SOFTWARE SPECIAL.......8 privacy tools to stay secure

8 privacy tools to stay secure





Here is free software that will keep your online activity and personal data secure

You don't need to be Edward Snowden to wa nt privacy protection . You might not like your entire life mined by advertisers, you might be planning to sell a hard drive and want to wipe its contents, or you might want to keep your personal information secure when using a public WiFi hotspot.

The privacy software here covers everything from secure web browsing to secure file erasing.Take a look:

1. Tor Browser

The Tor network (short for The Onion Router, which describes its multi-layered privacy technology) was designed to enable anonymous internet browsing. The Firefoxbased Tor Browser is by far the quickest and simplest way to start using it.

You browse the web as normal, and the browser uses thousands of relays to disguise where your data's coming from. It's also handy for accessing geoblocked sites that block IP addresses from specific countries.

2. CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN is a virtual private network app that re-routes your internet traffic to hide your location and identity. The privacy software has six elements: anonymous browsing, unblocking streaming sites, protecting your internet connection, torrenting anonymously, unblocking websites and choosing which VPN server to use, but the free version is ad-supported and runs much more slowly than the paidfor premium service.

3. Ghostery

You may not realise it, but your surfing habits are probably being tracked by dozens of websites keen to sell you their products. That's where Ghostery comes in. It's available for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Android and iOS. You can simply install the privacy software and let it get on with its job. Ghostery also tells you exactly what each company is looking at and likely to do with your data, so if you'd rather not share every click with marketers, it's a must-have.

4. KeyScrambler Personal

KeyScrambler Personal is a tiny app (under 1.5MB) designed to do just one thing: encrypt every letter you type into your web browser to prevent it being intercepted by keylogging software. I f you worry about keylogging or suspect that you're being logged whenever you type, this free privacy software is a good way to frustrate the watchmen.

5. AntiSpy for Windows 10

Windows 10 is the most personal version of Windows yet, but Microsoft's efforts to get to know you better have alarmed many privacy activists. AntiSpy for Windows 10 lets you disable advertising IDs, SmartScreen filtering, whether apps can access your camera and so on.

6. GnuPG

Gnu PG is short for GNU Privacy Guard, and it's the open source version of the venerable PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) tool for encrypting files and emails.It enables you to encrypt and digitally sign data and documents with technology that's effectively unbreakable. If you're sharing data that simply can't fall into the wrong hands, GnuPG is an important tool.

7. Tails

The free privacy software bundle is based on Debian GN U Linux and includes a browser, instant messaging, email and office apps, all of which have been configured specifically to protect your privacy. As the Tails website puts it, you can use it anywhere and leave no trace. Snowden says it's great.

8. Wise Folder Hider

Designed for Windows XP onwards, free privacy software Wise Folder Hider does what the name suggests: it hides things on your PC. If all you need is a way to hide work files from the kids, or the novel you're working on from the boss, then it's a good little app, although if you're truly paranoid you'll want to invest in the Pro version to scramble the files as well as hiding them.

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