Leaving no trace in a digital world

NOTE: I should have this formatted by the end of the day 7/24

Leaving No Trace In A Digital World

Purpose: To learn how to communicate safely, to protect your data and to obfuscate your identity and browsing history online and on your computer. Because of it's use within the TOR project, we will focus soley on using Firefox.

Forms of snooping

Physical

Privacy screens
Not typing passwords or using sensitive sites that may reveal an identity in front of others
Physical keyloggers
- Checking the back of the machine if possible
- Using another keyboard (Roll-up)
- On-screen keyboard

DNS/OpenDNS

Explanation of Domain Name System
How it can be tracked through things like OpenDNS
Tor vs. Tor Browser Bundle – DNS leaks

Computer Software

Malware or legitimate tracking software
- Anti-spyware/root-kit/virus
Temporary files / Cookies / Browser History
- Clearing in Windows
Universal privacy setting in Ubuntu

Route of Communications

Router Logs
- VPNs – Privoxy/Hamachi/Proxy Switchy
Traceroute Example
ISP
Backbones
Government
End Site

Neutral Online Identity

Emails
User names
Firewalling real vs. nom-de-guerre
- Never use “real” connection for alternate identity
What you write/release online

Portable TOR

Portable TOR is a program that runs without installation from USB or drive. It comes configured for pretty good anonymity out of the box – https://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser.html.en

Plugin caveat
TBB Firefox vs. regular Firefox

TAILS

TAILS is an amnesiac LiveCD/USB that writes nothing to the hard drive. It contains TOR, Pidgin, encryption tools and more - https://tails.boum.org/index.en.html

Suggested Firefox Plugins

Adblock plus - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adblock-plus – Blocking ads blocks some tracking
- Download EasyList and Fanboy's list.
Better Privacy - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/betterprivacy –
- Deletes LSOs (Flash Cookies).
- Set to delete upon exit.
Cookie Monster - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/.../cookie-monster -
- Check all options but “Block All Cookies” and the ones about the dialog and icon.
Flash Block - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/flashblock – Block ads/flash tracking
- Enable and choose to block Silverlight as well
RefControl - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/refcontrol – Changes referrer on website headers
- Choose “Forge” for sites not listed
HTTPS Everywhere - https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere/ - Included in TBB and TAILS.
- Make sure it is enabled and never turn this off
Noscript - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/noscript – Included in TBB
- Choose to Forbid Scripts Globally
TORButton - https://www.torproject.org/torbutton – Included in TBB and TAILS.
- Too many features to list ( https://www.torproject.org/torbutton/torbutton-options.html.en )
- Refer to TBB settings and choose more if wanted (suggested) but do not uncheck anything they've selected there.
CAVEAT: Any extraneous applications may be able to track you