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Maybe we should all start running a script that browses random websites at random times. Seems to me that would go a long ways towards making the data collected
by jsz0 10y ago
Maybe we should all start running a script that browses random websites at random times. Seems to me that would go a long ways towards making the data collected about as valuable as a magic 8 ball. It would be even better if such a script could actually look at my real browsing history and try to generate the most confusing anti-traffic. If I search for cats it searches for dogs and birds. If I check the weather for zip code X it checks it for zip code Y and Z.
- tlb 10y agoYou'll then be part of a highly sought-after demographic to receive ads for privacy-related products and services.
- closeparen 10y agoSeriously. Active privacy countermeasures give away that you're technology professional who subscribes to a particular ethos, with all the demographic and commercial markers that statistically entails (white, male, young, high income, influences how software is written and deployed, etc) which is what you were trying to hide in the first place. We need them by default in a way that says nothing about the real user.
- ransom1538 10y agoSimilarly, why not have an open wifi guest network? My neighbors can use it, my friends can use it, my mail man could use it. Having a secure connection just proves YOU are the one responsible for the browsing at hand. I agree, adding random browsing completely screws the game for people that snoop.
- johncolanduoni 10y agoIf people use it for illegal things, your ISP can solve the problem by denying you service even if you're not held legally responsible.
- avs733 10y agoHave done this for years. As long as the traffic on your network is secure(ish) I see no problem having an open network as another tool towards obfuscation. other note...it also makes me feel like I contribute to taking money out of the pockets of the greedy US cell carriers but that is probably just an ego trip
- deevolution 10y agoIf everyone engaged in this form of counterveillance, though, wouldn't it backfire by bogging down the network with superfluous traffic?
- ajmurmann 10y agoMight that motivate the ISP to remove the incentive to take the privacy measures?
- deevolution 10y agoOr the ISP will simply adapt by developing ways of sorting through the noise because there's money to be made.
- kobeya 10y agoRun a Tor exit node.
- chrisper 10y agoIsn't that dangerous? I'd be afraid of random showing ups of FBI at my door.
- hvidgaard 10y agoUnless running a TOR exit node is deemed illegal, you have an almost air tight argument if they show up at your door. They cannot prove you did it beyond reasonable doubt unless they find actual evidence on your machines.
- semicolon_storm 10y agoThey might not be able to convict you, but that won't stop them from breaking down your door and bringing you to jail from terrorism/hacking/child pornography while you get your name associated with it in the local news.
- johncolanduoni 10y agoIs it sufficient to give them cause to get a warrant and go over your machine (and possibly house) with a fine tooth comb? Because that could get old really fast.
- kobeya 10y agoWhile true, the reality is that they will seize your home computer equipment as evidence, and you'll have to fight tooth and nail to see it again. Tor exit node operators are heroes in my book.
- chrisper 10y agoBut that means there is somewhat a risk of them even showing up and taking all my stuff. I'll rather take ads over that for sure.
- 10y ago
- johncolanduoni 10y agoThe effectiveness also depends what they're trying to gather. If they're just looking for statistical data (e.g. to sell, which is something I suspect ISPs are very interested in), the random browsing can be made to cancel out in a large enough dataset. If it's your government focusing on you in particular, they're probably more interested in forensics/malware on your clients so they can see HTTPS stuff too.