[Dr Caleb]

I've gone to great lengths to keep my identity private.<br /> <br /> When a nosy salesman asks me personal questions, I say 'no'. Not rudely, just 'no'. If they say it's required, I say, 'No, it's not. Do you want my money?'. If they are willing to pass up a sale because i won't play along, so be it. I'm not going to lie, I'm going to tell them all you will get is a first name, and it might even be mine.<br /> <br /> Online however, I lie like a dog. [email protected] must get loads of spam.<br /> <br /> There are companies that scour all sorts of databases to try to glean information about you. They use club cards, and air miles and the like. I have none of them. But I know the phone numbers of some people who do, so I use their club cards to get discounts.<br /> <br /> These data mining companies know nothing about me.<br /> <br /> It's all about how dilligent you are in protecting your privacy.

[badsector]

Remember when Radio Shack took your address when you bought batteries? They stopped that, however it was a clear intrusion of privacy. They don't need to ask questions anymore though. Every time you surf the net you provide information about yourself. Most people have their names and primary e-mail IDs in their browsers. That, combined with your ISP and the sites you visit, the searches you do, tells a lot about you.

[Dr Caleb]

[QUOTE BY= badsector] Remember when Radio Shack took your address when you bought batteries? They stopped that, however it was a clear intrusion of privacy. They don't need to ask questions anymore though. [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Yes. 'Johnny Cash, 7424 118th Ave, T5B 4M9' in Edmonton sure bought a lot of batteries. I wonder if they bothered to actually check that address out before spamming it.<br /> <br /> Under Canada's new privacy legislation (PIPEDA), they can no longer ask such questions.<br /> <br /> http://www.privcom.gc.ca/legislation/index_e.asp<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= badsector]<br /> Every time you surf the net you provide information about yourself. [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> You might. I don't if I don't want to.<br /> <br /> http://tor.eff.org/<br /> http://sourceforge.net/projects/ijbswa/<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= badsector]<br /> Most people have their names and primary e-mail IDs in their browsers. [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Only those using Internet Exploder.<br /> <br /> http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/central/<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= badsector]<br /> That, combined with your ISP and the sites you visit, the searches you do, tells a lot about you.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Only if you let it. Me, I clear my Firefox cache and any identifiable data every time I close the browser.

[whelan costen]

'Only if you let it. Me, I clear my Firefox cache and any identifiable data every time I close the browser.'<br /> <br /> Is this something you do consciously or is it automatice when you close Mozilla? I mean do you have to do something yourself each time or is it programed that way?

[Dr Caleb]

To do it manually: on Firefox 1.5.0.1, you can go under "Tools" and "Clear Private Data Now" shortcut = [ctl][shift][del]. <br /> <br /> To do it automatically Under "Tools" -> "Options" -> "Privacy" -> "Settings" button (near the bottom right)you can set it so it will "Clear Private Data when Closing Firefox" and you can check what private data is cleared. You should check the "Ask me" button too. <br /> <br /> If Firefox crashes, it will ask you to clear the data then next time it starts.<br /> <br /> If you don't do one of these, it won't clear the private data for you.

[Brother Jonathan]

[QUOTE by Dr Caleb]</b> http://sourceforge.net/projects/ijbswa/<b>[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> I prefer <a href="http://www.privoxy.org/">Privoxy</a>, a descendant of the Internet Junkbuster.<br /> <br /> I’d also recommend turning off cookies, Java, and Javascript whenever possible. If you use Firefox or SeaMonkey, check out the <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=722&application=firefox">NoScript</a> extension, which lets you choose which sites run with Javascript and which don’t; and the <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=125&application=firefox">SwitchProxy Tool</a>, which lets you switch easily between Tor/Privoxy and no proxy.

[Dr Caleb]

[QUOTE BY= Brother Jonathan] [QUOTE by Dr Caleb]</b> http://sourceforge.net/projects/ijbswa/<b>[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> I prefer <a href="http://www.privoxy.org/">Privoxy</a>, a descendant of the Internet Junkbuster.<br /> <br /> I’d also recommend turning off cookies, Java, and Javascript whenever possible. If you use Firefox or SeaMonkey, check out the <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=722&application=firefox">NoScript</a> extension, which lets you choose which sites run with Javascript and which don’t; and the <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=125&application=firefox">SwitchProxy Tool</a>, which lets you switch easily between Tor/Privoxy and no proxy.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Good advice. But, Privoxy is what I gave the link for <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/question.gif' alt='Question'> Just to the sourceforge project. <br /> <br /> There is also a Flash plugin that won't load Flash objects by default. Can't remember the name right now . . .

[Dr Caleb]

[QUOTE BY= Dr Caleb]<br /> There is also a Flash plugin that won't load Flash objects by default. Can't remember the name right now . . .[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Found it. <br /> <br /> <a href='http://adblock.mozdev.org/'>AdBlock</a> and <a href='http://flashblock.mozdev.org/'>Flashblock</a><br />

[Brent Swain]

I always told Radio Shack "None of your buisiness", but I wish I had given them disinformation instead.<br /> An alias on the internet is an easy thing to set up as there is absolutely no need to prove the truth of info you give . From that point on nothing you do on the internet ,using your alias ,is traceable to you.Use the alias for debates and have a separate identity for personal stuff.<br /> Brent