For those unsure about what Vidalia is, it is a bundled software package that (if installed correctly) routes all your browser communications through the Tor (the onion router) network in order to protect your digital identity (most notably your IP address among some other things that can reveal a whole lot of personal information about YOU). I’m sure anybody reading this post already knows about Tor so I won’t waste your time explaining what it is. You can read more about it here if it’s something you need to get more familiar with (which I highly recommend if you are serious about protecting your privacy).
OK - now to the subject at hand. For who knows how long, I’ve been using the Vidalia bundle for anonymous browsing and like everyone else (with my technically-challenged background), I’ve always been worried about whether or not it really works. Security experts say that while nothing is “unhackable,” some systems are harder to hack than others. My guess is the hardest systems to hack are those built/secured by the world’s most elite hackers. Makes sense, no? So, who are the world’s most elite hackers? Honestly, I have no idea and I’d guess there are not many people who do. In terms of the more transparent hacker groups (and by transparent I mean more widely known by the public), one of the first that comes to mind is Hacktivismo, “an international group of hackers, human rights workers, lawyers and artists that evolved out of THE CULT OF THE DEAD COW (cDc).” Enough said.
Arrakis/Steve Topletz, a member of Hacktivismo, is the co-creator of Torpark which was picked up by XeroBank, a company that, “specializes in turn-key solutions for internet privacy.” XeroBank currently offers two free products (with optional premium upgrades mostly for increased speed): xB Browser and xB Machine. For webmasters who are new to protecting their privacy online, xB Browser is a great solution. Essentially, it is a pre-configured standalone version of Firefox that does not require you to disable your plugins or make other (advanced) modifications to your browser to prevent privacy leakage. In other words, you can simply install it and start browsing immediately with the satisfaction of knowing everything is working the way it’s supposed to be. If you’re unsure about it (yes, as with ALL privacy software/services, there is debate over XeroBanks methodology and effectiveness), here’s an interview with Steve Topletz that addresses some of the technical details of the software and how it protects your privacy. If you’re still unsure, drop by the Wilder Security forums where Steve will answer your questions directly.
In terms of privacy with other forms of Internet communication (email, instant messenger, etc), a webmaster who is new to it all should look into the xB Machine which is a pre-configured operating system that runs on top of your existing OS (using VMware or QEMU) or as your primary OS - you can even boot it from a flash drive if you’re on the road a lot :). It’s not as easy to setup but it’s well worth the effort if you want to privatize all of your Internet communications.
I’ve not yet signed up for XeroBank’s premium services but if I do, I’ll be back to tell you how it goes.
