Fire Alarms Systems

Andrew White, his wish to remain private and browser doesn 't want to see targeted advertising

I want my browsing and Google searches to be private. I don 't want targeted advertising and I don' t want to feel that anonymous companies reap my clicks to know everything about me. I 'd also like to avoid, as described in Eli Pariser filtered' s how the net traps us all in our own little bubbles.

What 's the best combination or (preferably free) tools I could use?
Andrew White

When the web was young, and much less glossy, web pages have been fixed (static) and - apart browser quirks - everyone looked exactly the same. Today a large part of the web is dynamic, meaning that what you see, has been adapted or designed possibly constructed on the fly for you.

A website can do dozens of pieces of information, so even if you seem to live (geolocation), computer details, such as your browser and operating system, and the knowledge of other sites you have visited. Among the most important sources of information are small text files called cookies - or, perhaps, the dozens of cookies - that have websites stored on your hard disk. These include all the settings you set in previous visits.

From your point of view, the advantage is that the sites you've visited personalized customized to your needs and preferences. From the site 's view, the advantage that they also try to seek their prices and advertising, your needs and taste, and increase your tendency to click and buy. This is, after all, the quid pro quo for your free access to a huge amount of expensive information. If no one buys anything about web-based advertising, most will die Web.

The Web is the rule: If you 're not paying, then you are, what' s sold.

However, there are many possibilities, the amount of personalization and reduce the number of ads. These include using a proxy server, block cookies, on an ad-blocker, with secure connections (HTTPS), whenever possible, and turning off the JavaScript programming. You may also be able to use some of the information stored about you online, how to delete google search.

Probably the simplest way to reduce personalisation is to use an anonymising service. Instead of accessing the web directly, you access it via a third-party proxy server, so your that requests are mixed in with thousands of others. These services usually allow you to control cookies, turn JavaScript on and off, withhold "referrer details" and so on. Also, all data between your PC and the proxy server should be encrypted so your internet service provider won't see it either.

However, companies that offer anonymous browsing services also need to protect themselves. Most have strict rules about what you can do, and you can expect their terms to ban you from accessing pornography, sending spam, using "hate speech" and similar practices. Free services will prevent you from using too much of their shared bandwidth and will probably ban access to videos and downloads. Even with paid-for services, sites that use Java or JavaScript apps may not work.

Nevertheless, it 's often useful to have access to an anonymous proxy service, and you should all they like. Examples include the Cloak, mega proxy Proxify and ID Zap. There are also networked open source systems such as Tor and I2P privacy.

If you have a Google account, click the cog icon and select Web History log in. Click on the link that \ says "Clear entire web history", which will also pause the collection of data on your Search. But remember that you are using other search engines that collect either don 't information, or delete it quickly, or allow you to manage your privacy better than Google. Examples include Ixquick and down side, and DuckDuckGo Blekko.

Google also followed your progress over thousands of websites using Google Analytics. Opt-out of this, install the Google Analytics Opt-out browser add-on (beta), Google offers for Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari and Opera. However, some sites use different analysis software or track visitors in other ways that you will not be aware of. Ghostery can help them.

When it comes to cookies, you may vacate CCleaner (free) existing cookies, set your browser to prohibit them or only certain types. Some sites do not function properly without cookies, so it 'sa good idea to set your browser in a sandbox like Sandboxie, which are isolated from the rest of the computer it is running. It also makes your computer more secure. (Chrome and have IE9 sandbox built in.)

If you use Chrome, Google has an extension called Keep My reduce opt-outs to cookie tracking, while blocking Firefox 4 Do Not Track with third-party cookies. You can install IE9 Tracking Protection Lists. IE8 allows you to control cookies on a slider: go to Tools, Internet Options and click the Privacy tab. Firefox users may also be called an add-on BetterPrivacy

The European Union has a "cookie law" (Privacy and Communications Directive) in 2009, and last month were sites will get your permission to install cookies. However, the law was largely ignored, and the British government has to meet company for another year. The Americans are still trying, p. 913 pass: Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2011.

Finally, Facebook Connect a potential privacy problem, because it "allows users to" connect "their Facebook identity, friends and privacy to any site '\. It can turn with Facebook settings. But have a look for The browser add-ins and extensions that keep them from working.

Examples include Chrome Disconnect Facebook, Facebook blockers, Facebook Break. Firefox has been able to help a limited Facebook blocker but AdBlock Plus and some tips from Tom Herman.

In general, the more online - social networking, cloud computing, etc. - the more your privacy and security are at risk. Reduce this risk involves costs and inconvenience, so it 's up to you to find an acceptable compromise.