Interesting People mailing list archives
IP: Heads up, guys!
From: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 17:08:29 -0400
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 16:16:41 -0500 From: gep2 () terabites com Subject: Re: Heads up, guys! To: farber () cis upenn edu X-Mailer: SPRY Mail Version: 04.00.06.17 A friend of mine that I forwarded this warning sent me the below reply. Since I think it's worthwhile, I'm forwarding it around too. <---- Begin Forwarded Message ----> A helpful addendum to your message would be a list of resources for protecting one's privacy. Here are a few that I use: 1. JunkBuster ---------- A free Internet proxy that allows a user to block specific domains & URLs. The block list mechanism is particularly flexible, and allows wildcards. You may, for example, block the following: doubleclick.com // a specific domain ads.*.com // any 'ads' domain /ads // anything coming from an 'ads' directory JunkBuster also can block cookies. Go to http://www.junkbusters.com/ for more information. JunkBuster's source code is available. Junk- Buster works on most systems. 2. McAfee VirusScan ---------------- This has a configurable Internet filter that allows the blocking of specific IP addresses and URLs. The block list does not allow wildcards, and has the annoying habit of popping up a confirmation dialog box the first time it encounters a blocked URL. On the plus side, it also allows for filtering of ActiveX and Java classes. VirusScan is not free, but it is inexpensive. Look around and you can probably find it for less than $20. It is also PC specific. 3. A clever trick that doesn't require *any* software. --------------------------------------------------- The Web page http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~atman/spam/adblock.shtml details a way to block specific URLs without software. In essence, you map offending IP addresses to your own machine. HTTP requests to offending addresses are sent back to your machine, where they fail. Works on almost any machine (PC, Mac, Unix, Linux, etc). I use all of these. A nice side effect of blocking approximately forty specific sites (DoubleClick, LinkExchange, Preferences.com, etc) is that I very rarely see banner ads. My JunkBuster blockfile can be found at http://www.rdrop.com/~half/Creations/Writings/Raves/sblock.ini Note that a well-maintained block list will also cut down on privacy-destroying Web bugs, which is a problem that is growing very quickly. Robert Smith's site has information on this problem. http://www.tiac.net/users/smiths/ Feel free to redistribute this to anyone you think it might help. Email: http://www.rdrop.com/~half/Personal/Life/ContactInformation.html PGP: http://www.rdrop.com/~half/Personal/Life/PublicKey.txt Web: http://www.rdrop.com/~half/ <---- End Forwarded Message ----> Gordon Peterson http://personal.terabites.com/ Support the Anti-SPAM Amendment! Join at http://www.cauce.org/ 12/19/98: the day the Conservatives demonstrated their scorn for their fraudulent sham of representative government. Voters, remember it!
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- IP: Heads up, guys! Dave Farber (Jul 16)