US IP Address - How To Get One

When living outside of the United States there are a couple of reasons why you should use an anonymous proxy to surf the Internet.

1. If you need to access US-based websites, they might be blocked because of your IP address.
2. If the country you are in censors the Internet, by using a private proxy you can bypass their filters and gain unrestricted access to any website.

Here's an example of using anonymous proxy from China.

If you need to change your IP address to be a US IP address, Sign up for a free trial of Private Proxy at www.privateproxysoftware.com.

US IP Address - How To Get One

Do you need a US IP address?  

Sign up for a free trial of Private Proxy at www.privateproxysoftware.com. 

It's Time to be Anonymous

Internet users who have experience with using a proxy server have proven its many different benefits. One of these benefits is in terms of speed. My personal experience in this area helped me to better enjoy my online experience. After encountering problems with speed in uploading my blogs, I used an anonymous proxy, and it solved the problem.

At this time, more good things can come from using anonymous proxies, specifically bypassing filters. Basically, since a great deal of the spyware and junk that is sent to your computer is blocked, it saves you from the usual problems that users encounter. Although this can be remedied by using technical expertise, it is very burdensome to encounter the same problem over and over again.

Anonymous proxies also help in protecting personal information. Once personal information is gathered by sites, it can be used for marketing purposes. You can be saved from this problem because with an anonymous proxy, websites are blocked from gathering your personal information.

Sometimes there are corporations, institutions or schools that use filters to block users from viewing certain sites. This filter can be bypassed by an anonymous proxy. In order to do this, the anonymous proxy downloads the site onto its server. The user can then download the “blocked” site from the proxy server to his browser, thus getting around the “wall”.

Slow loading websites can easily find their way with a proxy. There are instances when the problem is not in the web hosting company. There are users, especially those with some technical expertise, that change their DNS server address but still can’t load the site faster. When this happens, the real culprit is narrowed down to the internet provider itself, due to bandwidth or network related problems. Luckily, this can be solved by using a proxy server.

The use of a proxy server is not yet popular with many internet users. A lot of them think that it requires some special skills to effectively take advantage of its usefulness. There is a need for more user education, or at least for the sharing of experiences. Little by little, more people will learn about its good uses and apply a proxy server to their advantage.

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Thanks to Private Proxy

I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to benefit from using Private Proxy. Although I am not well versed about its technicalities, the fact that it is available is already worth it. I have just started using a Private Proxy server, but its benefits are numerous. On the internet, I came to know at least four of its benefits that I personally enjoy right now. With Private Proxy, I threw away my worries about being blocked from accessing important websites.

I used to just leave my “footprints” anywhere before I knew about this technology. This possibly made me a target of some people who meant to cause damage, or wanted to “play” with me. With the use of Private Proxy, they can no longer identify where and who I am. I learned that other proxy servers cannot totally cover you from snooping eyes. Dishonest people can simply use an IP tracking software that can bypass a proxy server. But with Private Proxy, my computer becomes untraceable because my IP address becomes hidden from them.

With Private Proxy, I experience faster speed whenever I go online. I do not have to waste valuable time waiting for the page to load. I can maximize the use of my time getting on with my job. There was a significant increase in speed, especially when attaching large files to emails. I used to get annoyed when suddenly my connection got terminated. I put in so much effort to recover lost data, but there was no way to regain lost time. With Private Proxy to the rescue, I am assured of a fast and reliable connection.

My short experience with Private Proxy gave me the feeling of confidence and security that I wanted. Up to now I haven’t had any encounter with hacking or eavesdropping. I am sure that others can also get the same feeling of security that many users nowadays are lacking. People should learn how to guard themselves against online threats, and Private Proxy can surely give them the protection that they need.

Image courtesy of:

Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Surf Anonymous, the Safe Way to Browse the Internet

By: Martin Greif

Do you think your personal and sensitive information is safe on “secure” sites? Do you think anonymous proxies are only for people with something to hide? Think again. There are several reasons a normal, everyday person may need an anonymous proxy for perfectly legitimate reasons. Anonymous surfing is entirely possible and, at times, entirely necessary.

One reason to use an anonymous proxy is a simple desire for privacy. Search engines, such as Google, track every search query. Some people, even if doing nothing wrong, are uncomfortable with being perpetually watched by a third party they have never met. The major search engines not only track people's searches, but also store this information for up to eighteen months. It's easy to see how any person would be disturbed by this infringement to their privacy.

Another reason to use an anonymous proxy is to avoid targeted ads. Certain advertising companies track a person's movements throughout their internet sessions so they can use pop-ups to advertise on that person's computer screen. Other companies track the information and then sell it to the highest bidder so they can use similar methods of advertisement--or do whatever they want with the information. This can mean that anyone, criminal or honest, government or corporation, may be able to track you.

Some people use anonymous proxies because they have been unfairly banned from a website or chat room. Sometimes moderators or webmasters at a favorite site arbitrarily block someone for purely personal reasons. Although this is a violation of a person's fundamental right to move freely about the Internet, there is little one can do to get unblocked beyond appealing to the person responsible for the blocking. Using an anonymous proxy not only allows people to visit sites from which they have been blocked, it effectively keeps them from being blocked again.

Sometimes people use an anonymous proxy or anonymous surfing practices to find information about competitors or family members without being traced. Unfortunately surfers can be traced through their IP address by any website they visit. Using an anonymous proxy effectively thwarts this. Because anonymous proxies use different IP addresses, and none of them traceable to the user, people can browse while secure in the knowledge that they are completely anonymous.

People with websites also benefit from anonymous proxies because they can post positive comments about their websites in popular forums without being discovered as the website owner. This kind of word-of-mouth advertising is both the rarest and the most effective. If you aren't using this deceptive, but entirely legal, method to bring traffic to your website, you are at a distinct disadvantage because other websites out there are using this technique.

Anonymous proxies can be used for anonymous reporting in cases where people fear reprisal. Although most people believe the government is on their side, there are too many cases of corruption for this to be realistic. An anonymous proxy makes sure whistleblowers and reporters are entirely anonymous and thus, entirely safe. In other countries, anonymous servers help oppressed citizens notify the world of injustices in their community without fear or imprisonment and death.

Some people feel that using a proxy for internet surfing is unnecessary because the most current version of Internet Explorer has a privacy mode. Although this will keep people who have access to the computer from tracking these users, it will not keep the visited websites from tracking the user. Even in privacy mode, there is no privacy. The only way to achieve true privacy is to use an anonymous proxy.

Are you still convinced that surfing the web is safe and anonymous without an anonymous proxy? Even as you read this, there are people out there who can track you. If you are comfortable with that reality, you truly have no need for an anonymous proxy. If you think this violation of your basic right to privacy is disturbing, now is the time to take action. Sign up for an anonymous proxy and start anonymous surfing today!

About the Author
President and founder of Privacy Partners, LLC. Privacy Partners is a privately held company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Founded in 2003, the company creates and markets privacy software for consumers. The company and its products have won numerous technology awards. Click here for more information about Internet Privacy or Anonymous Surfing

(ArticlesBase SC #586538)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Surf Anonymous, the Safe Way to Browse the Internet

The US Military and Proxies

Right now, the servicemen and servicewomen of the US Military are overseas fighting for your freedom. They chose to serve in the military knowing full well that someday they might be put in harm's way. These dedicated men and women put country above their own safety. Now in far away countries, they defend us on the front lines. Over the years, these front lines have changed. Yes, the danger is still there, but so are options to relieve their boredom. Enter the Internet. Just like us, they have access to the world wide web.

So what would a soldier want to access on the Internet? Believe it or not, one of the things they do is watch TV online. They can catch their favorite programs or watch hockey. Most of the major networks put their some of their newest episodes online. For others, they can access media sites that aggregate content. Another outlet for media is the online newspapers like the New York Times. Or maybe they want to read their home town newspaper online. Today most, if not all papers, have an interactive version. So between TV, sports, and newspapers, they can catch up on the current US media and news.

There are also several social networking websites out there that they can use to keep in touch with friends and family. Sure e-mail works to an extent, but if you have ever used any form of social networking, you know exactly how much simpler it is. You can type a message on your homepage, and suddenly all of your friends and family will be able to see it. Soldiers are very pressed for time, and sometimes there just isn't an opportunity to respond to every single person. This makes social networking extremely important. There is a problem however, a huge problem. Sometimes soldiers cannot get to the websites that they need. Why exactly? Well let's talk about it.

The purpose of companies streaming their television shows onto the internet is so that people will see them, and eventually decide to buy them on DVD. People outside the country however will not be able to buy these because they are simply unavailable. Companies decided that they were actually losing money because such people couldn't get a hold of their products! They didn't seem to consider all of the people IN the United States that were buying. After all, what could it hurt if a few foreigners watched an episode of The Office, or even Stargate Universe? Well you wouldn't think that it could hurt at all, but the production companies didn't quite see it that way. For this reason they started to block IP addresses outside of the United States. The same went for several social networking websites because they suffered from the same advertisement problem. This however did not stop the military personnel from viewing their favorite websites. They instead turned to proxies.

For those who don't know, a proxy is a server that one can connect to. This server will then connect you to the internet via it's own connection. What does this accomplish? It provides you with a new IP address which is based in the United States. You are not visiting websites via your own connection, but instead you are using the ISP that the proxy subscribes to. What you're dealing with there is surfing the internet using a computer across the ocean. The moral aspect is up to you, but if you get a proxy with decent encryption, the ISP you use overseas will never know the difference. This is also a great way to protect your privacy. By using a proxy you will be able to hide your identity while catching up on your favorite shows. The one thing you don't want to do in a war zone is broadcast who you are and what you are doing. With that in mind, start shopping for a good proxy today. Once you arrange a good one, you will be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy your favorite shows.

Marines Barred From FaceBook

The networking giant FaceBook has quite an opinionated buzz to it. Some people love it for its ability to put people who are far away together and the quick ability to organize and chat with friends. Although it seems the biggest draw is the fact that you can customize your profile to any extent you want and show everyone your true personality. On the other hand, some people despise it for its somewhat superficial conversations held amongst users, clunky interface, and just general fear of automated conversation. Perhaps their biggest complaint is how much out there people put about themselves, and how much of a privacy risk this can be.

The Marines have recently been blocked from FaceBook. The exact reasons are vague, but the corps say that the service, along with all other social networking sites, (MySpace, Xanga, etc.) provide too much information to an average person about one of their recruits, and this could possibly prove detrimental to their role as soldiers. They are also worried that the soldiers will reveal information about the corps that no one outside the service is meant to know, and that this could create a big privacy problem.

Previously, Marines used the service to catch up with friends and family who were often far away as recruits could be sent anywhere in the United States, as well as be required to have active duty on a traveling ship for some indefinite period of time. Some unfortunate troops can even be sent overseas! The soldiers found a convenient avenue through which to communicate with the people whom they left behind, and a good way to stay in touch and in the loop as to what is going on back home.

The loss of this program hit some of the troops hard. Homesickness is a big problem for even the most battle hardened soldier, and these marines were not spared from it. Imagine the sorrow a new recruit felt, and how he misses his parents and friends, possibly never having even left his town before!

These marines deserve to use the service. We can trust them with our nation’s security in armed combat, we are sure they can discern about which information to put on the Internet and what to leave off. No marine has “twittered” off his battle plans and ruined the mission for everyone yet. Either way, by using a readily available change IP proxy, these marines could change their IP addresses and get past the Internet blocks. An IP changer can also cover their Internet tracks, in case their drill sergeants run a tight ship on Internet access.

There are many soldiers who already use a change IP proxy to travel anonymously around the Internet, and many more signing up daily. Get with the program and change your IP to connect back with friends and family again. Fight and win the battle against homesickness; change your IP. That’s an order soldier!

Privacy Mode

As Microsoft’s much anticipated Internet Explorer 8 was launched, many people looked forward to the Privacy Mode, called the InPrivateBrowsing. Although people are excited about this all encompassing privacy technology, it may not be everything it seems. According to PCAdvisor, the privacy mode doesn’t really do much at all in terms of protecting. Although all of the security locks and other advisory warning are pretty to look at, they are not pragmatic at well and the information can easily be retrieved.

The premise of InPrivateBrowsing is that it deletes surfing history, cookies, and other things that can tell where you were, what you were doing, and even the amount of time on a site! While this all sounds good, it appears to be a superficial facade; all of the information was easily retrieved by forensic experts. Their major selling point is that cookies are not stored; these show log-in names, passwords, and definitive proof that you visited and lingered on a particular site. It also doesn’t allow Internet browser history to be stored either.

The major downfall of InPrivateBrowsing is in their incessant chronicling of cache files. The programs on the Internet use these to store websites so that can be accessed more quickly later, and the websites will even load faster. Anyone even with the most rudimentary knowledge of the Internet can see where this would create a privacy problem. Although a user can go deep into the software and actually delete these files themselves, most people wouldn’t bother to learn how, or don’t know of this, and therefore, security is completely compromised just by one little aspect.

Although they have good intentions, don’t be fooled by the glossy exterior. The bottom line is, even if cookies, browsing history, and everything else is deleted, if one thing is left out, it’ll be the death of the project. The program is still in its infancy though, and changes can still be made. A program and company as big as Microsoft is sure to look at the feedback and realize and re-test. The great thing about products online is that if there is an error, all they have to do is design a patch and everything will be fixed up by a simple download.

In the mean time though, don’t trust it with your online security. Internet crime rises every year in correspondence with the amount of Internet travelers, and as more travelers become more protected, hackers prey on the ones still living in the dark ages of a simple firewall or a rudimentary virus scanner. If you are currently using InPrivateBrowsing, don’t wait for a patch to get protected. Use an anonymous proxy server and get your secure tunnel of access for which to travel safely and securely through.

Stay Out Of The Limelight with an Anonymous Proxy

Your IP address is very important during your Internet travels. It is similar to a dog-tag your computer wears, with all sorts of information engraved. The difference is, people are supposed to read your dog-tags, but you wish to keep your IP address hidden.

Just by knowing your IP address, a hacker could find out quite a bit of information about you; location, server, etc. This is why many people choose to browse anonymously on the web.

In order to accomplish this, they visit an anonymous proxy website. A proxy website simply is a page that has a box to enter the website you wish to visit. When you enter your desired destination, the proxy server replaces your IP address with one of their servers. The proxy acts as a middleman, allows you access to the sites you want, but leaving no trail of it. All your ISP would see is that you visited (so and so proxy site) a bunch of times, and not what you actually visited. This is the simplest type of anonymous proxy.

For enhanced anonymity, we recommend using a software-based proxy that also encrypts your data and changes it IP address regularly. Either type of anonymous proxy will work, some just work better than others.

These anonymous proxies are completely legal and almost a necessity in today’s Internet-based society. With so much traffic on the Internet, criminals are just waiting in line to get some unprepared surfer. Don’t let it be you; be anonymous today.

International IP Addresses, Not A Problem

Leaving one’s home is a difficult thing to do: leaving for college, moving, or (for some) just going to work! It is especially hard to leave one’s home AND one’s country. While traveling internationally, some Americans can get homesick. If you are in a different country for an extended period of time, loneliness can easily dominate your trip. If you find yourself forgetting the colors of our flag while abroad, (red white and blue, not white red and blue) watching some good old American television is a great way to restore your morale.

Unfortunately, re-runs of “I Love Lucy” and “Friends” get old quickly, and can lead to a strange affinity for communism. Don’t fear; you are still an American, just an American without a connection to current events back home.

Along came internet television; a godsend to the nomads of the globe. They can catch up on affairs overseas, whether it is watching the stock market, or just to see what antics Miley Cyrus has been up to lately. Soon enough, some media companies wised up, and blocked these homesick people from connecting with their familiarity. All the websites had to do was read your IP address, and once confirmed that you were not in the United States, you were on the blacklist, you got the boot, and quite possibly a “this site has been blocked” message. What is a poor traveler to do?

Simple. Use an anonymous proxy to convert your IP address from the foreign one back to one located in the U.S. While many of these are readily available, many are slow and easily recognized as a proxy, leaving a data trail right back to you. Using a software based proxy, such as Private Proxy, will allow you unrestricted internet travel from anywhere on the globe. You’ll never miss the morning news (or last night’s American Idol) ever again.

Anonymous Surfing for US Military Personnel

Using an anonymous proxy is important for U.S. Military Personnel around the world who want to maintain connection with the U.S. This is because they cannot expose their identity over the Internet for obvious reasons.

The Internet has become the main medium of communication in today’s digital world. U.S. Military Personnel should look for the safest way to use this connection. This is why many have discovered that they can use an anonymous proxy that has an IP address in the US in order to access US websites safely and securely.

An Internet Protocol (IP) address identifies a specific device or machine when it participates in an Internet communication. It is composed of four groups of numbers separated by dots. An example of an IP address is 216.27.61.137. Today, there are two systems of IP address - the 32-bit and the 128-bit systems. The 32-bit system is the original one and is named Internet Protocol Version 4 or IPv4, while the second one is called Internet Protocol Version 6 or IPv6.

This IP address can be used to track the Internet activity of any US military personnel around the world, or for that matter, any user. To avoid this risk, anonymous surfing using an anonymous proxy has become the safe and more secure option.

For U.S. Military personnel outside the U.S. who want to watch US TV on the Internet, access US websites or communicate with loved ones back home, using a proxy with a U.S. IP address is an added benefit. With a U.S. IP address, sites that would be blocked with a foreign IP address would be accessible.

The Internet is a dangerous place. With a simple Javascript tracking code, a malicious website can expose a surfer’s identity - the IP address, the computer operating system, the web browser used, the surfer’s geographical location, and practically almost all of the user’s information.

By using an anonymous proxy, you are protected from attacks and fraudulent websites because your IP address is hidden from the specific website that you access.

The above situation can be avoided by using a proxy. In its simplest sense, when you connect to a website, you actually connect to the proxy and it is this computer that connects you to the web site. In short, the web site does not know your identity, what is known is only the proxy server. However, you should be careful when choosing a proxy web server. Since it knows who you are, you should choose one that can be trusted. Chances are you might end up with even greater problems if you fall in the trap of unscrupulous proxy sites.

US Military Personnel can choose an anonymous proxy that has an IP address in the US. This way, they can safely and securely access US websites, communicate with loved ones back home, and even watch US TV on the Internet through anonymous surfing.

Anonymous Proxy use for Business

With more and more people earning a living using the Internet, the competition is becoming more intense. Whether you have a web based business or a non web based business with a web site, you should consider using an anonymous proxy.

In our article titled Anonymous Proxy use for Business, we outline some of the reasons why you need to surf anonymously for your business. In summary, your competitors can find out who you are and block your view of their web sites. Competitive intelligence is one of the keys to being competitive whether you are a pure web based business or not. Being blocked from competitive web sites gives your competitors an advantage, one that you can not afford.

Anonymous Surfing is more than using an Anonymous Proxy

Last week I uploaded a video on anonymous surfing and why hiding your IP address is not enough. Basically, you need to follow these simple steps as outlined in the video to protect your Internet Privacy.

US Websites and International IP addresses

For a number of our American customers who travel abroad, the desire to stay in touch with US culture is not that odd. As a society Americans are somewhat insular. We value the familiar and can feel uneasy in different countries. One way to keep that connection is to watch American TV.

For years when I traveled I marveled that I Love Lucy was on TV in so many countries. Reruns of many popular shows from the past would be on during prime time. Unfortunately nostalgia is not a substitute for a current connection. Watching anything current was out of the question.

Then came the Internet, and watching TV on your laptop. Over the years however, many media sites started restricting access to those in their geographic location. It's easy enough to do with an IP address look up. So what was a traveler supposed to do?

The answer is use an Anonymous Proxy to change your IP address from a non US IP address back into an American IP address. This is however, only part of the answer. The proxy also has to have speed and not be recognized as a proxy. Using a software based proxy like Private Proxy put all the pieces of the puzzel together so US travelers can access US Interent web sites from other countries.

Not All Hotel Internet Connections Are Created Equal...

A recent report by Government Computer News sheds light on a topic that millions of people all over the world deal with on a regular basis: Internet privacy and security in the hotel industry. People have many different reasons to travel, but with the modern tech-era upon us one of the most frequently asked questions when booking a hotel is: "Do you have Internet?" That answer is most likely a, "yes."

Internet access allows you to be more productive during your trip and stay in touch with the rest of the world that isn't traveling with you, but just how safe is that Internet connection? According to researchers: Not very. Most of the Internet connections are not properly secured and leave you at risk for a number of privacy risks. Researchers gathered written information from147 hotels and personally visited other properties and the findings were quite astounding.

Roughly 20% of all hotels used simple network hubs to connect guests to the Internet. This means 20% of the hotels you have ever stayed at are allowing you to connect to an unsecured network where all the packets of data being sent over the network can be seen. Anyone else on that network can access your personal data via the network connection. Ideally, hotels should have security features implemented so only the packets associated with your session should be seen. No other users should have access to the data. This would stop an "interloper" from using a program that saves all packets being sent over the network.

Of the hotels that do offer Internet access, 90% of them allow guests to connect wirelessly. This adds an extra layer of protection since they have to use a router to get the signal out. While this is an advanced security measure, it still does not mean a user is protecting their personal information. Man-in-the-middle attacks are still possible, and almost 21% of hotels have reported attacks and malicious activity on their systems. Man-in-the-middle attacks allow an attacker's computer to act as an Internet gateway and intercepts all network traffic.

Researchers visited 46 hotels and found that six of the 39 hotels using wireless Internet used encryption methods on their network. Only six properties thought of going above and beyond their Linksys router and securing their network! Anyone using a hotel's Internet connection should assume the worse and hope for the best. An anonymous proxy server will definitely help keep you protected from an unsecured wireless network since it encrypts all the data you send before it reaches the Internet gateway.

Another ISP Admits to Invasion of Users' Privacy...

Well it is more than an Internet Service Provider, but Cable One, the 10th largest cable operator, has recently admitted to conducted a six-month study on their Internet users' surfing habits. Cable One joins Charter Communications (as reported in a previous post) and a slew of other MSOs (multiple service operators) who spy on their customers for behavioral targeting purposes, and ultimately sell that information for big bucks to advertising companies.

Cable One revealed the information on August 8 to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which had previously expressed their concerns on cable operators using advanced technology to invade privacy. So if I decipher this correctly: Cable One tried to defend themselves against these allegations by providing information and stating they invaded their customers' privacy. Cable One stated that spying on 14,000 of their 700,000 customers was a better way to provide "more relevant advertising" to their customers.

Bresnan Communications and Knology also came out of the woodwork to say they spied on customers throughout a similar time frame. WideOpenWest admitted to doing this, in cooperation with NebuAd's service. WideOpenWest stopped the program after five months because of the privacy concerns. All efforts to surf anonymously have become null and void for many Internet users, and for no apparent reason other than having better online advertisements. Shouldn't these companies help protect personal information, not jeopardize it?

Cable One argues that they were not breaking any laws by conducting this research, and had made the information available to their users via the acceptable use policy they read when signing up for services. The information was also found in Cable One's yearly privacy notice, which is sent to all customers. They provided users with appropriate notice, BUT did not allow them to opt out of the research, "because doing so would stifle our ability to test new technologies that have the potential to offer significant benefits to our customers.” Wow...

In essence the companies are arguing that because they put it in writing it is alright to spy on users and completely ignore any type of Internet privacy laws. It seems a bit ridiculous that my privacy rights are in jeopardy and I have no way of opting out. I can't even choose to say "No." In other words, even if I know it is happening I have no say in the outcome. The companies are not just able to record information for advertising purposes, but can use this technology to track and record ALL information being transmitted and received through their network. Hopefully when the Committee drafts a new law they remember to add the clause that we, as paying customers who want to feel safe, should have to opt-IN to this research--not be forced into whatever absurd money-making scheme the companies are up to.

Breaking Down the Great Firewall (part 2)...

As an update to my recent post about China's Great Firewall it seemed appropriate to discuss the methods for bypassing the Golden Shield Project. With the Olympics in full swing, and nearly halfway over, it is only a matter of time before China's government re-bans the websites and Beijing is again part of China's Internet censorship program. Chinese officials lifted their ban on certain websites after journalists were upset that many of the sites they needed to access were unavailable because of the GSP. Once the final medal is awarded it most likely won't be much longer before China is back to banning as much content as possible, so it is important to know ways to bypass the Great Firewall and maintain Internet privacy.

The following methods may seem familiar, as they are used for anonymous surfing, but they do in fact work rather well for circumventing the GSP and gaining access to banned sites.

• Anonymous Proxy servers: Anonymous proxy servers based outside of China can be used to access blocked content. The sites are blocked only to Chinese citizens and therefore if you surf using a U.S.-based proxy server then you can gain access to restricted sites. The website will read the IP address and give you permission to view the site. At the same time, the server will hide your IP so that anyone snooping the connection will see a person from Tulsa, OK surfing the Internet. As an added bonus a good proxy server will also encrypt the data being transmitted so that anyone spying can not view the information.
• Foreign companies can apply for a local website hosted in China. While this method does not apply to an individual user attempting to access a banned site, it is a method to bypass the Great Firewall since the company's content does not have to go through the Great Firewall (but the company does have to apply for a local ICP license)
• Using secure tunnels such as a Virtual Private Network (VPN). GSP can't filter secure traffic that is being communicated and therefore secure tunnels provide a way for users to access content and create sites that would otherwise be banned.
• Onion routing networks, such as Tor, can be used since it requires a network of computers to encrypt and mask your information. This method is, in essence, very similar to an anonymous proxy server. The major drawback of Tor is that you do not know who set up the anonymous connection you are passing through. As noted in an earlier post, you really have no idea who set up the connection and therefore anyone can invade your privacy through this trusted network. If a group of grad students and professors can do it, why wouldn't the Chinese government?
• FreeGate: a software utility created for Iranian and Chinese citizens to bypass any Internet censorship attempts by the government. The software finds open proxies, which are not blocked and can be accessed by any user, and penetrate firewalls. This useful tool is a bit controversial as it has been reported to be a Trojan virus.
• Reporters without Borders offers a "Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents" (PDF) which gives detailed information and tools for blogging and surfing anonymously. The handbook gives detailed instructions, including screenshots, for setting up a blog and remaining anonymous.
  

Anonymous Surfing Software vs Web-based Anonymous Proxy...which is better for your Internet privacy?

As an Internet user you face many dangers online ranging from cyber criminals trying to steal your identity to marketing companies and ISPs tracking and logging your IP address. As a lot of web surfers know, one of the best ways for protecting personal information and maintaining Internet privacy is to use a proxy server. While many useful proxy servers can be found on the Internet simply by searching "proxy" on Google, the age old question that many Internet users have difficulty answering is: What is better to use, anonymous surfing software or free web-based anonymous proxies?

Web-based:
These are quite easy to use and require nothing on your part besides an active Internet connection. These web anonymizers require you only to enter the URL of the site you wish to visit and give it a click. Your IP address is hidden and replaced with the IP address of the site's server. This is a great example of proxy avoidance and will get you onto a blocked website, but only offers minimal, if any, data protection and encryption services. The main purpose of the web-based anonymous proxy is to get on a website such as MySpace, that would normally be blocked by an IT Department. Another downside is that this type of proxy can't gain access to sites that use Secure Socket Layer or Secure Shell encryption, such as banking sites.

Software-based:
A software-based proxy will run with your current browser and allow you to surf freely without having to go back to a homepage to enter a new URL. After installation it should only require 1-click to run the program and surf anonymously. A good software proxy will cost you a few dollars a month (nothing to break the bank over), which is a downside compared to the free web proxies. There is usually a fee associated because you are getting what you pay for...software proxies offer anonymous surfing, but also encrypt the data being transmitted. This means that in addition to your IP address being masked, your data and the transmission between networks is also secure (which is not the case with a web proxy).

Ultimately, both methods of protecting your IP address and Internet privacy have their pros and cons. At the end of the day if you only need a quick fix to get onto a blocked website that requires no personal information (such as a log-in, e-mail, or password) then a web proxy will work for you. Using a software proxy whenever you surf, even if only for a few minutes, would be highly recommended. It is still easy to use and offers much more protection and freedom to surf without the worry of just how protected you are. The advanced protection alone makes software proxies your best bet.

Anonymous Surfing is now available for Firefox and Vista using Private Proxy

Tampa, Florida (July 30, 2008) - PrivacyView Software, the developer of award-winning Internet and computer privacy software, announced today that the latest release of its anonymous proxy server, Private Proxy, supports Firefox version 3.0 under both Windows XP and Windows Vista.

This recent update allows Private Proxy users to use Mozilla Firefox version 3.0 under Windows Vista. Private Proxy previously supported Firefox on Windows XP. Now Vista users can surf anonymously with both Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Increasingly, people need safe and secure access to the Internet in order to protect both their privacy and freedom. Private Proxy allows users to choose an anonymous proxy server where their Internet browsing can not be monitored. For example, with the recent Viacom / YouTube lawsuit, any Private Proxy user would have been secure from potential tracking from Viacom. By using Private Proxy, the IP address is changed to an anonymous IP address and hence not associated with a specific user.

Private Proxy also encrypts the Internet communications between Firefox or Internet Explorer and the anonymous proxy enabling users to create a secure tunnel. With a secure tunnel, users are able to access sites that were previously blocked by bypassing filters typically used by restrictive governments and many corporations. Further, the users’ anonymity is protected because the destination websites will not be able to track the users to their company or location based on their IP address.

The software comes with a 7 day free trial allowing users to decide if they want to keep the service without having to spend any money. Along with the 7 day free trial, PrivacyView offers two options for its users: they can subscribe to a monthly service for $9.95 or choose a quarterly option for only $24.95.

About PrivacyView Software:
PrivacyView Software, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Founded in 2003, the company creates and markets privacy software for consumers. The company and its products have won numerous technology awards. For more information about PrivacyView, and its affiliate program, please visit www.privacyview.com.

Hide My IP?

To ensure your Internet Privacy, there are two things to watch, your IP address and your local Internet traces. In this post, we will focus on hiding your IP address.

First, why be concerned about hiding your IP address? Why do people search on Hide My IP or Hide My IP Address? It's simple, your IP address is associated with the server you use to connect to the Internet.

For example, I live in Tampa and connect to the Internet with my Road Runner account. When I check my IP address, it shows that I am in Tampa and use Road Runner as my Internet Service Provider (ISP). That in itself is not a problem. However, there are two possible reasons to be concerned. First, some sites block access based on an IP address. You might have been banned from a favorite website, or posted over the daily allowable limit on a given website. The IP address is one of the ways that you can be tracked or blocked. However, as I tell all our customers of our anonymous proxy, Private Proxy, to change IP addresses is often not enough. You also have to make sure you don't have a cookie stored on your PC that also identifies you. Assuming the cookie issue is solved, hide IP software or services can get you past a blocked website.

If you surf from work, you might need a hide IP address service so that you can not be tracked back to your company. When you surf from work, chances are that you are connecting through your company's Internet server. This server's IP address will identify the company. If you are researching a competitor you probably would not want your IP address to show up on the competitor's website log. Worse yet, if you are surfing for personal reasons at work, you really might not want anyone to be able to track back to your employer.

In both instances, whether surfing from home or work, the server you connect through has a log showing your web surfing. With an IP address that points back to the server, you can be tracked back directly to your home or our desk. Here's how: The IP address shows the web server. The web server knows who you are. In the case of an employer, all they have to do is look at the log. In the case of an ISP, all it takes is a subpoena or a helpful ISP employee. In either case, with the right questions, you can be traced.

So why do I hide my IP address? It's mostly principle. When I hide my IP address I know I've made it more difficult for someone to trace me. I find it very disturbing that some web sites and most search engines use IP addresses to build profiles. Why make it easy for them? Hence, I hide my IP.