Off-Topic Reports

[Tp1701]

Going to be on vaca next week if anyone wants to get together.

[Gansett]

Gave me more than a chuckle! Brought back memories of the interior of some of those houses. I don't see how anyone could live in the area and say they knew nothing about local prostitution activity.

http://turnto10.com/news/local/only-...-in-providence

[Existierende]

I'm sure some VPNs keep logs. BUT DON'T USE THOSE! Simple as that.

Here is a list of VPNs that DO NOT KEEP LOGS.

https://torrentfreak.com/which-vpn-s...dition-140315/

The VPN I use. Torguard (not related to Tor browser) works like this: "TorGuard does not store any IP address or time stamps on any VPN and proxy servers, not even for a second. Further, we do not store any logs or time stamps on user authentication servers connected to the VPN. In this way it is not even possible to match an external time stamp to a user that was simultaneously logged in. Because the VPN servers utilize a shared IP configuration, there can be hundreds of users sharing the same IP at any given moment further obfuscating the ability to single out any specific user on the network. ".

Bonus. It's currently on sale.

It's not clear to me that what you are describing below is possible, but if you link to a report, I'd be interested in checking it out.

None of this seems true. I googled VPN IP logs, and found results that VPNs do keep logs, and say so in their privacy statements, and that it is actually impossible to run a VPN without logs, and if a company actually doesn't keep logs it is because the company is subcontracting with another company that must keep logs. And the high-profile case wasn't drugs or porn, it was a sony hack. And the subpoena was from the United States to a court in England for a VPN located in England. Also, I'm not talking about tor, that is something else entirely. Just VPNs.

[iamioman]

None of this seems true. I googled VPN IP logs, and found results that VPNs do keep logs, and say so in their privacy statements, and that it is actually impossible to run a VPN without logs, and if a company actually doesn't keep logs it is because the company is subcontracting with another company that must keep logs. And the high-profile case wasn't drugs or porn, it was a sony hack. And the subpoena was from the United States to a court in England for a VPN located in England. Also, I'm not talking about tor, that is something else entirely. Just VPNs.

That's the problem with using VPN alone, you have to trust the VPN to keep your activity private. A GOOD VPN doesn't keep logs, cause there's no technical or business reason a VPN would have to keep a log of of activity unless they were charging you by the hour for VPN acess.

The safest method to remain anonymous by far (though nothing is 1000% guaranteed) is to use Tor AND a good VPN. The link at the bottom discusses the different ways to do and thepros and cons of 2 ways of doing it.

If you use Tor to connect to your VPN (only a couple of VPNs can do that) then not even your VPN knows your actual IP address, all they see is the Tor relay IP that your traffic is being routed through. VPN don't have your IP address and can't get it if they wanted to so even if LE went to a VPN and said "We want you to start logging all Savior Fare's internet traffic" all any VPN activity logs could show for you is that you used the Tor Network and all your ISP logs would show is that you used company XYZ's VPN.

CCCleaner is a good program to get in the habit of running after using a browser or autoscheduling, but you'd be safer in terms of browser history stored on your computer by just getting in the habit of using private browsing mode. All the primary browsers have that option now, if you are on an android device use the Dolphin browser instead of Chrome cause it deletes your browser history when you close the browser.

https://www.bestvpn.com/blog/12273/u...-vpn-together/

[Savior Faire]

I don't know where you got your story from, but if you get the right VPN, this isn't a problem. Good VPNs DON'T KEEP LOGS. And if they don't keep IP logs, there is nothing for the police to subpoena! If you're really worried, sign up with a VPN that doesn't keep logs and is located outside the US. Other countries won't respond to, say, the Pawtucket PD.

That said, I agree that if you're a drug kingpin or something the Feds will be able to find out who you are. But they are not going to go after mongers.

None of this seems true. I googled VPN IP logs, and found results that VPNs do keep logs, and say so in their privacy statements, and that it is actually impossible to run a VPN without logs, and if a company actually doesn't keep logs it is because the company is subcontracting with another company that must keep logs. And the high-profile case wasn't drugs or porn, it was a sony hack. And the subpoena was from the United States to a court in England for a VPN located in England. Also, I'm not talking about tor, that is something else entirely. Just VPNs.

[Existierende]

I don't know where you got your story from, but if you get the right VPN, this isn't a problem. Good VPNs DON'T KEEP LOGS. And if they don't keep IP logs, there is nothing for the police to subpoena! If you're really worried, sign up with a VPN that doesn't keep logs and is located outside the US. Other countries won't respond to, say, the Pawtucket PD.

That said, I agree that if you're a drug kingpin or something the Feds will be able to find out who you are. But they are not going to go after mongers.

I don't think this is true. The VPN knows everything you do. There was a high-profile case recently where the police wanted someone's IP. All they had was the VPN IP So they got a warrant or subpoena (I'm fuzzy on the details because it was a news story I was reading just out of general interest) to get the VPN to turn over the IP log. And now the guy who thought he was safe because he used a VPN is in jail.

[NY Monger]

Another idea why'all may want to consider is downloading CCleaner and CCenhancer (both free) to clear your web tracks off your pc. Some also use Glary Utilities (which isn't free) and run them as part of your daily routine.

Bleachbit is good at erasing stuff a bit more securely than the other two, but as others have said, if 'the man' wants to 'get' you, you probably have bigger problems, than your SO finding some porn or escort sites on your pc.

[iamioman]

I don't think this is true. The VPN knows everything you do. There was a high-profile case recently where the police wanted someone's IP. All they had was the VPN IP So they got a warrant or subpoena (I'm fuzzy on the details because it was a news story I was reading just out of general interest) to get the VPN to turn over the IP log. And now the guy who thought he was safe because he used a VPN is in jail.

The only case I heard of recently was the guy involved in child porn who was caught because the Feds paid researchers at Carnegie Mellon a MILLION dollars to figure out how to trace him.

So like I said. You should never use Tor / VPN if you are doing anything illegal because if the government wants you bad enough they'll figure out a way to find out who you are.

So yes IF the feds have reason to come after you they'll make a case, but making dates with people who take out ads on craigslist isn't reason enough for the Feds to come after you, and a browser like Tor (extra protection if you use a VPN with Tor) will do what I said. Prevent any trace of your internet traffic from existing on your computer or ISP. Local or state cops impound your computer because your ex tells them you run a criminal empire from your home office? They won't find anything you don't want them to find or anything that would give them reason to be suspicious of you.

If you really want to hide your tracks or are paranoid LE finding Tor on your computer will make them suspicious, than install Tor on a removeable flash drive and keep it somewhere other than in your computer's USB port. Then if anyone scans your computer and the flash drive isn't plugged in when they scan it they won't even find Tor installed on your computer.

[Brooksy]

http://turnto10.com/news/local/only-...-in-providence

The bus ad for "2 broke girls" in the background is a nice touch.

[Savior Faire]

Anonymous VPNs will allow you to access everything on the internet, including Flash, anonymously, though they won't keep erase your tracks on your own computer. If you use private browsing, you don't need to worry about the later, though. Anonymous VPNs are a cinch to use, and you can even put them on your phone. I use a VPN not because I'm worried Uncle Sam will get upset about me contributing to USASexguide, but because I wanted to stop getting takedown notices from my ISP for torrents. It's worked like a charm. You do have to pay for the VPN, though it's usually only about $5/ month on sale.

I don't think this is true. The VPN knows everything you do. There was a high-profile case recently where the police wanted someone's IP. All they had was the VPN IP So they got a warrant or subpoena (I'm fuzzy on the details because it was a news story I was reading just out of general interest) to get the VPN to turn over the IP log. And now the guy who thought he was safe because he used a VPN is in jail.

[TriggerMan24]

http://turnto10.com/news/local/only-...-in-providence

[Member #4063]

Sure seems this city is expending a large amount of energy over really a very trivial matter. Not sure how shutting them down benefits anybody and it also doesn't seem like they gave her any good faith effort to work with her. Too many "do gooders" in RI these days and the made up "facts" just don't stand up to reality.

It may have something to do with this news story dated yesterday.

http://www.valleybreeze.com/2015-11-...assage-parlors#. Vkym2 XarSzc.

[iamioman]

Unfortunately most of us are not that sophisticated.

Don't have to be 'sophisticated' or be a tech-head, just go to the link, download the browser and use it whenever you want to go online without leaving a trail.

I linked to the page explaining it instead of just the download so anyone interested could read about it for themselves and not just take my word for it.

A google search of 'tor browser' or something similar will find plenty of independant reviews / discussions.

[Existierende]

Anonymous VPNs will allow you to access everything on the internet, including Flash, anonymously, though they won't keep erase your tracks on your own computer. If you use private browsing, you don't need to worry about the later, though. Anonymous VPNs are a cinch to use, and you can even put them on your phone. I use a VPN not because I'm worried Uncle Sam will get upset about me contributing to USASexguide, but because I wanted to stop getting takedown notices from my ISP for torrents. It's worked like a charm. You do have to pay for the VPN, though it's usually only about $5/ month on sale.

Tor isn't all that sophisticated (though it used to be). You download it. You start it. You use it. It doesn't even require an installation; it's a self-contained application.

There's really no good reason to not use it. I think that I've seen this site's admins post in different places that they regard people who don't use tools like Tor and / or anonymous VPNs as lunatics.

Another good PC tool that can help wipe away digital tracks and fingerprints is CCleaner (https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner). It does many other useful things, but it also securely wipes browser history.

Regards,

Ishmael.

[CallMeIshmael]

Unfortunately most of us are not that sophisticated.

Tor isn't all that sophisticated (though it used to be). You download it. You start it. You use it. It doesn't even require an installation; it's a self-contained application.

There's really no good reason to not use it. I think that I've seen this site's admins post in different places that they regard people who don't use tools like Tor and / or anonymous VPNs as lunatics.

Another good PC tool that can help wipe away digital tracks and fingerprints is CCleaner (https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner). It does many other useful things, but it also securely wipes browser history.

Regards,

Ishmael.