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Web-based Anonymizer Discontinued

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the end-of-the-road dept.

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."

6 of 159 comments (clear)

  1. Child Pornography and Terrorism by Eightyford · · Score: -1, Troll

    I'm sure pedophiles and "Freedom Fighters" use anonymous internet applications like this one. So I guess there is some good news here.

    --
    Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
    1. Re:Child Pornography and Terrorism by Eightyford · · Score: -1, Troll

      Pedophiles use the internet. You'd better get off the net, quick. You don't want to be associated with pedos, do you?
      No. Do you? I'm not saying the web shouldn't be anonymous. I'm just saying this news isn't all bad because it makes it harder for sickos to do what sickos do.
      --
      Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
    2. Re:Child Pornography and Terrorism by Eightyford · · Score: 0, Troll

      And your OS should have no firewall and share the root directory to the world by default. After all, it's not like you're hiding kiddie porn on your hard drive, eh?


      The law needs to be able to keep track of people that use the internet to harm others. The law (like religion and social taboos to a lesser extent) is necessary to protect regular people from the people that lack empathy. IMHO.
      --
      Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
  2. You FAIL it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    haple3s *BSD

  3. Re:I've been anonymized by fat_mike · · Score: 0, Troll

    You are full of shit and trying to get internet high-fives. I've been a subscriber and have never had it crash. Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2000 and XP inside a VM in Windows Vista and also in Linux. You didn't lose any money, you lost your anonymous porn surfing and most importantly, you're pissed you can't be an internet tough guy anymore.

    Oh my God, a company discontinued a service that they weren't making money on...the world is coming to an end!!!! Wait, didn't RedHat do this?

  4. Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    "To effectively deliver a web-based service, one must either disable all active content (which will break most major websites these days)"

    Huh?

    I rarely enable active content, and I rarely encounter web pages which require it.

    Sure, if you're going to be using a few of the majors like YouTube or GoogleEarth, okay. But for the most part, the Internet experience is just fine without enabling insecurities like java scripting, Active X, and whatever.