How do I browse anonymously?

slicksilver

Golden Member
Mar 14, 2000
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I mean I hate it when browsers detect which country or region I am from and then provide me specific content. How do I go about doing this?

Thanks.
 

WildHorse

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2003
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You download & install 2 free things:

(1) The tor - vidalia - privoxy bundle from HERE.

(2) The Torbutton add-on for Firefox.

You install the bundle - one click installs all 3 programs. They're ready to use right outta the box.

ALSO, be sure to port forward the ports for tor (port 9051) and Privoxy (port 8118) through your DSL modem & router firewalls and authorize them in any software firewall too, such as in Windows firewall.

When you want to start the proxy running you activate 2 of the 3 programs: Vidalia & Privoxy. Start them each separately from your Windows Start / All Programs menu. Always activate them both. You don't manually activate tor. Vidalia is a control program that already activates tor.

So that gets them running, but to then get your Firefox web browser actively engaged with them, you also click the torbutton, which will become visible on your Firefox toolbar after you install it. TOrbutton looks like an onion.

Finally, when you start web browsing using them, the first place to go is any of the many free "what is my IP" type web sites, or else the tor detector web site, to make sure you are in fact now browsing anonymously. Then go to wherever you want.


So that's how you do it.

I don't know if it works with IE.

It can work great with Firefox. Times when you happen to land with a tor exit point in places like Germany, France, Japan it goes lightning fast. Other times when you happen to land with a tor exit point in the USA or in some other countries it can somethimes be too slow.

You can also put your e-mail through tor if you want to . I don't.

I'd not want to use any free online proxies because I'd suspect they'd be harvesting info from me.

As I understand it, tor development was initiated by the US Navy, and is now in the public domain.

P.S. Vidalia also has a separate web site here where you can read up on TheOnionRouter/TorFAQ and also the separate Vidalia FAQ, but I've had better luck downloading the 3-part bundle from the tor web site instead.

-------------------------------
FAQ EXCERPTS:

1.1. What is Tor?

Tor is an anonymity network. Tor = acronym for "The Onion Router" network. It protects your privacy on the internet. Tor uses a series of three proxies - computers (or nodes) which communicate on your behalf using their own identifying information - in such a way that none of them know both your identifying information and your destination. Tor can also help people get around restrictive firewalls which censor web content. Read the [WWW] Tor overview to learn more about Tor and what it can do for you.

What is Vidalia?

Vidalia is a GUI for Tor, making it easy for you to run, monitor, and configure your installation of Tor. It lets you start and stop Tor, as well as letting you know when things go wrong. Vidalia also lets you see how much bandwidth Tor is using and can even help you set up your own Tor server.
 

homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
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I think scott got way too complicated. Just search for free open proxies. Pick one, then configure your browser to use it.
 

WildHorse

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2003
5,006
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Not complicated at all.

Simply download, install (remembering to forward your ports through the firewalls), & you're ready to use it right then.

If you get bogged down in reading the technical discussions on the developers' web sites then it can seem overwhelmingly complicated. But that isn't necessary. Just download, install, use.

=============================================================
Quote:
Individuals use Tor to keep websites from tracking them and their family members, or to connect to news sites, instant messaging services, or the like when these are blocked by their local Internet providers. Tor's hidden services let users publish web sites and other services without needing to reveal the location of the site.

Individuals also use Tor for socially sensitive communication: chat rooms and web forums for rape and abuse survivors, or people with illnesses.

Journalists use Tor to communicate more safely with whistleblowers and dissidents.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) use Tor to allow their workers to connect to their home website while they're in a foreign country, without notifying everybody nearby that they're working with that organization.

Groups such as Indymedia recommend Tor for safeguarding their members' online privacy and security.

Activist groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are supporting Tor's development as a mechanism for maintaining civil liberties online.

Corporations use Tor as a safe way to conduct competitive analysis, and to protect sensitive procurement patterns from eavesdroppers. They also use it to replace traditional VPNs, which reveal the exact amount and timing of communication. Which locations have employees working late? Which locations have employees consulting job-hunting websites? Which research divisions are communicating with the company's patent lawyers?

A branch of the U.S. Navy uses Tor for open source intelligence gathering, and one of its teams used Tor while deployed in the Middle East recently.

Law enforcement uses Tor for visiting or surveilling web sites without leaving government IP addresses in their web logs, and for security during sting operations.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,651
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www.anyf.ca
google "proxies" you'll find quite a lot, some have already been mentioned here as well.

Theres a crap load of "codeen" proxies out there, but those don't allow HTTP post, but fine for browsing most sites.
 

homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Originally posted by: scott
Not complicated at all.

WTF?

Not complicated? You gave paragraph after fractured paragraph of "instructions" and its not complicated? Wow.

Here is what you should have said:

find an open proxy server, config your browser to use it.

ONE sentence. Do you really think youre being helpful? The long answer is *yes*. Unequivocally. You definitely get a :thumbsup: for effort, but any answer that starts with *DOWNLOAD* is going to be shit. That is the life being a PC user. "Download" should be the *LAST* answer.
 

robphelan

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2003
4,084
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the problem with most posts in this thread except scott's, is they all say Google proxies and configure it.

he has a lot of helpful info in his post.
 

homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Originally posted by: robphelan
the problem with most posts in this thread except scott's, is they all say Google proxies and configure it.

he has a lot of helpful info in his post.

The problem with scott's post is that it starts with *download*. I said this in my post above. Why in the fuck are you ignoring it? You are *NOT* being helpful in *any* way, so STFU.

You have a PM about your behavior.

AnandTech Moderator
mechBgon
 

MrScott81

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2001
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Originally posted by: homercles337
Originally posted by: robphelan
the problem with most posts in this thread except scott's, is they all say Google proxies and configure it.

he has a lot of helpful info in his post.

The problem with scott's post is that it starts with *download*. I said this in my post above. Why in the fuck are you ignoring it? You are *NOT* being helpful in *any* way, so STFU.


And you're being helpful by being an @$$hole?

Scott simply offered an alternative to the previous 10 suggestions of searching google for proxies.

Jeesh, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.