mersenneforum.org - Government snooping, backdoors and #necessaryhashtags

[url=thehill.com/policy/technology/326631-gop-faces-backlash-over-attack-on-internet-privacy-rules]GOP faces backlash over attack on internet privacy rules[/url] | TheHill

So, how to protect oneself? Here's one piece on that, with a high "that's a lot of sh*t to manage" quotient, once one gets past their top recommendations of "don't use the Win10 OS" and "don't use the Google Chrome browser":
[url=www.allthattek.com/keep-isps-from-tracking-you-and-selling-your-history/]Keep ISPs from tracking you and selling your history[/url] | AllThatTek

[Has anyone here used the [url=http://www.opera.com/computer/features/free-vpn]free VPN in the Opera browser[/url]?]

A somewhat more VPN-skeptical take - though the author himself uses one as a result of his security-blogger avocation:

[url=krebsonsecurity.com/2017/03/post-fcc-privacy-rules-should-you-vpn/]FCC Privacy Rules, Should You VPN?[/url] | Krebs on Security
[quote]Many readers are understandably concerned about recent moves by the U.S. Congress that would roll back privacy rules barring broadband Internet service providers (ISPs) from sharing or selling customer browsing history, among other personal data. Some are concerned enough by this development that they’re looking at obfuscating all of their online browsing by paying for a subscription to a virtual private networking (VPN) service. This piece is intended to serve as a guidepost for those contemplating such a move.

On Tuesday, the House approved a Senate resolution to roll back data privacy regulations enacted late last year at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would block ISPs from selling to advertisers information about where you go and what you do online. President Trump has signaled his intent to sign the bill (S.J. Res. 34) into law soon.

As shocking as this sounds, virtually nothing has changed about the privacy of the average American’s connection to the Internet as a result of this action by Congress, except perhaps a greater awareness that ISP customers don’t really have many privacy protections by default. The FCC rules hadn’t yet gone into effect, and traditional broadband providers successfully made the case to lawmakers that the new rules put them at a competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis purely Web-based rivals such as Facebook and Google.

Nevertheless, this hasn’t stopped news outlets from breathlessly urging concerned citizens to reclaim their privacy by turning to VPN providers. And VPN providers have certainly capitalized on the news. One quite large (and savvy) VPN provider even took out a full-page ad in the New York Times listing the names of the Republican senators who voted to repeal the still-dormant regulations.

I’m happy if this issue raises the general level of public awareness about privacy and the need for Internet users everywhere to take a more active role in preserving it. And VPNs can be a useful tool for protecting one’s privacy online. However, it’s important to understand the limitations of this technology, and to take the time to research providers before entrusting them with virtually all your browsing data — and possibly even compounding your privacy woes in the process.[/quote]

On a funnier note: This second The Hill piece linked in the above one notes that the proposed crowdfunded purchases will likely be infeasible in practice - which seems odd, because trading in personal data is one of the top big-money frontiers in modern e-commerce and social media. I'm guessing there will be a subsequent bill passed which will make it illegal to trade in such data for government officials, but not for hoi polloi:

[url=http://thehill.com/policy/technology/326462-internet-users-raise-more-than-200000-to-buy-lawmakers-browsing-histories]Internet users raise funds to buy lawmakers’ browsing histories in protest[/url] | The Hill
[quote]Internet users are fighting back after Congress voted to block Obama-era internet privacy protections.

Two fundraising campaigns have so far raised more than $215,000 to purchase and reveal lawmakers’ browsing histories.

Actor Misha Collins, the star of television show “Supernatural,” has raised more than $63,000 on his GoFundMe page. More than 3,000 people have donated to the page, which has a goal of $500 million.[/quote]