Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Dont Fear Internet Anonymity Tools

    Written by

    Jim Rapoza
    Published August 16, 2004
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      When I write this weekly column, Im anything but anonymous. My name, e-mail address and picture are displayed prominently, and it doesnt exactly take elite hacker skills to figure out my office phone number.

      In the other areas of my life, however, I like to stay anonymous. I dont want the people working at a bookstore to know not only every book Ive ever read but also every book Ive ever taken off the shelf. I dont want the networks and cable companies to know every TV show or movie I watch. And I certainly dont want the phone company listening to my calls to determine what kinds of products I might want to buy.

      I think most people want to maintain the same level of anonymity. And although its true that some companies have made moves that compromise privacy in some of these areas, they tend to do so very carefully because they understand the consequences if they go too far.

      But its getting increasingly difficult to remain anonymous on the Internet. Users can try to work around the system in certain ways, such as fake registrations and refusal of cookies, but, in the end, its a losing game. After all, your ISP has your entire Internet surfing record right at its fingertips, and even if you trust the ISP, it takes only a subpoena for the government or an organization such as the Recording Industry Association of America to get at your information.

      Thats why its important to so many of us to find tools that can provide true anonymity while using the Internet.

      With anonymity, dissidents in countries with oppressive regimes can read news and information that would otherwise be censored; people can go to sites that discuss controversial issues without fear of ending up on a government list; and crime victims can participate in support forums without fear of revealing their identity.

      There are also benefits for businesses. Anonymity lets an organization view information about competitors without tipping them off, and it can provide protection against hackers by obscuring connection points.

      However, there are many who argue against tools that provide true anonymity and would probably fight to make such tools illegal. The entertainment industry would see these tools as an obstacle to its ability to track file-sharing networks. Some ISPs would see these tools as a threat to control over customers.

      And many will argue that these tools need to be headed off because of their potential negative effect on law enforcement. They argue that anonymity protects criminals and terrorists, making it possible for them to elude the law.

      But publicly available anonymous networks can actually improve security and law enforcement. Agents can more easily carry out research and investigations when they are anonymous, and informants can feel safe about providing valuable tips when they dont have to reveal their identity.

      It looks like the U.S. Navy agrees with me: It is currently helping to fund Tor, one of the more promising technologies available today for providing anonymous Web use.

      An open-source project, Tor seeks to provide anonymity through a technique called onion routing. Onion routing basically works by implementing numerous routers through which communications will pass. As data passes through the Tor network, each point knows only where the data is going and where it came from. As the network gets bigger, it becomes increasingly difficult to trace a connections origin. Although the Tor project is still early in its development, it shows much promise. It seems like it will be simple to deploy the application on both the server and the client. And if Tor reaches critical mass, people will finally be able to surf the Internet without fearing their moves are being traced.

      To companies that worry anonymous networks will be a boon to file sharing: Im sorry, but youre going to have to face the reality of your business model in much the same way horse-and-buggy sellers had to face the automobile.

      And to those who fear this technologys use by criminals: Well, the bad guys already have access to tools that hide their identity. If networks like Tor become criminal, only criminals will have them.

      Labs Director Jim Rapoza can be reached at [email protected].

      To read more Jim Rapoza, subscribe to eWEEK magazine.

      Check out eWEEK.coms Security Center at http://security.eweek.com for the latest security news, reviews and analysis.

      Be sure to add our eWEEK.com developer and Web services news feed to your RSS newsreader or My Yahoo page

      Jim Rapoza
      Jim Rapoza
      Jim Rapoza, Chief Technology Analyst, eWEEK.For nearly fifteen years, Jim Rapoza has evaluated products and technologies in almost every technology category for eWEEK. Mr Rapoza's current technology focus is on all categories of emerging information technology though he continues to focus on core technology areas that include: content management systems, portal applications, Web publishing tools and security. Mr. Rapoza has coordinated several evaluations at enterprise organizations, including USA Today and The Prudential, to measure the capability of products and services under real-world conditions and against real-world criteria. Jim Rapoza's award-winning weekly column, Tech Directions, delves into all areas of technologies and the challenges of managing and deploying technology today.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×