can get a free update every week. If you want minimal comfort and security, go for it. If you’re a little more wary about being watched, then read on.
The second thing I’ve come across on my journeys is Tor Browser. Tor Browser was created by the good folks over at the US Navy, believe it or not, to keep businesses from tracking what a user does online. It’s a modified version of Firefox that works on any OS, and routes your IP address through several “onion” servers, obscuring your original address. The NSA has tried repeatedly to crack through the security with no luck thus far. Ironically, the primary source of funding has been the US Government itself. It’s non-profit, run by volunteers who host servers around the world, and is completely open-source. Tor Browser is strong Kung-Fu, and keeps you from being tracked or located based on your IP address. It also doesn’t keep a browsing history, so no having to remember to delete that after you’re done looking at pr0n.
There are a couple of downsides to Tor Browser. First, it’s going to be slower than regular browser due to everything you browse having to jump from relay to relay before it gets back to you. It also blocks Flash and QuickTime plugins, so you’ll have to use something else if that’s a problem for you. Watching YouTube videos is disabled by default, but you can quickly remedy that by opting out of YouTube’s HTML5 site. A fun fact, after Edward Snowden revealed what the NSA was up to last year, Tor Browser usage jumped from 500,000 users to nearly 6 million.
Unfortunately, Tor Browser has also become a tool of the “dark web”, as it has features that enable certain websites to be visited only by Tor and no other browser. Actual criminals have taken advantage of this, such as pedophiles, and use it to share underage pornography. It’s a shame when something meant to protect us is used in such a manner, and a lot of these scum are brought to light thanks to hacktivists who also use Tor. It’s a vicious circle, but more often than not it takes care of itself.
