Spam for most is just an annoying obfuscator when surfing through their emails; with Pavlovian dog like conditioning, they simply delete these emails as they come in. This is the reality though, as most spam blockers featured on many email hosts only block messages from companies, not sovereign people. These spam emails can be much more dangerous than anyone thinks though, and this is where the skilled hackers thrive.  Your Internet provider will tell you never to reply to a spam message, but what if you didn’t know this? Imagine yourself a youth, just beginning to use the Internet. You establish an email account, and inevitably receive your first pieces of spam to fill your inbox, claiming that you are the recipient of a million dollars, all you have to do is give them your social security number and they will do the rest. Or perhaps you are an adult who knows darn well to not open spam. You get that one enticing message, “You have just won a million dollars!” and you know it is probably spam. As is human nature to be interested though, you open it and allow a hacker’s virus to enter your computer, and surreptitiously steal all sorts of information from you. Soon enough you realize that it wasn’t the people who wanted to give money to you, but rather to rob you of every dime you have.

Identity theft is a serious crime in today’s technologically dominated society. People are becoming educated about other ways they are in danger, but they would never expect the benign annoyance of spam emails to be such a potential threat. Do yourself a favor and use a change IP proxy anytime you surf the Internet. This IP changer will change your IP address and disable any hacker or their spam virus emails from following you or stealing any of your information. As far as avoiding spam goes, if it is too good to be true, you probably are not the unexpected winner or receiver of a large fortune.

Tweet This Post

A ton of work goes into the successful running of a good school. There is so much information that must be spot on in order to keep a contained and safe atmosphere. If a teacher teaches about seven classes, with about twenty kids a class, this is a large amount of grades to be done! The papers must first be graded, the put into the grade system, then given back to the students, and then every student’s final grades must be calculated at the end of the grading quarter. For large schools of about a thousand students, attendance must be entered every day and every child missing has to be accounted for and possibly an inquisition if the story doesn’t check out.

All of this stuff is purely logistical; in order to run such a tight ship, much information has to be kept on each student. This includes the mundane stuff like parent names and contact information just in case some sort of emergency might occur, or just information so that the teacher can call and inform the parent of their young student’s progress academically, or their problems behaviorally. Addresses often need to be known of and documented as well, so as to send report cards and other items of interest to the parents.

While this information is for the most part very harmless, some of the information the schools must keep is a bit worrisome. For example, pretty much all students must hand over their social security number and their student number (which controls in school internal activities) to the office for administrative purposes. Schools actually keep records of student pregnancy and student juvenile records as well. It is certainly necessary for these things to be kept, but are they guarded well?

Most say no. This information can be accessed by hacking a very lightly protected school computer network. Keep in mind also all of the people who see the information. Anyone with an administrative password or access to someone who does has a whole wealth of social security numbers and other valuable information from every student at their hands.

While it is difficult and often unavoidable to have your school have this information, you can certainly protect it well yourself. Your computer is where you are most vulnerable, and ironically enough, often most unprotected. The best way to protect yourself is to use an IP changer. It is the pesky IP address that often gives away our information and leaves you prone to hackers; using a change IP proxy you can create a changed IP that keeps you hidden and throws the hackers off of yours tracks.

Tweet This Post

While this is a safety issue for the most part, these tests may have a bit of an intrusive value to them, and could be misleading. In psychology, the tendency for people to put more emphasis on the personality than the situation is called the false attribution effect. Many employers are blind to the possible mitigating factors of the offense or the actual person’s turn around in life. Regardless, these types of tests border on the privacy laws that everyone enjoys around the world… for the most part.

Some places have decided the background check simply is not enough though, and that its results are not enough to extrapolate the details of someone’s character. The University of Akron is this place, and instead of a simple background check, they have instituted a full on DNA test, to be sent to a federal reviewer to determine past crimes or not.

This is very invasive, and many privacy advocates are up in arms over these highly inquisitive measures. They also claim that it is against the morals and ethics of a business or corporation to do such testing on its employees, it is a personnel employers responsibility and job to read people, and read them correctly. Whether or not it is legal and whether or not the institute will actually go through with the DNA tests as a full on part of the hiring process, it is the principle of the matter.

What with the Patriot Act, Americans have very little personal freedom left to them, that surely cannot be invaded. While it may be necessary for the government or a business to see your personal files and information, it certainly is not for a hacker or criminal. There are a variety of ways to avoid these criminals, but by far, the best is using an IP changer. You need to be careful online: a change IP proxy can help keep you protected by changing your IP; this will make you impossible to track online, and impossible for anyone to steal ANY information about you.

Tweet This Post

Another important part of the Internet is being anonymous. This is important and necessary because people can be tracked over the Internet very easily. Criminals can find someone’s IP address and use to it to track a person’s activities around the Internet, and possibly even their location in real life. Your computer has an IP address hooked up to it that acts as a virtual nametag, and this is how trackers and identity thieves find you and steal from you. This IP address is completely public, and some people ask why.

There is a new controversy brewing on the Internet though, pertaining to comments: being anonymous. Some people believe it is unfair that some sites require you to post a name and an actual e-mail address, while others simply let you opt out and choose to be anonymous.

Others argue that being anonymous is an imperative part of the Internet. This allows people to say what they really think without fear of being tracked or judged for their comments. Privacy advocates would argue that being anonymous takes away the threat of such a wide and free Internet in which anyone can view anyone’s profile and IP address, and where a hacker with a drive could get into anyone’s information. At least this way, you can have a diverse opinion base without scaring the people with radical ideas away from posting their real ideas and being harassed in real life.

When it comes down to it, the Internet was created with privacy in mind. Many programs were launched at the same time as the Net was coming around such as firewalls, virus protections; things to keep you safe and keep people out.

These are effective for the most part, but the IP address is still a contender for compromising your privacy and allowing interlopers into your personal space. There is hope though; using an IP changer can do as its name suggests, change your IP address. You actually take the IP address of the IP changer and use it as your own. That way, if anyone were to track you, all they would see is the proxy’s IP address. Also, this will stop your IP address from being search-able back to you. Try it; find your IP address and type it into Google, you may find a road map to your house! Scary enough, but by using an IP changer, you can hide your IP address and remain anonymous on any and all commenting sites.

Tweet This Post

People check their e-mail online, chat with friends online, do business online, and even bank online. The computer has become a necessary part of every American’s life, and will continue to play a larger role than ever in the apex of the “Information Generation”.

The computer’s hard drive is an indispensable memory. Everything you do is stored in some part of it, and will not be deleted by just a delete function. All of this information can be accessed by people that you wouldn’t permit to do so normally. Don’t fret! You can easily protect yourself; there is a multitude of ways to do so, and many can be done right from home.

There are little devices called cookies that websites place on your computer when you visit them. They are not the tasty treat you are thinking of though; they actually help to load sites faster and remember you so that you can navigate more easily around a site. While this sounds only beneficial, these cookies can actually act as tracking devices and track you. They also can leave behind information about a site you visited that you had deleted. These can be easily turned of or refused by going into your options menu on your Internet browser.

Next on the agenda is to check your privacy and security settings. This can be done from most browsers by clicking on the respective “privacy” or “security” buttons in the upper toolbar of the service. When you click these, try not to mess with any of the settings unless you know what you are doing, or you could actually do something counterproductive and hurt your security! For the most part, just make sure the default settings are enabled and you will be on your way.

Many computers have a built-in “firewall” system. This system comes completely standard on nearly every computer these days and acts just as its name says; it forms a wall around your computer and the Internet. If some interloper tried to hack into your computer using some break-in software, they would be kicked out by the firewall. This also stops some pop-ups and phishing e-mails that contain viruses and other harmful things to your system.

This is just a small sampling of things you can do to keep your computer safe and secure. These are all quick fixes that can be done easily at home and will bolster your security. There are many other pieces of software that you can use to increase your Internet security. Using an IP changer, for example, will change  your IP address which is an open portal to many sensitive details about you. This server can also get you by any blocks that might be posed to you at a workplace or school.

Internet security is easy to get, you just have to be proactive. Use the above steps, and try an IP changer for ultimate security.

Tweet This Post

One aspect of browsing is cookies. Consider the cookie; it a little piece of information that is put on your computer by a website that records your preferences and other small pieces of data. These cookies generally affect you very little and simply restore personalized settings on a website you visit. Some cookies can be a bit more harmful though. These cookies can be intercepted by hackers to track your computer and possibly place viruses or other mal ware on it.

Another thing to consider is a cache system. Long ago, in the dark ages of dial-up and slow connections, a cache saves pieces of a website that you visited and allowed for a quicker load of the website when you next visited it. With part of the website already installed on your computer, you can actually just load it from your memory instead of having to access the Internet, inherently making it faster. This cache system could possibly save websites that you tried to get rid of though, and if someone were to hack into your system they could view these previously thought-to-be deleted sites. Although the cache system is outdated due to the incredible speed of Internet travel today, it is still installed on every computer, simply to create a privacy issue.

Your ISP logs every thing you do also. They have records of every site you visit, and those cannot be deleted by a simple “delete browsing history” function. Although it is probably in the fine print of your contract with them that says they can record anything you do no matter what, it still isn’t right. Who is to say that someone couldn’t hack into this seemingly secure data base and gain access to this information within? This would be a hacker’s dream; a goldmine filled with passwords, bank account information, and the browsing information easily used for blackmail.

Every thing you do on the Internet is tied to your IP address also. Every e-mail, instant message, and other messages you communicate are linked to your IP address which is like a virtual nametag; shows your location, browsing history, and is an open portal to all of the sensitive information located on your hard drive.

Why is it public then? This is a question privacy advocates pose to the Internet companies and online manufacturers. The IP is a sensitive piece of information and the fact that anyone can view it is a bit disturbing. Fortunately, there is a way to change that in the form of an IP changer. This will change your IP address and allow you to keep yourself safe and anonymous online.

Tweet This Post

One such superhero is the “PittGirl” of Pittsburgh. This fiery user was an online hit due to her frankness in talking about Pittsburgh’s mayor and her disdain for him, and even more famous for her extended rants about the evils of pigeons.  Her spark and her non-inhibited sense of writing made her a complete Internet celebrity, although everyone wondered about her identity. After many people attempted to crack it, she simply came out herself; listing name, occupation, and even posting some pictures of herself on her blog.

Many people worry about their true identities becoming known on the Internet; and it truly is a danger. To a person like PittGirl, it was dangerous to her job, (she was fired shortly thereafter) her Internet status, and her safety. (She received many threats from angry people, and reportedly from the mayor himself due to her stance against him) Due to her strong beliefs about the local politics of Pittsburgh, she was essentially blacklisted from all city jobs due to her history of online insubordination.

Some people argue that all bloggers should remain anonymous, and this is a valid case. Many injustices can happen to an individual due to their identity is compromised. Their online identity and persona allows them to say what they feel and think without worrying about what repercussions will come in real life. PittGirl wasn’t harming anyone without her posts against the mayor; she never threatened him or anything like that, yet she was fired for “unrelated reasons” from her job, and is now having trouble getting one in and around Pittsburgh.

The point is, no ones real name or location should be revealed online. An IP changer can ensure this doesn’t happen by changing your IP address, which stops anyone from trailing your Internet signal to your real life location.

Tweet This Post

Think about it, through the knowledge of your home, these criminals could break in and get anything they want. If they have worse intentions, they could break in and kidnap your children. Maybe they are just feeling malicious and wish to do you bodily harm, and your family as well. Either way, the location of your home in real life is a hacker’s dream come true. While getting into your Internet documents is much more feasible for them, and they can get passwords, log-in names, bank account numbers and other miscellaneous pieces of identifying information, in real life, they could crack your safe without having to worry about impersonating you at a bank.

In Illinois, recently a large apartment complex has been the subject of a great debate between every citizen; to be anonymous, or not to be anonymous. An enraged group of tenants in the building were protesting anonymously on a site where a large construction company plans to build a mall and bring many more people in the area. As apartment buildings are usually noisy to begin with, this could bring the noise pollution to unbearable levels, forcing some residents to leave.

While these residents wore masks during their public protest, the construction group has demanded, via court, that they remove the hiding masks and face them face to face. They say this way, they could have an intelligent conversation and assert their beliefs that the mall will help out the crime ridden area by bringing in many more police officers on stringent patrol schedules.

Although they understand the advantages the mall brings, the noise and traffic are too much. The fact that they are demanding a de-anonymity of the protesters upsets them too. While sometimes it is a question in real life, never on the Internet. The loss of anonymity on the Internet can lead to real life location. Using a change IP proxy can stop this from happening by hiding your location giveaway IP address. An IP changer will also ensure you aren’t being tracked by using encryption technology. Don’t fret over your location again, and don’t let any hacker know where you live!

Tweet This Post

Recently, two California residents charged the social networking site “Tagged” with sending them false emails to get them to send out more of their personal information. The website allegedly sent these two people an e-mail that said that if they send in their social security numbers that they can sync their profiles with many of their other online programs. The two didn’t fall for it, and quickly reported the disturbing message to authorities. After a little investigating, it was found that someone at “Tagged” was just fishing for information and thought they could get these two users. After the email was traced and the man arrested, the two renounced social networking sites and their kin. “It is too much risk, for too little of a return.”, one of them said. “I think I will just start visiting my friends in real life, where I can be sure they are who they are.”

While this is an isolated case, people’s Internet anonymity and security is threatened and encroached upon by these sites every day. Consider for a moment how much information is on your social networking web page. From here, someone could find your interests, your location, and a good couple of pictures showing what you look like.  If you post illicit information on her or licentious pictures, then your potential employer, boss, or college of admission could turn you away, seeing your darker side right on their screen.

From here, someone could steal your information and figure out a bunch of other things with it. Perhaps they write all of the information down, and attempt your secret question through it. Although you wouldn’t think your third grade teachers name wouldn’t come up in conversation online, if it did, all of your friends now can see your secret code.

This all seems like a big risk, and might scare some away from a social networking site. No need for that; the sites can be great for bringing people together and getting caught up with them, but there are definitive risks with them. Use your privacy settings provided on your account, and try using an anonymous proxy or IP changer to keep yourself completely anonymous while surfing online.

Tweet This Post

Although this is an extreme use of spy ware, it is happening not just in Saudi Arabia. Many people in the United States use these programs as well, but for more insidious means. In the U.S., we call these people hackers, and they often are thought about and fretted over by Internet users. These are the people who can access someone’s system from states away, and while inside, steal all their information pertaining to online sites, and especially bank accounts. The victim’s bank account will be run dry while they are still at work, and on the way home when they are trying to get some gas, will wonder why their card is cancelled. This is an extreme case as well. They hackers will usually steal an identity and some other bank related information and use it every once and a while. While they are making small withdrawals every once in a while, the victim is less likely to notice than once huge cash run.

Although these types of hackers seem futuristic and surreal, these types of cases happen often, and someone gets their identity stolen daily. It takes many years to recover it, and it is even harder to catch the criminal than ever. There is no scene of the crime, it was all online! It is much easier to get a bank robber that left behind footprints than to get a hacker that left behind a couple of computer wires.

To stay free of these spy ware and hackers, use a change IP proxy along with your anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware.  An IP changer can do as its name suggests, it will change your IP and not allow you to be tracked while online. With your IP changed comes many advantages; for one, you won’t have to worry about Internet blockades of certain sites at home or school, as you will be able to get right past them using the proxy server’s IP address. Secondly, and most importantly, hiding your IP will keep you safe from hackers and criminals tracking you by your IP address.

Tweet This Post