Software to protect privacy on the net?

[TheBigCheese]

Hi guys

I've searched the forums and the only info I can find is from 2006 so hopefully it's OK asking again.

I bought a computer mag the other day, PC Pro I think and bundled on the disc was a full program to allow you to be anonymous on the net, whether it changes your IP or what I have no idea but I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Typically I can't find the disc now and the mag is at the office until Monday...can anyone give me any recommendations for software to keep your browsing hidden /mask your IP etc?

It doesn't matter about on the local machine, just to stop websites/companies harvesting details etc.


Many thanks

P.S. Mods - I'm sure this is a legitimate thread and can't violate any rules/legalities...after all the sofware was on the front of a national magazine lol. However if it does violate any ToS, please free to delete the thread and whoops, sorry!

 

[TheBigCheese]

Oooh cracking thanks, sounds good

As it clearly states on the website it's not an all in one solution though, is there a program that does it all for you, rather than having to be intergrated with IE and Firefox?

 

[TheBigCheese]

Many thanks for the post guys

I have installed Vidalia and Torbutton as suggested, and using Firefox it does seem to work, apparently I'm in Spain now lol.

A couple of things I am confused about though...

I have two new icons in my system tray, connection to the Tor network and Privoxy, which suggest that the program is working outside Firefox...but when I connect to whatismyip by IE, it still shows my real one which is a bit confusing (I use a combination of IE and Firefox so ideally it would work on both of them).

Also, does that mean it only protects the info that is sent via Firefox (and IE if I can get it to work).

What about p2p? I am currently seeding the new version of Open Office, would that still be giving out my real info as it's not contained in Firefox but is going by UTorrent instead?