Some privacy tips for surfing etc.

I reads this on another forum and thought that some of you might appreciate it. I already used some of the stuff mentioned but this summarizes a pretty good approach.

[quote]1) Buy a USB flash drive.

2) Download TrueCrypt from ([url]http://www.truecrypt.org[/url])

3) From the tools menu in TrueCrypt make a "Traveler Disk" on the USB flash drive. This will install the TrueCrypt runtime application on the USB flash drive.

4) From the Volumes menu, select the option to create a new volume.

5) Select the option to create "An encrypted file container".

6) Select the option for a "Hidden TrueCrypt volume", and click next. This will make an encrypted file that will mount up as a logical drive. The cool thing about a hidden volume is there is a outer volume (read decoy) that is mounted if one password is used and there is a second "hidden" volume in what appears to be the unused space in the primary volume that mounts when the second password is used. So if you are forced to decrypt the outer volume there is nothing incriminating there.

7) Download the Portable Apps Suite from ([url]http://www.portableapps.com[/url]) and install it into the "hidden volume". This suite includes the portable versions of FireFox, Pidgin, OpenOffice, and many other apps.

8) Now if you run portable apps, and launch FireFox portable all the browsing history is written to the USB drive and not your PC. No traces of where you have been on the PC.

You now have a USB flash drive that can be inserted into any PC that you have administrative rights to (this is needed so that TrueCrypt on the USB flash drive can load). Once you shut down FireFox, Close Portable Apps, and dismount the TrueCrypt volume the only thing left on the PC used is a registry entry that TrueCrypt was run.

Wait we are not done yet. You have now covered any incriminating data on your PC. Next lets hide your IP address.

1) Download the Xerobank Installer ([url]http://xerobank.com/software.php[/url]) and install it to the "hidden" volume on the USB key. This will install xB Browser, xB VPN & xB Mail. The apps will provide anonymous web surfing, VPN and mail for free utilizing the Tor Onion Router network ([url]https://www.torproject.org/[/url]). Keep in mind this will be routing your network traffic randomly to multiple "onion" router around the world (run by volunteers on the Tor network) to mask your IP and browsing, this will slow down the speed things load at.

2) If speed is a concern then become a paid customer of Xerobank. Which will give you access to their network of high speed dedicated "onion" routers and their encrypted email service.

3) All the Xerobank apps are portable apps and run from the USB flash drive, so they are not installed on your machine, nor is any of their data written to your machine.

Things to keep in mind.

1) If you do this. Use strong password for both TrueCrypt passwords (at least 20 characters with mixed case, numbers and symbols) to make brute force password hacking as hard as possible for LE.

2) Do not leave the USB flash drive mounted while you are away from the PC. Providers shutdown Portable Apps and dismount the TrueCrypt volume when not using your PC or before you invite a guy into your room. Because if you leave the volume mounted, you just gave LE everything they need, if they do not power off your laptop and keep it running. Worst case make a bee line to the PC and yank the USB flash drive out.

3) Buy the smallest USB flash drive that you can. One that can easily be flushed, swallowed or in a worst case scenario hidden in an orifice on your body if LE shows up. I recommend the PQI i810 for this task. ([url]http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/super...qii810gray.jpg[/url])

While you are at it get a pre-paid cell phone (providers and mongers) and pay for it in cash, and buy all your minutes in cash, and if you can turn off the e911 GPS service on the phone for non 911 calls do it. Pay for your hotel stays with pre-paid credit card that was also bought with cash and always refilled with cash. No need leaving a credit card or GPS trail to yourself.

I hope everyone finds this information helpful!

No I am not paranoid, I just know how to cover my tracks VERY well.[/quote]