Anonymity on the Internet

Jess Wilson

Anonymizing Proxy

• What is a proxy?– An intermediary between you and the internet

• How does it make you anonymous?• Types– Open– Access– Hostile or Intercepting

Benefits

• Server cache

• Resource/Load balancing

• Scan inbound/outbound content

• Content Filters

Open proxy

• Open to any internet user ex:Zend2.com• Attempts to anonymize surfing• Still the server needs admin’s• Limits accessibility to sites• False sense of security

Access Proxy

• Requires a login• Limits ability of abuse• Trust needed with the Admin’s

Hostile or Intercepting Proxy

• The user can “eavesdrop” the dataflow• Caches all data• SSL helps prevent this

Intercepting Proxy• Forces the user to use the proxy• Acceptable use policies

TOR

• TOR is a free software used to mitigate against traffic analysis using “onion routing”

• Originally sponsored by the U.S. Navy• Bounces you off of a network of volunteers

world wide - “virtual tunnels”• Prevents identity between you and the sites

your accessing• Does Not encrypt your data

TOR and Governments• Used by departments of the military

intelligence community

• China and Iran have restrictions on internet usage – TOR allows freedoms for citizens

• The U.S. government can monitor both ends of a TOR transmission, just nothing in between.

• elgooG is a tunneling proxy used by chinese citizens that is target specific.

• TOR helps them access wordpress and wikipedia

• Scroogle allows users to search both yahoo and google without giving up their IP

Government Censorship

Right or Wrong?

• Helps protect freedom of speech• Freedom of communication• Allows the convenience and efficiency of the

internet without compromise• Double-edged blade– Can be abused– Can protect the abusers– Is Not 100% fail-safe

SourcesProxy Servers:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server#Intercepting_proxy_server

Governments and Internet Censorship:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship

Online Privacy Controversy:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/124891/outsmarting_the_online_privacy_snoops.html

TOR’s Official Site:

http://www.torproject.org/overview.html.en#overview

Zend2 Homepage – The Freedom of Speech:

http://zend2.com

Iranian Protestors and Censorship:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/26/protesters-use-navy-technology-to-avoid-censorship/

Privacy and Scroogle

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13739_3-9909637-46.html