google path

[centillini]

Hello all, I am new to using computer and trying to really figure out google to find people to play with. Yahoo use to be great till they screwed up the groups.

[SilkyHoseLover]

Hmmmm... According to your profile, you signed-up in 2009, and still consider yourself 'new to using computer'?

[centillini]

google I am new at

[tenni]

Be very careful when using google search engines. Google owns several things that you may not realize..youtube included and gmail are controlled by google. Google takes all information when you do a search and keeps the information on file. In the US there are "google farms" where building after building stores your information in computers that are cooled by large ponds of water that is recycled in the building to cool the computer hard drives. Workers uses bikes to get around...how big these buildings are. They along with Facebook(dating google) use your information to sell to potential businesses that they figure you may or may not want. Google knows that you are on this site...more than not. Not meaning to being paranoid..it is the reality of our era.

Find other search engines not linked to google is better . Some smaller European search engine or Chinese search engines are a little safer for abuse of your information.

[BiCuriousVAN]

I agree with Tenni, but you can always open up a private browsing window, so no cookies etc or tracking to your e-mail. You can do this by <CTRL><Shift>P.

[void()]

EFF - A Primer on Information Theory and Privacy
January 26, 2010 | By Peter Eckersley

http://is.gd/iYnud6

Ghostery - Firefox Addon

http://is.gd/sVlwAH

Click & Clean - Firefox Addon

http://is.gd/UDnVSF

HTTPS Everywhere

http://is.gd/x2bTaD

GnuPGP

http://is.gd/CXJ7Lu

Make Strong Passwords

http://is.gd/xAL6k6

KeePass - Open Source multiple platform password "safe/vault"
(Similar to LastPass mentioned in artcle but free & possibly more robust.)

http://is.gd/0FvhIR

Useful search engines which do not track users, nor store search, user data.

"Ducky" - DuckDuckGo

https://duckduckgo.com/

Startpage

https://startpage.com/

Ixquick (Same company & policies as Startpage)

https://www.ixquick.com/

You may also look into anonymous proxies or freely available public vpn. The proxies require
you to set up each application/program that access the Internet &/ Web to point to them as your IP, MAC address. Vpn, or Virtual Private Networks require only setup in your computer's system, similar to what used to be HyperTelnet or Remote Desktop in Windows iirc. Under Linux & Unix we can use ssh which is Secure SHell & it acts in similar fashion, though is not exactly a vpn.

I'd rather trust a secure shell though. You can set this up to use OTP (One Time Pad) encryption with other trusted users/facilities, and you may also use GnuPGP keys. This allows for more options, more of a broader spectrum in "fail-safes". Under Linux too, one can set up a program called tripwire. It does what it says on the tin. It monitors files, if they are modified, you can be alerted or have it set to alert a "dead man switch". There is a site called dead man switch on-line. This site can store instructions which will be enacted if tripwire alerts it.

Situational awareness is not paranoia, nor is being cautious. And realize simply because you've nothing to hide does not infer anyone else does not either, and at any time you might get black bagged as convenience to them hiding whatever. President Bush left an executive order that left America a battlefield, Obama never rescinded that order. The Army's first battalion can and will seek out "insurgents" on American soil. They are authorized to use extreme prejudice at their discretion.

Besides this, current POTUS has an executive order which allows him to maintain a kill list, and target the atoms on that list with drones. By atoms, I mean people. Apologies, I was using a LISP programming concept, an array is a list, a list has atoms. This can be like sentences having words, words having letters.

If you doubt what I have written here, first go look it up for yourself. Second, do not suggest I'm insane, nor try to argue. Have seen it from more than one reputable source, and not merely from media. One source was a matter of public record, something called National Archives I believe.

Again, it is a matter of being aware what your "reality" actually entails. I will not argue regarding this because it does not seem a matter of debate, opinion. It is what it is.

I am still proud of my country. I do not much like its leadership over the past thirty to forty years. Like George Carlin though, I do not vote. I believe he quoted Stalin as well regarding the voters not mattering, only those whom counted the votes. And like Carlin, I feel a right to say the leadership has gone to crap despite not voting. Look at what all you voters, voted us into. My not voting is a vote of no confidence in the system. Take money out of it ... ah but of course we all need our precious money.

Bah! Well, I'll wrap up my :2cents: here. Hate being :offtopic::soapbox:.