Free wifi spots = anonymous

[Trio3b]

New to wireless. Tons of google info about proxies and cover my *ss software, but :

Is an open wireless connection at free wifi spots (coffee shop, McDonalds) truly anonymous for surfing and downloading. I' m NOT, repeat NOT, talking about credit card transactions or uploads?


Thanks

[muungwana]

It depends, website stores info on people's browsers in simple text files called "cookies". If a cookie is set, a website can track you each time you visit the site.

If you visit a site at home and they set a cookie, they can record your home IP address, when you go to a coffee shop, they can use the cooking to know its you and if they want to come after you and they are very serious about it and if they keep records on when you access the site and with what IP address, then they can find out who you are. The police and court system will have to be involved though and hence they have to be very serious about coming after you.

If you want to be truly anonymous when going online at a public wifi place, create a new profile on your browser and use that profile and dont log in to any account!!!!

[AndrzejL]

New to wireless. Tons of google info about proxies and cover my *ss software, but :

Is an open wireless connection at free wifi spots (coffee shop, McDonalds) truly anonymous for surfing and downloading. I' m NOT, repeat NOT, talking about credit card transactions or uploads?

Thanks

No its not Homey. If You log into the free wireless network... beware of pineapple... and other stuff like this...

Seriously. Anyone with sniffer can get "to much" info about You.

You can do few things about it.

Think - my own SSL-ed Proxy...
Think - tor....
Think - VPN...

This should give You something to google about.

But don't listen to me... I am paranoid...

Andy

[menotu]

This may be worth a read as well - it talks about the Firesheep Firefox addon

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9192923/New_Firefox_add_on_hijacks_Facebook_Twitter_sessions?source=rss_keyword_firesheep

[nerdful1]

To protect against firesheep, but not make it a hassle for the coffeshop to have to issue passwords, I like this idea:

Set up your free wifi with WPA2 engaged on your router.
Put the password in your SSID:  Mooncoins Cafe password = coffee.

Just having WPA engaged protects against firesheep even though the password is up front.
You could also post the password on your window sign.

Of course it is still a free and open wifi acdcess by the courtesy of the provider. Don't expect good privacy.

[Crow]

Go to the coffee shop and use a live cd (or live USB without persistence), don't use passwords when you're there.

[ElCuervo]

Just wondering: what is your definition of anonymous? Because I know if you hook up wirelessly to any of my routers, your MAC address is logged, as well as the activity associated with it. In other words, your fingerprints will be all over whatever you do.

[pags]

Just wondering: what is your definition of anonymous? Because I know if you hook up wirelessly to any of my routers, your MAC address is logged, as well as the activity associated with it. In other words, your fingerprints will be all over whatever you do.

I haven't read them in detail, but...
http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=linux+spoof+mac+address

[blaten22]

Go to the coffee shop and use a live cd (or live USB without persistence), don't use passwords when you're there.

This sounds like a pretty good option.  Good luck on getting privacy if you live in the states. 

[ElCuervo]

Just wondering: what is your definition of anonymous? Because I know if you hook up wirelessly to any of my routers, your MAC address is logged, as well as the activity associated with it. In other words, your fingerprints will be all over whatever you do.

I haven't read them in detail, but...
http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=linux+spoof+mac+address

lol - that just seems like too much work to do something that probably shouldn't be done in the first place! And there is always the chance that there's something else that was overlooked in attempt to preserve that elusive "anonymity".

I still think the best way to maintain Internet anonymity is to unplug the power for your computer.

[Crow]

I still think the best way to maintain Internet anonymity is to unplug the power for your computer. Grin

+1

[pags]

Just wondering: what is your definition of anonymous? Because I know if you hook up wirelessly to any of my routers, your MAC address is logged, as well as the activity associated with it. In other words, your fingerprints will be all over whatever you do.

I haven't read them in detail, but...
http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=linux+spoof+mac+address

lol - that just seems like too much work to do something that probably shouldn't be done in the first place! And there is always the chance that there's something else that was overlooked in attempt to preserve that elusive "anonymity".

I still think the best way to maintain Internet anonymity is to unplug the power for your computer.

It's not that much work...and there are some valid applications (ISPs that tie a MAC address to getting service...get a new PC, use old MAC address, no need for service call  ).

But you right about unplugging...

[ka9yhd]

Also if you are worried about cookies being stored on your computer, install the Firefox plug in "Better Privacy"  When you close Firefox this plug in will ask you to delete the cookies.