Category Archives: Tor Browser

As the internet expands and new technological developments occur, we must look back at what matters most: our privacy and security. There are several different measures that someone can take, depending on how security conscious the user is. There isnt a one-size-fits-all solution here, so make sure to read on to figure out the type of security protocol suited to your tastes and preferences.

Privacy pertains to your control over your personal information- it is your ability to access or manage your data. Security, on the other hand, relates to the servers protective capabilities that prevent that data from getting misused or dealt with in a way that is either inaccessible to you or unapproved.

Staying secure and private online is a matter that concerns every single user. Nowadays, there are trackers on almost every website that users visit that take note of their online activities. Things that may seem unimportant, like someones preferences in clothing shops or websites, are pieces of valuable information that can have more uses than meets the eye.

Not being in control of your digital footprint or identity can have many consequences, ranging from the leak of personal, identifiable information all the way to severe problems, such as identity theft.

It may seem like a massive undertaking, but some measures are so easy that even the most minor tech-familiar user can implement them within minutes. It is now easier and more accessible than ever to keep yourself safe when connected to the internet.

Since most internet users only use a browser, they have become increasingly diversified and offer varying levels of end-user privacy. Chrome is the most widely used browser, but it is highly unsafe. Always choose the best browser for privacy to enjoy the internet without worrying about anything. Here are some options to consider:

It is one of the most renowned Chromium-based browsers considering end-user privacy and security. There is no need to install an add-on for ad blocking because Brave already has it built in. The danger posed by ads goes beyond simply being annoying because they are a common way that malware spreads.

Users have the choice to entirely block trackers, upgrade every connection to HTTPS, and even block cookies and fingerprinting. These settings can be adjusted to the users needs and preferences.

When seeking privacy, look no further than Firefox. One of Firefoxs defining features is its Enhanced Tracking Protection, which borrows TOR mechanisms to block browser fingerprinting and tracking.

Their current work revolves around further enhancing the mechanics theyve already got in places such as tracking-prevention features, data storage and handling, and even stored cookies. For iOS and Android users, Firefox Focus is also an option.

Numerous hackers use Tor nodes to spread malware and steal private information, and some authorities also operate nodes to track down cybercriminals.

There are three distinct configurations available for its security: Standard, Safer, and Safest. In the Standard mode, everything about the website is turned on, however, in the two following modes, certain things are disabled to prevent malware from taking over.

When it comes to the Tor browser, what matters here is the process of encryption that is unique to Tor, which prevents third parties from accessing your data by tossing it between relay servers.

Tor is focused on privacy over security, and some of the advanced settings are best left to security-conscious users only. However, Tor automatically clears your cookies and browsing history, and avoids fingerprinting solely on principle.

Tor and other anonymizing technologies allow users to browse the deep web anonymously. There is currently no method to verify the trustworthiness of the many Tor exit nodes maintained by volunteers, so the content of your communications will be visible to whoever is running the node.

Vivaldi has all the essentials, including DuckDuckGo as the default search engine plus Google Safe Browsing and compatibility with Chrome extensions. In this case, defending users from malicious software and phishing attempts is a given.

The regularity of its updates is the biggest boon to security. Cyber attackers have less time to exploit vulnerabilities in Vivaldi because security fixes are released every week or two on average.

In addition to these security features, Vivaldi stands out as a top browser because it offers unprecedented levels of customization. It may be tailored to your specific requirements, and it already has a robust feature set that makes add-ons unnecessary.

Other browsers dont use cloud-based security measures as Puffin does. It loads websites on the server and provides the user with a compressed copy so that none of the websites code is executed locally.

Whenever a user visits a website, Puffin intercepts all traffic to ensure that no malicious code may make it past their servers and infect their device. Using the companys servers to load websites is an unconventional security model because it eliminates the need for traditional criteria like virus databases and sandboxes.

While Puffin isnt the fastest, it makes up for its slowness with its smart use of RAM. If the users device isnt being burdened with unnecessary resource usage, it makes sense that the web pages are being loaded on a separate server.

If youre looking for a fast and light desktop browser, go no further than Puffin, since Chrome has earned a reputation for being both.

Lets go back to the very basics: no matter what browser you use, you should always have HTTPS on preferences activated. This ensures that the browser always ensures a secure connection to the webpage. To confirm that this is on, check below.

By far, Tails is the closest thing near the TOR system that you shall ever come across. Tails is a sophisticated OS that contains a number of features, applications, and programs similar to what the TOR system used to have.

The Tails OS usually boots from an external drive. Therefore, when you are using this OS, you do not have to worry about the possibility of leaving your documents exposed on various devices.

As long as you carry the external drive containing the OS, you can successfully and anonymously use any computer at any time. Once you are through with your work, you can eject the disk, and not trace of your activity will be left on the computer at all.

Tinkering with the privacy settings of your browser isnt something that the average user does, but spending a few moments to configure them to your preferences can save you from encountering trouble in the long run.

Ensure that youve disabled automatic updates so that you dont accidentally end up with malware on your device. While youre at it, make sure to disable pop-ups and redirections, since malicious parties can spread malware through these tactics. Restrict background access, and general access, to your location through your IP Address, camera, and microphone, and only grant access at your discretion.

You can also enable Send a Do Not Track request to prevent websites from tracking you. This may not always work, but you can take additional measures by deleting cookies after each session, and by turning off third-party access to stored cookies.

This is how you can access privacy-related settings on your browser:

Make sure you practice discretion and consider your needs as you make these changes. Its always good to look further into specific privacy settings as you learn more about the advancements in digital security and well-being.

This is one of the easier changes to make: simply update the browser youve already got. Changing privacy settings can be daunting, and shifting over to a new browser can be too big a change to take on immediately. To start off, commit to not tapping not now for weeks on end, and follow the instructions below:

Although there arent any one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to privacy and security, one option that does come very close is a Virtual Private Network. A VPN goes beyond just browser security and protects your entire connection to ensure your privacy and safety.

Consider a premium VPN over a free one, since server costs run high and a free VPN is likely to have shoddy security policies and an unreliable, unsecured connection.

Astrill VPN is a premium VPN with a transparent no-logs policy, 256-bit military-grade encryption, and extra security features that are sure to exceed your needs and expectations.

If youre still feeling concerned about your security despite taking note of the measures above, dont worry! There are still a few more steps that you can take to make sure that youre covered on all fronts.

Browsing in private or incognito mode, by default, doesnt store any cookies, preferences, or browsing history. This ensures that any bits of identifiable information, especially sensitive data, cant be traced back to you. This also ensures that your connection is protected from ad-tracking. You can also ensure that your antivirus is active to stay ahead of any malicious downloads, and trackers, or to avoid browser fingerprinting.

Consider getting extensions to upgrade your browsing experience. Options like HTTPS Everywhere ensure a secure, encrypted connection with the websites you visit, Adblock Plus ensures that you have an ad (and ad-tracking) free browsing experience, and Blur works to hide your private, personal, and identifiable information from third parties.

You can get extensions for Chromium-based browsers from the Chrome Web Store. For Firefox, you can visit the Firefox Add-ons site, and you can also search your browser name and extensions to locate compatible add-ons for your needs and preferences.

Here are a few browser extensions that we would recommend you use:

Privacy Badger is a browser extension that helps protect your online anonymity by blocking tracking tools or scripts that are used to keep track of the sites you visit and create detailed profiles based on that information.

It operates invisibly in the background without requiring any action on your part, and it helps prevent one method by which businesses can monitor your online behavior.

The Tech Stack used in Privacy Badger enables it to deliver great performance. If you are a developer yourself then you might know how to choose a tech stack and what type of tech stacks are safe to use.

Ad blockers are add-ons for web browsers that disable annoying pop-up windows, annoying trackers, and harmful advertisements. (Youve likely seen this last form of an ad if youve ever had a pop-up that seems like a warning from your computer.)

By design, uBlock Origin blocks all advertisements, which can make some sites inaccessible or look weird. Furthermore, you may turn it off on any site you want to support so long as it isnt showing advertising that is excessively intrusive.

In spite of growing security threats, there are more browser users than ever before. Your browsers ability to protect your privacy and security is of the utmost importance. Beyond your browser itself, its important to consider extensions, antivirus applications, a VPN, and general good habits for staying secure online.

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Improving privacy when browsing web: Alternative browsers and chrome extensions - HackRead

The free Firefox-based Tor Browser Bundle integrates the Tor network's enhanced privacy and security. If you would have thought Onion Routing involved wooden crates and flatbed trucks or maybe a sandwich order, you might be surprised to hear it's actually an online security technology. Think of an onion's layers: in Onion Routing, layers of encryption make it impossible to trace messages back to their point of origin. Once a secret project of the U.S. Naval Research Lab, it's now the concern of the Tor Project, an open-source community devoted to developing Tor, the software implementation of second-generation Onion Routing technology, and to maintaining the Tor network.

It includes the Vidalia network connection utility, but it's much less fiddly than previous Tor implementations. Basically, the Tor Browser does it all for you. Both the Tor Browser and access to the Tor network are free.

We extracted and opened the Tor Browser, which includes the Vidalia Control Panel, a small dialog box for configuring and managing your connection to the Tor network. But the software did it all itself, connecting and opening the browser in a Tor start page. Though the browser uses a green globe icon, it's basically Firefox 10 with Tor-specific features added to the toolbar. The Tor Browser's extras include NoScript, which by default is set to Forbid Scripts Globally. The green onion icon is called the Torbutton; it's the key to Tor's features and settings. Its menu let us create a New Identity, open the Cookie Protections manager, and set the program's Preferences on three tabs: Proxy, Security, and Display settings. The Security Settings offers by far the most choices, with eight submenus of options.

In use, we found the Tor Browser to be just like other Firefox clones. We know what you're asking: did the Tor Browser slow down our surfing? Yes; there's no doubt that some familiar pages loaded more slowly than usual. Was it annoying? Hardly. Most users will see similar slowdowns on a daily basis. Bottom line: the Tor Browser Bundle makes it easy to take advantage of Tor's proven benefits.

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Tor Browser Bundle - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download

An internet user purporting to be affiliated with Anonymous said the Iranian assembly had been hacked.

Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto via Getty Images

Anonymous and other global hacking groups are engaged in a multipronged cyber assault on Iran, joining the fight with protesters on the ground in resistance to the country's strict hijab laws.

Thousands of amateur hackers have organized online to orchestrate cyberattacks on Iranian officials and institutions, as well as share tips on how to get around curbs on internet access by using privacy-enhancing tools.

Internet access in Iran has been extremely limited in recent weeks after protests erupted over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman.

Amini died in hospital in Tehran under suspicious circumstances on Sept. 16 after being detained by Iran's so-called "morality police" for allegedly violating the country's strict Islamic dress code by wearing her hijab too loosely.

Eyewitnesses say Amini was beaten by the police. Iranian authorities denied any wrongdoing and claim Amini died of a heart attack.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry did not reply to a CNBC request for comment. On Monday, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered his first public remarks on the protests, backing the police and blaming the unrest on "foreign interference" from the U.S. and Israel.

On Sept. 25, Anonymous, the international hacktivist collective, claimed to have broken into the database of the Iranian Parliament, obtaining the personal information of lawmakers.

A YouTube account purporting to be affiliated with the group said the Iranian assembly had been hacked.

"The Iranian parliament supports the dictator when it should support the people, so we are releasing the personal information of all of them," they said, their voice altered in a way typical of the cyber gang.

On the messaging app Telegram, Atlas Intelligence Group, another hacking group, says it leaked phone numbers and email addresses of Iranian officials and celebrities, a tactic known as "doxing."

It also offered to sell apparent location data on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of Iran's armed forces, according to Check Point, which has been documenting hacktivists' efforts in Iran.

Anonymous-affiliated groups say they also released data purported to have come from various government services, ministries and agencies as well as a university and claimed responsibility for hacks on the Iranian presidency, central bank and state media.

While it is difficult to verify the hackers' claims, cybersecurity experts said they have seen numerous signs of disruption to Iran from vigilante hackers.

"We have observed a few indications of government websites being taken offline by hackers," Liad Mizrachi, security expert at Check Point Research, told CNBC. "Predominantly we have seen this being done through Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks."

In a DDoS attack, hackers overload a website with large amounts of traffic to make it inaccessible.

"Mandiant can confirm that several of the services claimed to have been disrupted have been offline at various points in time, and in some cases, remain unavailable," Emiel Haeghebaert, threat intelligence analyst at the cybersecurity company, told CNBC.

"Overall, these DDoS and doxing operations may add to the pressure on the Iranian government to pursue policy changes," he said.

On Anonymous' involvement, Haeghebaert noted it was "consistent with activity" previously credited to affiliates of the organization. Earlier this year, Anonymous launched a slew of cyberattacks on Russian entities in response to Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Hacking groups are encouraging Iranian citizens to bypass Tehran's internet blockade by using VPNs (virtual private network), proxy servers and the dark web techniques that allow users to mask their online identity so they can't be tracked by internet service providers (ISPs).

On the messaging app Telegram, a group with 5,000 members shares details about open VPN servers to help citizens to bypass Tehran's internet blockade, according to cybersecurity firm Check Point, which has been documenting hacktivists' efforts in Iran.

A separate group, with 4,000 members, distributes links to educational resources on the use of proxy servers, which tunnel traffic through a constantly changing community of computers run by volunteers to make it difficult for regimes to restrict access.

As dissent grew in the Islamic republic, the government quickly moved to throttle internet connectivity and block access to social media services like WhatsApp and Instagram, in an apparent effort to stop footage of police brutality being shared online.

At least 154 people have been killed in the Iranian government's crackdowns as of Sunday, according to the independent and nongovernmental Iran Human Rights Group. The government has reported 41 deaths.

Web security firm Cloudflare and internet monitoring group NetBlocks have documented multiple examples of disruptions to telecommunications networks in Iran.

"It's been really hard to be in touch with friends and family outside Iran. The internet is messed up here so sometimes we can't communicate for days," one young professional in Tehran told CNBC via Instagram message, requesting anonymity due to fear for his safety.

"I have limited access to Instagram so I use that for the time being," to contact people, he said, adding that he and his friends rely on VPNs to access social media platforms.

It is believed to be one of the worst internet blackouts in Iran since November 2019, when the government restricted citizens' access to the web amid widespread protests over fuel price hikes.

"THEY ARE SHUTTING THE INTERNET TO HIDE THE KILLING. BE OUR VOICE," several videos and posts widely shared by Iranian activists on social media read, along with footage of street protests and police violence.

Digital freedom activists are also trying to teach Iranians how to access the Tor browser, which lets users connect to normal websites anonymously so that their ISPs can't tell what they're browsing. Tor is often used to access the "dark web," a hidden portion of the internet that can only be accessed using special software.

"It is not the first time we see actors involved in Iranian affairs," Amin Hasbini, director of global research and analysis at cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, told CNBC.

Lab Dookhtegan, an anti-Iran hacking group, has been known to leak data claimed to belong to Iranian cyber-espionage operations on Telegram, for example. A report from Check Point last year detailed how Iranian hacking groups were targeting dissidents with malware to conduct surveillance on them.

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Hacktivists seek to aid Iran protests with cyberattacks and tips on how to bypass internet censorship - CNBC

If you're looking to boost your online privacy, it's likely you've read that using one of the best VPN services is the best way to go about it. We would know at TechRadar we're always writing about VPNs, and recommend our favorite providers.

However, security firm INVISV is arguing that a VPN isn't the right tool from a privacy and security standpoint.

This is why it has developed its INVISV Relay (opens in new tab) software that, it claims, is a better option for protecting users' data.

But, how do multi-party relays (MPRs) work in practice? And, can it really fully replace your virtual private network?

"We're challenging something basic in that space: that to protect our privacy we need to hand over our data to some specific company (like a VPN provider) who will supposedly protect us," said INVISV co-founder Barath Raghavan.

According to Raghavan and his business partner Paul Schmitt, the issue lies on the software infrastructure that implies a degree of trust between users and software providers. The same concept also applies to companies behind the best antivirus software or secure email services, for example.

They also believe that independent VPN audits - a growing practice across the privacy sector - cannot fully address this security flaw either, as these still rely on a certain degree of trust from users. Whereas, according to INVISV, it's better to put the protections directly into the software architecture.

"There's so many of these kinds of third parties that they say 'trust us, send us your data and we will fix your security or privacy problem,'" Raghavan told TechRadar. "This is not really the right design for privacy."

Available only on Android devices, INVISV Relay is an MPR, designed on the principle that none of the parties involved can see in full any user-linkable data.However, INVISV Relay certainly isn't the first MPR around. Apple Private Relay is indeed a very similar tool available for iOS.

Both these apps are built on a privacy design formulated by US computer scientist David Chaum in the 1980s something known as the Decoupling Principle.

Here, the data traffic travels across two separate servers run by two distinct organizations. Theoretically, none of the party involved can see the full string of information, meaning that it won't be possible associate users' identity with their activities.

Tor browser, for example, is built on the same premise described as "onion routing". However, being a free software and generally using three layer of encryption as a default, Tor lacks the level of performance that most mobile users might require.

"What we have done has been creating something that has the right privacy principle but is fast," said Raghavan, promising that INVISV Relay can run as fast as your normal browsing connection.

For doing so, the service uses one of the best CDN networks around, Fastly (opens in new tab), as it implements the encryption protocol known as IETF Masque that combines TLS-encrypted HTTPS connections with reliable and fast performance. It's also open-source, meaning that anyone can check out the network for vulnerabilities.

Your data will leave your device passing through a TLS-encrypted tunnelto reach the first server run by INVISV. As the company explained to us, this server will be able to see just a stream of encrypted data traveling from your IP address to the next hop, the one operated by Fastly.

At this point, Fastly will decrypt your data in transit but it will be able to see this as coming from the INVISV server instead of a specific user. It will then route your information to your final destination.

So, MPRs appear to have the potential to better secure your online data without the worry that the companies involved might store or leak your sensitive information.

However, there are still a wide range of use cases where opting for a VPN is the better bet.

First of all, both INVISV Relay and Apple Private Relay are available for mobile devices only at the moment Android and iOS, respectively. This means that a VPN is still the best solution to browse the web anonymously on your laptop or PC while enjoying fast connection speeds.

Also, a key limitation of any MPRs is that they are not designed for those looking to change their IP address. So, if you want to bypass any kind of online restrictions be it your school or workspace firewall or your government's online censorship you still need a good VPN to do so.

One of the most popular VPN uses isn't even to do with security - it's about streaming. By connecting to various servers around the world, VPN users can spoof their virtual location and access streaming content that's unavailable or prohibitively expensive in their own region. Since MPRs don't affect your virtual location, this is off the table.

"What we're really trying to point out is that there's just a different way to protect privacy that people should be doing," explains Raghavan."We're trying to provide something that's practical for the average user, that will just improve their privacy without the need to rely on any promises from anybody."

So, for those simply looking to protect their browsing and decouple their identity from their browsing habits, an MPR is a good choice. However, if you're looking for any of the other benefits traditionally offered by VPNs, an MPR can't deliver.

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This security firm claims to have the right tool for your privacy, and it's not a VPN - TechRadar

Even without a user-friendly virtual private network, it's still easy to change your IP address. Whether you're a MacOS and iPhone user or a Windows 11 user with an Android device, any first-timer can safely change their IP address in a few quick steps. And -- as long as you're not using it to break other laws -- it's perfectly legal. Your computer and phone have several types of IP addresses (short for Internet Protocol, a unique series of numbers that identify your specific device with your online browsing), but we'll focus on the type normally changed to protect your privacy as you browse and those that make you appear like you're in a different country.

There are four simple ways to change your IP address in under five minutes. Jumping behind a proxy server or a VPN is the best way to not only temporarily change your IP address, but also protect your privacy. If you just want to change your IP address without the additional privacy boost, you can either enter your preferred IP manually, or you can just force your device to retrieve a new one automatically.

Keep in mind, changing your IP address will temporarily disrupt whatever internet-connected services or programs you're using on your device. There's no harm done, but it's going to have the same effect as if you'd momentarily lost your Wi-Fi. Your Spotify might hiccup. Media streaming services will have a momentary brain freeze. If you're sending or receiving files, you may need to start over. And you might have to log back in to whatever secure site you're currently using.

Here are the quickest and easiest ways to change your IP address.

You can use a VPN to change your IP address.

When you use any of the virtual private networks we've reviewed in our directory, the service will automatically make you appear as though you have a different IP address originating from whatever country you select. Literally just open your VPN app and connect to any city other than your current one -- in less than 30 seconds, you've changed your IP so it appears to be from wherever you chose.

Browser-based VPNs and proxies are much more lightweight than standalone VPN apps. There are some key privacy differences that I've detailed elsewhere, but when you use a proxy, it also changes your visible IP address. Chrome, Firefox and Brave Browser all have their own versions of proxies and browser-based VPNs that you can try for yourself.

Setting up a VPN on your iPhone or Android device is as easy as installing any other app on your phone, and I've got a step-by-step guide in case you'd like to see how to do it. If you're gaming from a console, I've also got a quick walkthrough for you on setting up a VPN on an Xbox along with a list of the ones that performed best in my tests.

If you've never toyed with VPNs but are considering one, I've got the Cliff's Notes version of how to pick the right one, which you might find helpful. Whatever you do, just avoid free VPNs. Seriously not worth the malware risk. Instead, pivot to the cheapest ones that I've test-driven for you.

Changing your IP address is as easy as unplugging your router.

The easiest and quickest way to get a new IP address is to see what your IP address is via an IP-checking site, then walk over to your router and unplug it for at least five minutes. It may take several minutes longer, depending on how long your ISP normally takes to renew IP addresses in general. Once you plug it back in, refresh the website to make sure your IP address has changed.

Essentially, what you're trying to do is make the IP-assigning part of your router "forget" your device so that it treats your device like a newcomer and gives it a new address. This isn't foolproof, however. Sometimes it takes multiple tries, and in some cases you may have to leave the router off overnight. If you have a router that's separate from your modem (most are a combination device these days) you may need to unplug the modem and router, leave them off for 5 minutes or so, then first power the modem on, followed by the router.

But getting off the couch is overrated.

Changing your IP address will better protect your browsing.

Here's how to do this on Mac, iOS, Windows and Android:

MacOS: Click your Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen, and click System Preferences then Network then Advanced. At the top of the next screen, click TCP/IP, then click the Renew DHCP Lease button on the right side of the window.

iOS: Go to Settings, tap Network and choose the wireless network you're currently on. Under the IPv4 address section, tap Configure IP then Automatic.

Windows 10: Press the Win+R keys at the same time. This opens the Run box dialog. Type cmd, then hit Enter on your keyboard. This opens the command prompt.

For those who've never seen a Windows command prompt before: This is the part where you will either be immediately terrified something is about to get broken, or you will suddenly feel like you're about to do something extremely cool. Do not panic; neither of those things is going to happen. The magic black box has that effect on everyone their first time.

Type ipconfig /release (including the space) into the command prompt and hit Enter. Some text will zoom by. When it stops, type ipconfig /renew and hit Enter again. Then close your command prompt. You're done.

Android: Go to Settings, tap Connections then tap Wi-Fi. From here, tap on the network you're currently connected to. Tap the gear-shaped icon to the right of the network. Your IP address will be displayed here, but go to the bottom of the screen and -- after making sure you've got your Wi-Fi password handy -- tap Forget (it's the trash icon in the bottom-right corner). Your phone will forget the Wi-Fi network and be disconnected. Just reconnect to your network, and you should be issued a new IP address.

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Here's what to do if you've already got a new IP address that you know you want to use.

MacOS: Go to System Preferences and click Network. Click Network Connection, then click Configure IPv4. Select Manually and type in whatever IP you've chosen.

iOS: Go to Settings, tap Wi-Fi, then Network. Under the IPv4 address section, tap Configure IP. Manually type in whatever IP address you're trying to use.

Windows: Make sure you're working from your Administrator account and click Start, then go to Control Panel. From here, click Network Connection, and then click on your local area connection. Next, click Properties, then click TCP/IP. From here, you can type your new IP address in manually.

Android: Go to Settings, tap Connections then tap Wi-Fi. From here, tap on the network you're currently connected to. Tap the gear-shaped icon to the right of the network. Your IP address will be displayed here, but go to the bottom of the screen and tap Advanced, then tap IP Settings. Select Static. The next screen will let you manually type in whatever IP address you've chosen.

For more, check out everything to know about the Tor browser, three browser-based VPNs to try, and the browser privacy settings you should change right away.

If you're tooling around with IP address changes, you might have some other questions. Here are some of the most common questions we've been asked.

Is it legal to change your IP address?

Yes, it's legal to change your IP address in the US. People change their IP addresses routinely when facing direct attacks on their online security, when testing a website before it goes live, or when they simply prefer to protect their privacy. Obviously, this FAQ is in no way offering legal advice and you should consult a licensed attorney for specific questions, but the legal boundaries on IP address changes usually start with what you change your IP to, and what you do with that new IP address.

If you've changed your IP to impersonate an individual or a business -- often called IP spoofing -- you could be running afoul of the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. You might also run into trouble if you're changing your IP address to access a website you've been banned from. IP spoofing is also a tool used by some cybercriminals to perform a handful of well-known attacks, most commonly those related to identity theft and those aimed at crippling websites with organized distributed denial of service bombardment.

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Why should I change my IP address?

Routinely changing your external, or public IP address, can help you improve your overall security and browsing privacy. There are other reasons, too.If you've just installed a new home router, you may need to reconfigure your network with a quick IP change. One common problem among home routers is that they sometimes give devices the wrong IP address, so changing your IP manually can solve those glitches.

If you want to access a country's catalog of streaming media services when you're outside of that country for whatever reason, changing your IP to one based in the right country can get you the catalog you're looking for. Likewise, if you're a gamer looking to lower your lag, changing your IP via a gaming proxy server can help improve performance. One neat tech trick for second-language learners is to use an IP address based in another country to generate search results and local publications written in the local language.

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A VPN Isn't the Only Way to Change Your IP Address - CNET

Interview The first rule of being a ransomware negotiator is that you don't admit you're a ransomware negotiator at least not to LockBit or another cybercrime gang.

Instead, these negotiators portray themselves as simply company representatives, said Drew Schmitt, a professional ransomware negotiator and principal threat analyst at cybersecurity firm GuidePoint Security.

"The biggest reason is because most ransomware groups specifically and explicitly say: 'We don't want to work with a negotiator. If you do bring a negotiator to the table, we're just going to post your stuff anyway,'" Schmitt told The Register.Hence the need to masquerade as a regular employee.

Ransomware is, of course, malware that once on a network scrambles all the valuable files it can find, and demands a payment to decrypt and restore the information. Lately, gangs also steal copies of the data prior to encrypting it so that they can leak or sell it if the demand isn't paid. Sometimes they just siphon the files and don't bother to encrypt them. Sometimes the crooks use the purloined files to harass or exploit a victim's customers or users. There's all manner of things extortionists can do and demand once they are on your computers and have your data.

Schmitt said he negotiates one or two ransoms a month, and victim organizations range from very small businesses to major enterprises, spanning all industries. Manufacturing, technology, construction, government, and healthcare were the hardest hit in the second quarter of this year, according to research done for his company's latest extortionware report.

I've also seen initial demands of $25 million ... they are all over the place

He said he once saw a ransom demand from a "less-sophisticated group" who wanted just $2,000."But I've also seen initial demands of $25 million," he added. "So they are all over the place."

Schmitt said he has, on two occasions, negotiated ransoms down to zero dollars. "Both in different kinds of healthcare, that when we went to the table and said, 'Hey, we're a healthcare organization. We're responsible for saving lives,' they basically said, 'We're sorry. We're going to give you a free decryptor.'"

Of course, these are the outliers, and some groups such as Hive specifically target the healthcare industry on the assumption that because lives and highly sensitive personal data are at stake, among other factors, hospitals are more likely to pay up to make the whole mess go away.

In fact, a report earlier this year from Sophos stated that 66 percent of surveyed healthcare organizations were hit by ransomware in 2021 up from 34 percent the year before, representing a 94 percent increase.

As ransomware and pure extortion become solid sources of income for miscreants, there's naturally been a rise in demand for things like cyber-insurance and ransomware negotiators, who act as intermediaries between the ransomware gang and the victim. Sometimes you may want to put someone between you and the crims, someone who can make the cryptocurrency payment happen, or haggle down the demand, or get the decryptor from the extortionists, and so on.

According to research published in March by Palo Alto Networks' incident response team, the average ransom demand in 2021, for attacks it was aware of, was $2.2 million, a 144 percent increase from the year prior. Meanwhile, the average payment last year jumped to $541,010, up 78 percent from 2020.

Schmitt started working in incident response (IR) and threat intelligence about six years ago, and said he "fell into" ransomware negotiations in 2019.

"It was a natural progression of working in incident response," he said. As ransomware infections became more prevalent, Schmitt started moving up the IR ladder and playing various roles in the investigation and response process. "And one of those ended up being a negotiation with a threat actor."

Back in the day, circa 2019, these negotiations happened via email. But since then, ransomware gangs have matured and evolved business operations to include instant messaging with victims to figure out deals, affiliates to help spread the malware, and employees with non-technical remits, as the larger, above-ground world learned through the Conti leaks earlier this year.

These days, most crime groups have their own websites through which they operate, and some have PR and marketing departments as well as in-house help desks.

Rather than faff about with email, "now it's usually just a URL" directing a victim to the extortionists' Tor-hidden website, and communication between victim and crook happens in a chat box displayed within the Tor browser, Schmitt said. This is the point at which Schmitt usually gets called in to help with the incident response and, sometimes, ransomware negotiations.

The negotiation process itself involves bringing all the key business units to the table: C-suite executives, cybersecurity analysts, lawyers, HR, and PR representatives.

"All the critical teams that are going to be involved in the administrative response in addition to the technical response," Schmitt said. "All of those players are going to be involved to determine what the negotiation strategy looks like."

The first question they need to answer, however, is whether to negotiate with the criminals at all.

US federal agencies say organizations should not pay ransom demands [PDF], and some private security firms even suggest this exposes businesses to subsequent ransomware attacks. Regardless, it's not a simple question to answer, and the decision to negotiate or not is two-pronged, we're told.

How is this going to impact our brand if we're exposed on a ransomware leak site?

"One is looking at it from a purely technical perspective," Schmitt said. This includes determining if the company has the capacity to restore from backups data scrambled by the ransomware, decrypt the files with a free tool, or otherwise bring the IT environment back online without paying a ransom.

"And then the other side is legally based," he said. "This is where you start answering questions about: how is this going to impact our brand if we're exposed on a ransomware leak site? How is this going to potentially impact compliance if we have certain types of data exposed on a ransomware leak site? What are the risks associated with this, and what are our options?"

One thought that Schmitt said doesn't usually come up in the discussion unless the criminal gang has been sanctioned by the US Treasury or a similar body, in which case it's illegal to pay a ransom to them is the ethics of paying a ransom that, in turn, finances additional illicit activities and potentially oppressive regimes that back or orchestrate ransomware campaigns.

"If I'm being totally honest, there's just not a lot of discussion of kind of where the funds go after the fact," he admitted.

LockBit remains the most prolific gang over the past two years, Schmitt said, adding that Conti also kept his fellow negotiators busy before that group disbanded to form other gangs.

And each of these crime orgs have their own quirks, histories, and methods, which can be useful to know and exploit during the negotiation process.

"We keep detailed notes of all the interactions that we have from various threat groups, and then we use that to our advantage this technique might work better than that technique, or this group is known to negotiate, or you can't push that group very long before they'll get bored and move on," Schmitt said. "They all have traits that we use to make sure we're not pushing the wrong buttons and giving us the highest chance of success, for lowering the ransom as much as possible."

However, the criminals have typically done their homework, too. For example: researching a victim organization's cyber insurance policy.

"Fairly often, we'll see this as a negotiation tactic," Schmitt said. "'We've found your insurance policy, we know you have coverage in the amount of $10 million, so this is where we start.'"

Paying the initial demand doesn't happen very often. There's always some bargaining and quibbling. Corporations also have to factor in recovery costs and other expenses related to the security breach when figuring out what kind of budget they have to tackle the problem, he said.

"But this is where we start," Schmitt commented, referring to the initial demands. "And really from there, it is the traditional back and forth negotiation process that you would see in many other business applications or trying to buy a car."

If, that is, you're locked in a room with the car salesperson for days on end while they threaten to leak your private information on a website for all to see, and when they may decide to raise the asking price if you take too long to reach a deal.

Schmitt admitted it's a high-anxiety job. "The stakes are really high," he said. "With incident response in general, and especially ransomware, it's really high stress.

"For more of the clients you're working with, it's the worst point in their career and it might be the worst point they're ever going to have, and you're thrust into that situation of trying to help them get out of the worst time of their career."

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Hi, I'll be your ransomware negotiator today but don't tell the crooks that - The Register

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The U.S. Department of States Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on foreign interference in U.S. elections. The reward offer seeks information leading to the identification or location of any foreign person, including a foreign entity, who knowingly engaged or is engaging in interference in U.S. elections, as well as information leading to the prevention, frustration, or favorable resolution of an act of foreign election interference. This announcement from RFJ is part of United States Governments wider efforts to ensure the security and integrity of our elections and protect against foreign interference in our elections.

The Department seeks information on Internet Research Agency LLC (IRA), Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, and linked Russian entities and associates for their engagement in U.S. election interference.

IRA is a Russian entity engaged in political and electoral interference operations. Beginning as early as 2014, IRA began operations to interfere with the U.S. political system, including the 2016 U.S. presidential election, with a strategic goal to sow discord. IRA operated through several Russian entities, including Internet Research LLC, MediaSintez LLC, GlavSet LLC, MixInfo LLC, Azimut LLC, and NovInfo LLC.

Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin is a Russian national who provided funding to IRA through the companies he controlled, Concord Management and Consulting LLC and Concord Catering (collectively Concord). Concord sent funds, recommended personnel, and oversaw IRAs activities through reporting and interaction with IRAs management.

Mikhail Ivanovich Bystrov, Mikhail Leonidovich Burchik, Aleksandra Yuryevna Krylova, Anna Vladislavovna Bogacheva, Sergey Pavlovich Polozov, Maria Anatolyevna Bovda, Robert Sergeyevich Bovda, Dzheykhun Nasimi Ogly Aslanov, Vadim Vladimirovich Podkopaev, Gleb Igorevich Vasilchenko, Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina, and Vladimir Venkov worked in various capacities to carry out IRAs interference operations targeting the United States. They knowingly and intentionally conspired to defraud the United States by impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful functions of the government through fraud and deceit for the purpose of interfering with the U.S. political and electoral processes, including the presidential election of 2016.

For more information, visitwww.rewardsforjustice.net. We encourage anyone with information on IRA, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, and associated Russian entities and/or individuals linked to interference in U.S. elections to contact the Rewards for Justice office via our Tor-based tips-reporting channel at: he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion (Tor browser required).

Rewards for Justice is a premier national security program administered by the Diplomatic Security Service at the U.S. Department of State. Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid out in excess of $250 million to more than 125 people across the globe who provided actionable information that had helped resolve threats to U.S. national security. Follow us on Twitter athttps://twitter.com/RFJ_USA.

Link:
Rewards for Justice Reward Offer for Information on Russian Interference in U.S. Elections - United States Department of State - Department of State

For years, the anonymity service Tor has been the best way to stay private online and dodge web censorship. Much to the ire of governments and law enforcement agencies, Tor encrypts your web traffic and sends it through a chain of computers, making it very hard for people to track you online. Authoritarian governments see it as a particular threat to their longevity, and in recent months, Russia has stepped up its long-term ambition to block Toralthough not without a fight.

In December 2021, Russias media regulator, Roskomnadzor, enacted a 4-year-old court order that allows it to order internet service providers (ISPs) to block the Tor Project website, where the Tor Browser can be downloaded, and restrict access to its services. Since then, censors have been locked in a battle with Tors technical team and users in Russia, who are pushing to keep the Tor network online and allow people to access the uncensored web, which is otherwise heavily restricted in the country.

Russias efforts to block Tor come in two flavors: the technical and the political. So far, Tor has had some success on both fronts. It has found ways to avoid Russian blocking efforts, and this month, it was removed from Russias list of blocked websites following a legal challenge. (Although this doesnt mean blocking efforts will instantly end.)

We are being attacked by the Russian government, they are trying to block Tor, says Gustavo Gus, community team lead of the Tor Project. The past few months have seen Russian officials adapt their tactics, Gus says, while the Tor Projects anti-censorship engineers have successfully launched updates to stop its services from being blocked. The fight is not over, Gus says. People can connect to Tor. People can easily bypass censorship.

In Russia, the internet infrastructure is relatively decentralized: ISPs can receive blocking orders from Roskomnadzor, but its up to individual companies to implement them. (China is the only country to have effectively blocked Tor, which was possible due to more centralized internet control). While Russian authorities have been installing new equipment that uses deep packet inspection to monitor and block online services, the effectiveness of these blocks is mixed.

The censorship thats happening in Russia is not constant and uniform, Gus says. Gus explains that because of different ISPs, Tor may be blocked for some people but not others, even those in the same city. Both Tors metrics and external analysis appear to show the dwindling effectiveness of Russian censorship.

Tors data shows that since the end of 2021 there has been a big drop in the number of people directly connecting to Tor in Russia. However, people are able to connect to its services using volunteer-run bridgesentry points to the network that cant easily be blocked, as their details arent publicand Tors anti-censorship tool Snowflake. External data from the internet monitoring group Open Observatory of Network Interference shows a big rise in people in Russia accessing Tor using Snowflake.

More here:
How Tor Is Fightingand BeatingRussian Censorship - WIRED

Incognito mode is a setting for your web browser which doesnt keep a record of the web pages you visit. But that doesnt make it 100% private. Heres everything you need to know.

The majority of web browsers (which you use to access the internet) keep a record of the websites and pages you visit by default. By storing your history you can easily find and revisit content later on.

Most browsers have an option to temporarily suspend this record keeping, meaning the web pages you visit will be kept private at least to anyone else using that same browser.

Every browser has a different name for the setting. In Chrome its Incognito Mode, in Microsoft Edge its InPrivate Mode, in Safari its Private Browsing and in Firefox its Private mode.

They could be useful if you were planning a surprise for someone you share use of a computer or tablet with, for example.

Click or tap the button in your browser youd usually use to open a new tab (typically three vertical dots or lines in the top right-hand corner) and select open new private/incognito tab. Everything you do in that new tab(s) will go unrecorded by your browser.

No, private browsing modes dont save your browsing history, cached pages or cookies, so theres nothing to delete.

If you dont use a private browsing mode, deleting your history, cache and cookies has a similar effect to browsing privately, in that nobody else who uses your device will be able to see what youve been doing.

From anyone else using your device, yes but not from the wider world.

The browser wont keep a record of your activity, but this doesnt mean a record of the pages you visit wont exist. For example, if you visited BBC News using private browsing, its analytics would record your (relatively anonymised) on-site activity, even though your device wouldnt.

Any website you have an account with and sign in to Instagram, for example would keep records of where and when you accessed your account too.

Similarly, most search engines you use could keep records of the searches you make, unless you tell them not to. And If youre using a school or work network, the IT department can probably see records of your activity.

Finally, but fundamentally, your broadband provider will also likely keep records of what you do online. And if you were accused of pirating movies online, for example, a movie studio or distributor could take legal action to get your browser history from your broadband provider in order to seek damages from you.

Yes, but not by using a browsers incognito or private mode.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) conceal your IP address the unique identifier your computer, phone or tablet is assigned on the internet so that websites you visit dont know who or where you really are. They also encrypt the data you send and receive over the internet, making it unintelligible to anyone without a decryption key.

Any VPN worth its salt will also have a no-log policy that means even it wont keep a record of what you do online and so cant be compelled to hand it over to anyone. If you want to go even further, a VPN can protect you against state surveillance and international surveillance alliances such as Five Eyes.

Another way to browse the web privately and anonymously is the Tor Browser. The software blocks trackers, encrypts traffic, defends against surveillance and makes it harder for users to be identified via fingerprinting (a profile of you based on your browser and device information).

While VPNs have become a big, mainstream method for protecting your privacy online, the Tor Browser has long been associated with accessing the dark web and the cyber crime found there. The Tor Browser, while unlike the best VPN services is free of charge, is arguably more risky and less secure.

Read the original here:
What Is Incognito Mode And Should You Be Using It? - Forbes

Without any VPN configuration, the app failed to block 90% of trackers with a test I conducted. With a separate VPN configuration other than the built-in browser one, the app failed to block 40% of trackers, which means the inherent tracking blocking capabilities of this browser were lacking. My control, Firefox and Brave, blocked 100% of tracking requests with my personal VPN. How can this be possible? Finally, with the built-in app VPN it blocked 100% of trackers as expected, with the exception being its own ads which require a premium to remove. A completely unethical move.

Also, why is the Google homepage set as the default start page and search engine in this browser?? Is privacy really in mind here?

Off topic: I am looking alternatives to Brave because I want to move away from a chromium based browser. Firefox focus doesnt feel as private as Brave. Thought this Tor browser would be the answer, but nope its a premium focused service.

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TOR Browser - Onion VPN on the App Store