Web-based Anonymizer Discontinued

RobertB-DC writes "With no fanfare, and apparently no outcry from the privacy community, Anonymizer Inc. discontinued its web-based Private Surfing service effective June 20, 2007. No reason was given, either on the Anonymizer web site or on founder Lance Cottrell's privacy blog. Private Surfing customers are now required to download a anonymizing client that handles all TCP traffic, but the program is Windows-only (with Vista support still a work-in-progress). And of course it's closed-source, which means it has few advantages over several other alternatives."

Comments

never was the best solution

[delirium of disorder]

Anyone relying on a one hop proxy to be anonymous is fooling themselves. You need an anonymity network that doesn't rely on trusting any host and that cannot be blocked without finding out who every host is. What if everyone who used anonymity services also provided such service? Think of how much better the whole system would work if it were p2p! Please install your tor server today.

Re:Child Pornography and Terrorism

[Great_Geek]

You are exactly right! All those privacy nuts just don't understand that only terrorists and pedophiles hide behind anonymous comunications. In the name of "War on horror-de-jour", we must immediately ban all forms of anonyumous communication:

• before you can mail a letter, your identity must be authenticated by biometrics and the complete content of the letter entered into "The System" for later analysis

• all telephone calls will also require biometric authentication

• all walkie-talkies will have individual serial numbers, and the serial number must be transmitted every second. Since this is serious security, the serial number and the transmission hardware must be tamper-prove - expensive, but no amount of money is too much where security is concerned

• Since terrorists can use strings to connect tin cans to make communication devices, possession of any can means life imprisionment at Gitmo.

• Historically, many annonymous notes have been written on paper. We must institute a new system where paper is only available to authorised government agents; illegial possession of paper is also grounds for shippment to Gitmo.

Re:Really stupid question here...

[mikelieman]

YOU JUST WANT TO BE ANONYMOUS.

The flaw is that you're assuming that a desire to be anonymous means you have a REASON to be anonymous.

Re:no loss

[bcat24]

Freedom of speech only goes so far. You can say whatever you want on your own server, but I have no obligation to allow you to say it on *my* server.