Personal Privacy Concerns

[TaylorMade]

Hello.
I am really concerned regarding my privacy whilst browsing the web.
Anyone could recommend ways I could be more of anonymous,
so that I can prevent companies collecting data and logs on me ?


Perhaps change in OS to Linux?
Is Linux more secure than Microsoft Windows 8?


Thanks all in advance for your inputs

[tempneo]

Simply changing your os won't do anything. There is a great tutorial on this subject in anonymity section. https://evilzone.org/anonymity/the-art-of-anonymity-9178/ Read this

[cyberdrifter]

Simply changing your os won't do anything.

That's not nescessarily true.
https://tails.boum.org/
This OS has been modified heavily specifically for the purpose of increasing anonymity.


With that said, there are other considerations, such as behavior patterns that contribute to an overall opsec. But for the general user, something like TAILS would be sufficient in most cases.

[L0aD1nG]

Simply changing your os won't do anything. There is a great tutorial on this subject in anonymity section. https://evilzone.org/anonymity/the-art-of-anonymity-9178/ Read this

Of course it will.
When we speak about micro$oft... I bet that more than 90% of malware are written to run on micro$oft OSes.

The change it self won't make you invisible of course... but its one step forward to the road of anonimity [Living micro$oft behind].

That's not nescessarily true.
https://tails.boum.org/
This OS has been modified heavily specifically for the purpose of increasing anonymity.

With that said, there are other considerations, such as behavior patterns that contribute to an overall opsec. But for the general user, something like TAILS would be sufficient in most cases.

Tails is made to run on Live Boot.
I think he is talking about installing a new OS as his main system.


@OP:
As I said to one of my responses above, changing to Linux will not magically give you the solution but it is a very important step that you have to make (or generally changing to another Unix-like operating system).

Now if you are concerned about privacy for specific actions you sometimes do on the internet and not generally. A very good-easy solution would be to use Tails on live-boot from a usb as cyberdrifter already mentioned.

[Teapot]

Yes *nix is more secure than Winshit... but that is pertaining to vulnerability's in your system and malware... Linux Mint is a good one for non-techie people.

But it sounds like your talking about web browsing... a VPN and some encryption.

[sh4d0w_w4tch]

You can create an alternative identity and use that for everything you can.  Use paypal and non reloadable prepaid credit cards to pay for all services under your identity so they can't be tracked as you.   Create all social networking accounts under this identity.  Never associate with any of your personal interests, frequent websites you previously used, or interact with any usernames that you had contact with under any other identities.  Never share your identity with anyone IRL.  It is very easy for them to say something foolish and compromise everything you have been working on.  Avoid keeping regular hours online because it can reveal your work schedule and clues as to what your job is.

On the technical side of things, you should use a VPN.  Make sure it is from a reputable company and paid, because free VPNs will sell data on you.  You can use one on your own server but if you do this you cannot be "anonymous" because all activity will track back to your alternative identity.  Try using a popular VPN and change exit locations regularly.  Make sure that you use a kill switch in case your VPN fails.  Create a separate user on all of your computers for your identity.

Make up interests and a biography for your identity.  You must become this person.

Never assume that you are completely anonymous.  If you piss people off and make them really want to find you, they'll find a way.  Somebody can always drop a payload on you or social engineer you into installing an app.

Big Data will be tracking you, but they'll be tracking a fictional identity.

[v32itas]

seriously ? Find Hidden Wiki and read How To Exit The Matrix there.