1.Do we have to be concern about our privacy and security on line?

2. Do I need to disable the cookies?

3.Do I need to disable JavaScript / VBScript?

4.What about Java?

5.ActiveX and plug-ins.

6.Where is a winner in the battle for anonymous surfing the Web?

7.Why is this good idea to use SOCK protocol to connect to proxy?

8.What you need to do if you have to stay anonymous with enabled Java/JavaScript/ActiveX.

1.Do we have to be concern about our privacy and security on line?

The answer is YES.   When we surf the web we leave traces of our Internet activity. While our computer connected to network it is getting IP address (Internet Protocol address), which is our Internet identification number. Our computer's IP address is comparable to our home address or Social Security number. If someone gets our IP address, they can use the information to identify our country, city, internet provider and even physical address. It is very important to have privacy, security and anonymity when we are surfing the web.  We keep our address and SSN secure and do not share these information with strangers.  It is in our interest to keep our IP address also private and secure.  Who can help you with this?  BeHidden can help you.

2. Do I need to disable the cookies?

Cookies are used to transfer some information from the web server to the client with   the requested web page. This information is stored in the client’s browser and is retrieved by the web server.  Cookies could be temporary (if they used for one time during web session) or long term (if they store on the client’s machine for a long term use).

If you use proxy the web server will store the IP of your proxy server not your computer.  However if you did not disable your cookies the web server will recognize the cookies (which were transferred in your browser during your initial visit) if you revisit the same server. Just with this information (cookies) it is not possible to detect IP today.  However the technology is changing rapidly.  If you are concerned about any trace that you could leave when you surfing the Web, please disable cookies in your browser.  Though, keep in mind that you wont be able to connect to some web sites if you disable cookies.

3.Do I need to disable JavaScript / VBScript?

JavaScript / VBScript  are scripts or subprograms (simple programs) run by the client s browser. It is known that these scripts able to change browser settings and detect IP of your computer.  There are multiple ways to restrict a script from accessing your browser. Therefore, the best way to defend your browser is disabling active scripts. However, keep in mind that you wont be able to connect to some web sites if you disable JavaScript/VBScript.

4.What about Java?

Java is a powerful programming language and Java programs could easily detect your IP and some of the settings of your browser.  Again, if you would like to take the extra steps towards your security and anonymity, the best way to defend your browser is to completely disable Java in your browser settings.   Though, keep in mind that you wont be able to connect to some web sites if you disable Java.

5.ActiveX and plug-ins.

ActiveX and plug-ins are popular modules and add-ons of your browser. These modules are real programs which run on the client s machine.  These modules have wider capacities than Java and Javascript. They are capable detect your browser settings, your real IP address and even change the settings of your proxy server.

If you are concerned about any trace that you could leave when you surfing the Web, please disable ActiveX and plug-ins options in your browser settings.  However, keep in mind that you won’t be able to connect to some web sites if you disable ActiveX and plug-ins.

6.Where is a winner in the battle for anonymous surfing the Web?

The technology is changing rapidly.  We are getting new tools and methods how to achieve our security and anonymity on line.  On the same time the methods how to detect our IP addresses become more sophisticated.  If you are concerned about your security and privacy on line you need to be informed and educated about the current technology and make an intelligent choice how to surf the web anonymously.  BeHidden is helping you to protect your security and privacy on line.

7.Why is this good idea to use SOCK protocol to connect to proxy?

As we discussed above you could disable cookies, or disable active scripts, or disable Java, or disable ActiveX, or all of them.  All these methods will help you to hide your IP address.  However, in this case probably 90% of websites won’t work for you.

Using SOCK protocol to connect to your proxy server will enable to dispatch all the information from your browser or any software from your pc to the proxy server.  Thanks to that your pc is not vulnerable for identifying IP by Java program, or Java script, or ActiveX and plug-ins.  However, your Windows settings may be scanned for your IP address.  So there is no 100% warranty in this case also…

8.What you need to do if you have to stay anonymous with enabled Java/JavaScript/ActiveX.

From what we discussed above, first of all we need to hide your external IP address in Windows settings.

The second one we need to be sure that our pc connected to the Internet only through an anonymous proxy server.  This task could be solved by two ways.

You could install Firewall on your pc and restrict all the connections to the Internet except the anonymous proxy. This choice is considered not very secure because the script could scan the Windows settings and as a result to identify your IP.

If you are skilled system administrator you could configure your pc the way that all requests to your browser should go throw anonymous proxy server.

Please use comments field at the bottom of a page to suggest other topics and questions which we should try to answer on this page.