Internet security tutorial - Revision history

Malibu90265: /* Using secure passwords */ and information about VPN's

2025-04-06T08:31:19Z

Using secure passwords: and information about VPN's

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:31, 6 April 2025
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	==== Using secure passwords ====		==== Using secure passwords ====

	The weakness of most encryption systems is the password, the most common way to guess somebody´s password is by having a computer to try common dictionary words and passwords that the user is known to have used somewhere else, you should not be using the same password everywhere and remember that if your password is a dictionary word, sooner or later it will be found. The best way to protect you form password guessing is by using a password manager like KeePassXC where you can store different passwords and only remember the main one for the password manager, which should be a long passphrase with numbers and special signs.		The weakness of most encryption systems is the password, the most common way to guess somebody´s password is by having a computer to try common dictionary words and passwords that the user is known to have used somewhere else, you should not be using the same password everywhere and remember that if your password is a dictionary word, sooner or later it will be found. The best way to protect you form password guessing is by using a password manager like KeePassXC where you can store different passwords and only remember the main one for the password manager, which should be a long passphrase with numbers and special signs. There is a password manager called 1password which has a travel mode. However, this can be confusing to set up, enable and disable.

	== Cloud Services ==		== Cloud Services ==
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	If you're serious about Internet security, you should consider using [[Tor]]. It is an advanced proxy, and is better at protecting your privacy than web-based proxies. Tor is also considered more secure, as it is based on open source code and dynamic traffic routing, because of the layered approach Tor has, even if one administrator turns to be rogue, it will not be enough to deanonimize you.		If you're serious about Internet security, you should consider using [[Tor]]. It is an advanced proxy, and is better at protecting your privacy than web-based proxies. Tor is also considered more secure, as it is based on open source code and dynamic traffic routing, because of the layered approach Tor has, even if one administrator turns to be rogue, it will not be enough to deanonimize you.

			Ensure that you are familiar with the 14 eyes alliance and countries that are friendly towards this alliance. Once you are aware of which countries are friendly towards this alliance, use a VPN with multiple countries available so that the alliance can be avoided completely. Educate yourself on killswitches, and advanced protection within the VPN settings.

	==== MAC addresses ====		==== MAC addresses ====

Eskimo: Pointed old Tails domain to the new website

2024-12-13T13:04:41Z

Pointed old Tails domain to the new website

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:04, 13 December 2024
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	If you use Windows and want to try the GNU/Linux operating system the easiest way to do this is with a tool such as [https://unetbootin.github.io/ UNetbootin] that will automatically download the Linux distribution of your choice into a USB thumbdrive and make it bootable, you will only have to make sure that your computer UEFI will start booting from the USB thumbdrive when you start the computer.		If you use Windows and want to try the GNU/Linux operating system the easiest way to do this is with a tool such as [https://unetbootin.github.io/ UNetbootin] that will automatically download the Linux distribution of your choice into a USB thumbdrive and make it bootable, you will only have to make sure that your computer UEFI will start booting from the USB thumbdrive when you start the computer.

	Beginners should start by trying LinuxMint or similar beginner friendly distributions, advanced users will want to download [https://tails.~~boum.org~~/ Tails] a Linux distribution focused on user privacy that comes comes with Tor already configured.		Beginners should start by trying LinuxMint or similar beginner friendly distributions, advanced users will want to download [https://tails.net/ Tails] a Linux distribution focused on user privacy that comes comes with Tor already configured.

	== Encryption ==		== Encryption ==

Eskimo: Erased Avast antivirus link

2024-12-13T13:02:17Z

Erased Avast antivirus link

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:02, 13 December 2024
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	* [https://www.brave.com Brave browser]		* [https://www.brave.com Brave browser]
	* [https://avast.com/free-antivirus-download Avast free antivirus]
	* [https://ssd.eff.org Surveillance Self-Defense]		* [https://ssd.eff.org Surveillance Self-Defense]
	* [https://sourceforge.net/projects/eraser/ Eraser]		* [https://sourceforge.net/projects/eraser/ Eraser]

Eskimo: Removed the cleanup tag, article is now all updated

2023-02-25T08:35:04Z

Removed the cleanup tag, article is now all updated

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:35, 25 February 2023
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	~~{{cleanup}}~~

	This tutorial will help you stay safe when using the Internet, and avoid hackers, viruses, and accidentally giving out your private information to strangers. The first section assume that you're using Microsoft Windows (the most popular operating system for PCs). But even if Windows is the most popular operating system for PCs, does not mean that it is the most reliable. It is better to install an open source system like GNU/Linux, [https://linuxmint.com/ LinuxMint] is suitable for beginners, advanced users paranoid about security can use [https://www.qubes-os.org/ Qubes OS]. Because Microsoft is intercepting your data and sending it to the NSA (and the CIA and the FBI). <ref>http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/windows-8-prism-edition</ref>		This tutorial will help you stay safe when using the Internet, and avoid hackers, viruses, and accidentally giving out your private information to strangers. The first section assume that you're using Microsoft Windows (the most popular operating system for PCs). But even if Windows is the most popular operating system for PCs, does not mean that it is the most reliable. It is better to install an open source system like GNU/Linux, [https://linuxmint.com/ LinuxMint] is suitable for beginners, advanced users paranoid about security can use [https://www.qubes-os.org/ Qubes OS]. Because Microsoft is intercepting your data and sending it to the NSA (and the CIA and the FBI). <ref>http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/windows-8-prism-edition</ref>

Eskimo: /* Virtual Private Network */

2023-02-25T08:31:39Z

Virtual Private Network

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:31, 25 February 2023
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	A cloud computer is another´s person or company computer, if you care about privacy you should avoid at all costs uploading your personal files to the cloud but if for whatever reason this is not possible you can pick a zero-knowledge encryption cloud provider, which are rarely free and you can´t know for sure how real their claims but one good bet would be Proton Drive because they have been around for many years and so far they haven´t had any significant data leaks, or ideally you should encrypt the data yourself before encrypting it to the cloud service of your choice. Cryptomator is one of the best tools to encrypt data destined for the cloud because it can sync it and doesn´t need you to open and close the container continuously as you update your files.		A cloud computer is another´s person or company computer, if you care about privacy you should avoid at all costs uploading your personal files to the cloud but if for whatever reason this is not possible you can pick a zero-knowledge encryption cloud provider, which are rarely free and you can´t know for sure how real their claims but one good bet would be Proton Drive because they have been around for many years and so far they haven´t had any significant data leaks, or ideally you should encrypt the data yourself before encrypting it to the cloud service of your choice. Cryptomator is one of the best tools to encrypt data destined for the cloud because it can sync it and doesn´t need you to open and close the container continuously as you update your files.

	==Virtual Private Network==		== Virtual Private Network ==

	All computers that are connected to the Internet have their own identifiable IP address, your Internet Service Provider will keep a record of the person who is using that Internet connection and it can be used to identify you as an individual, many countries also censor the websites you can visit and VPN can ~~get~~ bypass censorship as well as encrypting your connection and thwart your ISP spying on your activities. A VPN can help you stay anonymous on the Internet by masking your IP address, because of the hatred against boylovers using a VPN is recommended when visiting boylover sites.		All computers that are connected to the Internet have their own identifiable IP address, your Internet Service Provider will keep a record of the person who is using that Internet connection and it can be used to identify you as an individual, many countries also censor the websites you can visit and VPN can bypass that censorship as well as encrypting your connection and thwart your ISP spying on your activities. A VPN can help you stay anonymous on the Internet by masking your IP address, because of the hatred against boylovers using a VPN is recommended when visiting boylover sites.

	If you're serious about Internet security, you should consider using [[Tor]]. It is an advanced proxy, and is better at protecting your privacy than web-based proxies. Tor is also considered more secure, as it is based on open source code and dynamic traffic routing, ~~and doesn't have~~ the ~~possibilities for logging that a fixed web site~~ has~~. It should~~ be noted that Tor is still experimental software. Tor is a program that is installed on your computer. There are downloads and complete installation instructions available at Tor's home site (linked below).		If you're serious about Internet security, you should consider using [[Tor]]. It is an advanced proxy, and is better at protecting your privacy than web-based proxies. Tor is also considered more secure, as it is based on open source code and dynamic traffic routing, because of the layered approach Tor has, even if one administrator turns to be rogue, it will not be enough to deanonimize you.

	==== MAC addresses ====		==== MAC addresses ====

Eskimo: /* MAC addresses */

2023-02-25T08:27:27Z

MAC addresses

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:27, 25 February 2023
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	==== MAC addresses ====		==== MAC addresses ====

	Each network card, wired and wireless, has a MAC address. This address is unique and it is used to communicate with other computers or routers on the same network, the websites you visit will not have access to your MAC address but software you have installed could leak it, there are many ways to sneakily get hold of a MAC address, diagnostic software often record the MAC address because it is a way to uniquely identify that machine, you can use software to change your MAC address but this can lead to incompatibilities when your computer tries to communicate in the internal network. The main danger of your MAC address being leaked is that it identifies your computer specially by public wifi access points that do not require login, they might use this piece of information to limit how long for you can connect to the network and multiple of other restrictions or monitoring. When you connect to your library´s Wifi your smartphone MAC address will be logged~~, you won´t~~ be ~~able~~ to ~~deny that it was your phone making the connection because the MAC address can proof that it was yours~~. Apple randomizes the MAC address when it scans for open access points to avoid ~~other~~ profiling ~~your~~.		Each network card, wired and wireless, has a MAC address. This address is unique and it is used to communicate with other computers or routers on the same network, the websites you visit will not have access to your MAC address but software you have installed could leak it, there are many ways to sneakily get hold of a MAC address, diagnostic software often record the MAC address because it is a way to uniquely identify that machine, you can use software to change your MAC address but this can lead to incompatibilities when your computer tries to communicate in the internal network. The main danger of your MAC address being leaked is that it identifies your computer specially by public wifi access points that do not require login, they might use this piece of information to limit how long for you can connect to the network and multiple of other restrictions or monitoring. When you connect to your library´s Wifi your smartphone MAC address will be logged and it could be used to identify you. Apple randomizes the MAC address when it scans for open access points to avoid user profiling.

	== Securely deleting files ==		== Securely deleting files ==

Eskimo: Improving MAC addresses section

2023-02-25T08:25:26Z

Improving MAC addresses section

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:25, 25 February 2023
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	==== MAC addresses ====		==== MAC addresses ====

	Each network card has a MAC address. This address is unique, ~~so if~~ the ~~attacker gets~~ it, ~~will probably reach~~ your ~~computer and you. This~~ address can ~~not be obtained through~~ the ~~Internet~~. ~~But~~ it can ~~be used~~ to ~~communicate with~~ other ~~computers~~ or ~~routers on the same network~~. ~~section about~~ MAC To be ~~finished soon~~, ~~signed (1st February 2023)~~		Each network card, wired and wireless, has a MAC address. This address is unique and it is used to communicate with other computers or routers on the same network, the websites you visit will not have access to your MAC address but software you have installed could leak it, there are many ways to sneakily get hold of a MAC address, diagnostic software often record the MAC address because it is a way to uniquely identify that machine, you can use software to change your MAC address but this can lead to incompatibilities when your computer tries to communicate in the internal network. The main danger of your MAC address being leaked is that it identifies your computer specially by public wifi access points that do not require login, they might use this piece of information to limit how long for you can connect to the network and multiple of other restrictions or monitoring. When you connect to your library´s Wifi your smartphone MAC address will be logged, you won´t be able to deny that it was your phone making the connection because the MAC address can proof that it was yours. Apple randomizes the MAC address when it scans for open access points to avoid other profiling your.

	== Securely deleting files ==		== Securely deleting files ==

Eskimo: added link to Cryptomator

2023-02-10T02:45:20Z

added link to Cryptomator

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:45, 10 February 2023
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	== External links ==		== External links ==

	*[https://www.brave.com Brave browser]		* [https://www.brave.com Brave browser]
	*[https://avast.com/free-antivirus-download Avast free antivirus]		* [https://avast.com/free-antivirus-download Avast free antivirus]
	*[https://ssd.eff.org Surveillance Self-Defense]		* [https://ssd.eff.org Surveillance Self-Defense]
	*[https://sourceforge.net/projects/eraser/ Eraser]		* [https://sourceforge.net/projects/eraser/ Eraser]
			* [https://cryptomator.org Cryptomator]

	[[Category:Technology]]		[[Category:Technology]]
	[[Category:Security for boylovers]]		[[Category:Security for boylovers]]
	[[Category:Essential reading for BoyLovers]]		[[Category:Essential reading for BoyLovers]]

Eskimo: Added cloud services security information

2023-02-10T02:43:44Z

Added cloud services security information

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:43, 10 February 2023
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	Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, all try to get users to use their embedded cloud service to back up and store personal data, many users are uploading their personal data to the cloud, which is monitored by those companies, without even knowing about it, if you don´t configure your settings right, specially in smartphones, it is possible that the pictures you take or download from the Internet get automatically uploaded to the cloud, this is extremely dangerous because on top of Microsoft and Google (Google drive) staff being able to access your files, the account could also be hacked and your data stolen like one incident where dozens of celebrities had their naked selfies leaked onto the Internet <ref> https://thehackernews.com/2014/09/reported-apple-icloud-hack-leaked_1.html </ref> after their iCloud was hacked.		Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, all try to get users to use their embedded cloud service to back up and store personal data, many users are uploading their personal data to the cloud, which is monitored by those companies, without even knowing about it, if you don´t configure your settings right, specially in smartphones, it is possible that the pictures you take or download from the Internet get automatically uploaded to the cloud, this is extremely dangerous because on top of Microsoft and Google (Google drive) staff being able to access your files, the account could also be hacked and your data stolen like one incident where dozens of celebrities had their naked selfies leaked onto the Internet <ref> https://thehackernews.com/2014/09/reported-apple-icloud-hack-leaked_1.html </ref> after their iCloud was hacked.

	~~Section~~ not ~~completed~~, ~~will~~ update ~~soon (todays date 01st February 2023)~~		A cloud computer is another´s person or company computer, if you care about privacy you should avoid at all costs uploading your personal files to the cloud but if for whatever reason this is not possible you can pick a zero-knowledge encryption cloud provider, which are rarely free and you can´t know for sure how real their claims but one good bet would be Proton Drive because they have been around for many years and so far they haven´t had any significant data leaks, or ideally you should encrypt the data yourself before encrypting it to the cloud service of your choice. Cryptomator is one of the best tools to encrypt data destined for the cloud because it can sync it and doesn´t need you to open and close the container continuously as you update your files.

	==Virtual Private Network==		==Virtual Private Network==

Eskimo: removed internal link to the SAFE Network (outdated)

2023-02-10T02:28:31Z

removed internal link to the SAFE Network (outdated)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:28, 10 February 2023
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	==See also==		==See also==

	* [[SAFE Network]]
	* [[How not to accidentally out yourself]]		* [[How not to accidentally out yourself]]
	* [[Email security]]		* [[Email security]]