Topic: A Secure Home PC?

[Slider]

Last night I installed Protowall on my computer.  I found an entry about it in Wikipedia and thought to try it out. After some adjusting I watched in horror as my machine near constantly sent out packets to places like CBS and Paramount. After much thought and a good beer I realized its probably no big deal but still. Why can these companies and 90 like them be able to collect information about me without my concent.

FYI, I am not promoting the theft of copyrighted material, however I dont think just because I use a bit torrent that companies have a right to snoop.

It then occured to me had anyone tried to assemble a truely secure PC. What would it run OS wise, and my thoughts went to Linux as opposed to my current XP machine. Ive got 2 extra machines, Id like to see if any of you guys have done this or have ideas on what would work well.

Im thinking;
My test box is a Dell Optiplex
Linux probably Debian
Firefox
Various Security softwares

Id like to keep it open source so that anyone can do it.....

Comments?

[Electric Eye]

Sethan is your man on internet security, that's part of what he does for a living. 

[Sirgod]

Sounds like adware to me, maybe spyware. I'll have to look at it myself, as I've never heard of it.

Stephen

[Slider]

Most of it is authorized collection, probably based on cookies.  But navigating websites without allowing cookies it pretty imposible, or so I think.

So when i hit Google for example, data from my machine goes to Paramount...why? Beats me...Im not paranoid (yet) but In an age where you have to pay for everything I'm ready to push back some.

Going with Debian first though I may fall back to Ubuntu or something easier since im not a Linux guru.

Im formating a machine of mine for just Open Source & Secure. That is No free data for the Corporations. Let me download my porn in peace dammit. (Did I say that outloud??)

[Nemesis]

Most of it is authorized collection, probably based on cookies.  But navigating websites without allowing cookies it pretty imposible, or so I think.

I only allow cookies on a site by site basis and only a few of them actually need the cookies.  The Dynaverse forums is obviously one of the few I allow them on.  Cookies are not needed nearly as much as people would have you believe.

[Just plain old Punisher]

Most of it is authorized collection, probably based on cookies.  But navigating websites without allowing cookies it pretty imposible, or so I think.

So when i hit Google for example, data from my machine goes to Paramount...why? Beats me...Im not paranoid (yet) but In an age where you have to pay for everything I'm ready to push back some.

Going with Debian first though I may fall back to Ubuntu or something easier since im not a Linux guru.

Im formating a machine of mine for just Open Source & Secure. That is No free data for the Corporations. Let me download my porn in peace dammit. (Did I say that outloud??)

That only happens when you download too much anime porn.

[GE-Raven]

If you want web content you are going to give your ip address at a minimum.  True Security is an inverse proportional relationship to freedom, this is true for computers.

I can give you a 100% secure computer running any OS you like.  Don't use it to communicate in anyway shape or form.  Lock the computer in a safe.  Done.

Now if you want to surf the net, you are assuming risk, you can limit those risks, but the fact is that if you want to allow communication over a relatively unsecure communication protocol like TCP/IP then you are never going to have a "secure" computer.  Belief of such is just a mistake.

GE-Raven.

[Just plain old Punisher]

If you want web content you are going to give your ip address at a minimum.  True Security is an inverse proportional relationship to freedom, this is true for computers.

I can give you a 100% secure computer running any OS you like.  Don't use it to communicate in anyway shape or form.  Lock the computer in a safe.  Done.

Now if you want to surf the net, you are assuming risk, you can limit those risks, but the fact is that if you want to allow communication over a relatively unsecure communication protocol like TCP/IP then you are never going to have a "secure" computer.  Belief of such is just a mistake.

GE-Raven.

You seem to feel secure about your computer, therefore, you do not download anime porn.

[GE-Raven]

You seem to feel secure about your computer, therefore, you do not download anime porn.

It is called Hentai, and I have no need to download it, I have a good dozen students that do that on a daily basis.  Odd thing is that I will admit it is the one area of porn downloading that seems to be gender balanced.  My most consistent offender (no porn policy on computers on campus) has been one of our Computer Graphics Majors, sounds about right, until you realize that SHE seems to love the stuff.

So far I have found that it seems to appeal to male and female geeks alike.

:-)

GE-Raven