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After class last thursday we discussed some very simple steps you can take to resist (corporate) surveillance while browsing the web. Below is a writeup of prof. Moglen's suggestions.
Step 1. Install Firefox
Firefox is a Free and Open Source web browser available for most operating systems (including Android).
Step 2. Set it up
Start Firefox and go to Edit -> Preferences and look critically at the settings to restrict what you store and what you share.
Step 3. Install an Adblock plugin
Adblock Edge and Adblock Plus block ads. Not only does this make the web load faster and look better, it prevents your browser from informing advertising companies about you and your browsing behaviour.
Note that you only need one of the two. The only difference is that by default Adblock Plus does not block what they call "non-intrusive ads," and Adblock Edge blocks everything.
Step 4. Install NoScript
When you visit a website your browser downloads and executes all the code that the website tells it to download and execute. It connects to content delivery networks to retrieve pictures and some code to make the website look nice, it connects to advertising companies to retrieve ads, it connects to market research companies to get some trackers, it connects to social media websites to get the like/tweet/plus/pin/etc buttons, and so on and so forth. In the process your browser informs these companies about you and your browsing behaviour.
NoScript prevents your browser from retrieving and executing code from untrusted sources. Note that this will interfere with your browsing experience for a while because you will have to authorize each website you trust.
For more ways to resist surveillance visit I recommend PRISM Break.
-- BastiaanSuurmond - 12 Oct 2014
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