Ask Slashdot: How Do I Reduce Information Leakage From My Personal Devices?

Simple by NEDHead · 2016-02-01 06:13 · Score: 4, Informative

Never use an internet connected device

Re:Simple by ArmoredDragon · 2016-02-01 06:43 · Score: 1

It's rather shocking that APK wasn't the first to post in this discussion.
Re:Simple by ihtoit · 2016-02-01 06:44 · Score: 2

I think it was APK who did the submission.

--
Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
Re:Simple by radarskiy · 2016-02-01 06:59 · Score: 1

Never have information.
Re:Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:01 · Score: 5, Interesting

Yesterday, I was waiting while sitting in an airplane. I hadn't put my iPhone yet in "airplane" mode. The cell reception was next to non-existent. I turn on the music player and it gets stuck on the startup screen. Nothing I can do. I turn on airplane more, then it works immediately. It's not the first time I noticed this happen. Even just trying to listen to your own tunes Apple still makes your devices connect "home", regardless of how you disable any limited settings that may have an effect on this. Therefore,
> Never use an internet connected device
is accurate.
That's just an example. Almost every program by Apple does that, as seen in the Activity Monitor on OS X. People like to rant on Windows 10 calling home, but MS is just learning from the experts ;)
Re:Simple by Aighearach · 2016-02-01 07:13 · Score: 4, Informative

Never say yes to an app permission your use of the app doesn't require. Generally this requires only using open source apps, and downloading the source and turning off extra permissions.
Never require networking from apps that you don't want to phone home.
Assume everything that can phone home, does.
As to the complaint that MS's "privacy mode" isn't as private as some people wanted, it reminds me of Richard Feynman at Los Alamos complaining that otherwise-intelligent people thought that secrets were safe because they were stored in devices called "safes." Had they been called "locking cabinets that reduce the likelihood of access a little bit, especially by honest folks" or something else literal, they might have had less problems with secrets being stolen. "Privacy mode" isn't intended to make everything "private," it is intended to mask your pr0n access from casual examination of your browser history. But that isn't actually private in most cases, it is just web traffic and they could unmask you at the router anyways. Internet doesn't have a "private" option, if you want private you'll need a "private network." Internet is a "public network." It is like wanting privacy on the sidewalk; you can't have it. You can usually keep people from touching you, though.
Ultimately if you want a private mobile device, you should be buying hardware, replacing the OS with something FL/OSS and only using a private network.
Re:Simple by omnichad · 2016-02-01 07:14 · Score: 4, Insightful

No, it appears to be reverse-trolling aimed at APK. For one, it links to a competing HOSTS file engine.
And then the most telling, is this quote:

But the sheer number of constantly-shifting server DNs to block means I couldn't possibly manage such a list on my own.
Re:Simple by omnichad · 2016-02-01 07:15 · Score: 1

At least they could make phoning home asynchronous. It would at least hide it better.
Re:Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:36 · Score: 0

There are ways to mitigate this. Almost all apps, even a basic fleshlight app, will ask for every permission under the sun with Android (and no, unless the app maker specifies in the manifest, the new permission model in Android will not work, and it will go to all or nothing), one needs an app/framework like XPrivacy. This way, the app can get the data it wants... but it will be bogus. Contact names are fake, ad IDs are randomly generaterated, and so on. iOS also has something similar on Cydia, called Protect My Privacy (PMP).
This is the only real way to deal with those apps... let them think they have the whole phone, but they only get bogus data that is worthless. Of course, we may see defenses against this sooner or later, but so few people do this, it isn't often done.
Re:Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:49 · Score: 2, Funny

Almost all apps, even a basic fleshlight app
That was an interesting error.
Re: Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:39 · Score: 1

Ahahahahaha
Have a look at the permissions granted to preinstalled apps. The notepad on my phone has access to *everything*
Re:Simple by Hylandr · 2016-02-01 08:47 · Score: 1

I see what you did there. :)
+1 Funny

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~ People that think they are better than anyone else for any reason are the cause of all the strife in the world.
Re: Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 09:12 · Score: 0

What are you laughing at?! Immediately uninstall that malware and find a decent open source editor. They should only require access to internal storage.
Re:Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 09:12 · Score: 0

Never have information.
Perhaps you are joking but I think there is a germ of truth to this. It seems to me that this piece starts out with the wrong assumption. If you want to reduce the amount of information that your personal device leaks then one good way to do that is to reduce the amount of information that you have stored on that device. Seriously, you don't need to put your entire life on your smart phone. Yeah, I get it, it's a huge convenience. But the price you pay for that convenience is that, inevitably, others may be able to get at it. From that premise you can then contemplate what information you really need to store on that device. Once you have nailed down that end of the equation then you can start considering mitigation strategies for protecting the information you really do need to have on the device.
Re:Simple by jafiwam · 2016-02-01 09:18 · Score: 1

No, it appears to be reverse-trolling aimed at APK. For one, it links to a competing HOSTS file engine.
And then the most telling, is this quote:

But the sheer number of constantly-shifting server DNs to block means I couldn't possibly manage such a list on my own.
"Managing" the list isn't needed.
I use the same one linked in the submission, and I update it about once a year when I start to see stuff I don't want.
Sometimes I add things I want, and sometimes I have to search through it to take something off. But, both of those things are pretty rare.
For most stuff, the HOSTS file lists are 99.9995% effective at blocking ads, and slightly less effective at preventing malware attempts.
Some day I am going to figure out how to pull that list into a script and load the primary domains onto a DNS server, which will both be a smaller file but also be manageable on a network-wide level instead of per device.
Re:Simple by omnichad · 2016-02-01 09:22 · Score: 1

"Managing" the list isn't needed.
Never said that it was. Just saying that this fact wouldn't be brought up if it was APK doing the submission.
Re:Simple by I4ko · 2016-02-01 17:05 · Score: 1

I prefer blackhole routes you insensitive clod. Better yet, use a proper firewall. You know, those guys can just type IP addresses in there, and with HOSTS you are hosed. Not to say that now malicious scripting is served from inline javascript in the HTML itself. There is no HOSTS file that will help you with that. Only a deep packet inspection firewall and a mangling proxy (like privoxy if it is still alive) can help here. You need to carve out portions of the HTML itself. Also go read and implement all STIGs relevant to your operating system, device and browser. You will soon see that certain things don't work, but info isn't much leaked. And at the end of the day - just reach for the power button. That is the only sure way the device isn't leaking anything about your.
Re: Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-02 01:07 · Score: 0

Spybot anti-beacon
https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/
Re: Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-02 01:10 · Score: 0

Just make sure to lock the hosts file after applying with something like HostsXpert.
Re:Simple by RockDoctor · 2016-02-02 07:27 · Score: 1

There's a vitriolic fleshlight app?

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Freedome VPN claims to do this by pls2917 · 2016-02-01 06:15 · Score: 1, Flamebait

Freedome VPN claims to help with this:
https://www.f-secure.com/en_US...

Re:Freedome VPN claims to do this by beelsebob · 2016-02-01 06:25 · Score: 4, Insightful

Right - then you just leak information to the VPN host.
Re:Freedome VPN claims to do this by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:46 · Score: 0

> Right - then you just leak information to the VPN host.
The difference is that the VPN has a financial interest in protecting your information rather than exploiting it. As soon as people find out that the VPN is data-mining them, all those customers will rage quit. Some might even be mad enough to file a lawsuit.
So, unlike the case of all ad-supported business models, there is a big incentive for the VPN to do the right thing. Until the laws are changed (fat chance), our only choice is between living like hermits or spending our money on services that guard our privacy rather than exploit it. If enough people think like you, that second choice becomes unprofitable and all we are left with is hermitage. Do you really want that?
Re:Freedome VPN claims to do this by Cute+Fuzzy+Bunny · 2016-02-01 11:10 · Score: 1

Eh, you're only safe until the value of the data they're holding is greater than what they're being paid. Or until a government insists on having access.
Good luck proving they're the source of the leak and suing them when the company is gone, there's no money and the people involved are sitting on an island somewhere.
The third choice is not doing anything wrong, not caring who is folding, spindling and mutilating the tidbits of your life and not worrying about it. Because they probably already know almost everything about you.
Re:Freedome VPN claims to do this by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 19:27 · Score: 0

Eh, you're only safe until the value of the data they're holding is greater than what they're being paid.
Don't be that guy who makes perfect the enemy of the good. Unlke the advertising business model where that is the default case, the chance of it happening for a company which has privacy as its business model is pretty slim. Corner cases should not define the center.

Or until a government insists on having access.
That's more unthinking analysis. You might as well be arguing that nobody should live in a house because the government can get a warrant to search it.

The third choice is not doing anything wrong, not caring who is folding, spindling and mutilating the tidbits of your life and not worrying about it.
That's not an option because being human requires privacy. It certainly is fashionable among authoritarian types to believe otherwise, loving to cite David Brin, etc. But that is simply not how people are wired - ask any parent we compartmentalize or lives we are one person to our children, another person to our spouse, another person to people we work with, etc. Putting it all out there such that it we have zero control over how that info leaks from one contact to another is will be a devastating loss of personal autonomy.

Don't Use One by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:17 · Score: 1, Informative

Forget a smart phone. Use a simple prepaid phone and don't link it to anything.

Re:Don't Use One by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:22 · Score: 0

How? Every prepaid phone I know of requires "authentication / activation" that ties it to a verifiable identity.
Re:Don't Use One by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:46 · Score: 0

You know you don't have to tell them real information right? You can buy the refill cards with cash and activate at a McDonalds WiFi after changing your MAC on a burner Chromebook in guest mode that you also bought with cash and returned to the store when you were finished with it.
Re:Don't Use One by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 09:07 · Score: 0

You know you don't have to tell them real information right? You can buy the refill cards with cash and activate at a McDonalds WiFi after changing your MAC on a burner Chromebook in guest mode that you also bought with cash and returned to the store when you were finished with it.
That depends on the country. In Australia they use information like drivers licenses to authenticate, so you'd have to resort to identity theft to stay anonymous.
Re:Don't Use One by greenfruitsalad · 2016-02-01 10:02 · Score: 1

or you could just ask your friendly neighbourhood homeless person to buy you a prepaid sim card in his name for a big mac meal.
Re: Don't Use One by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 12:17 · Score: 0

Cuz he has his shit in order and all his papers up to date.
Re:Don't Use One by allo · 2016-02-05 00:26 · Score: 1

Or buy as used one with SIM on ebay

know your enemy by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:18 · Score: 0

Don't use Windows.
Don't use Google.
Block things like CRL lookups with your proxy.
Tunnel DNS.
Tunnel everything.

Re:know your enemy by mrchaotica · 2016-02-01 06:23 · Score: 1

Tunnel DNS. Tunnel everything.
To where?

--
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
Re:know your enemy by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:42 · Score: 1

To your home server, obviously. Where you have to whitelist addresses. After a few weeks of frustration, you'll probably wish you had just used a decent RBL.
Re:know your enemy by denis-The-menace · 2016-02-01 08:20 · Score: 1

BB10!

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Obama's legacy: (N)othing (S)ecure (A)nywhere and (T)error (S)imulation (A)dministration
Re:know your enemy by allo · 2016-02-05 00:39 · Score: 1

> Block things like CRL lookups with your proxy.
You think of OCSP. CRLs are downloaded once and then checked locally.

To refine the question, with subquestions by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · 2016-02-01 06:18 · Score: 2

Is there a way to use some things (E.g. Google Maps) with known leaks, without exposing every activity to Google all the time on unrelated sites. It seems like limiting some domains make sense, but I'm thinking of things like cloudfront.net

Also, is there some way to prevent the CDN-style spying/extra downloads?

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Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by Lord+Bitman · 2016-02-01 06:25 · Score: 1

cloudfront, as far as I am aware, usually operates via per-distribution subdomains.
But then, based on your follow-up, "CDN-style spying", I might simply have no idea what you're talking about. Do you consider CDNs to be a form of spying?

--
-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-01 06:27 · Score: 3, Informative

There's a curated hosts file here that contains a section for blocking domains used for Windows 10 reporting, if that's your thing:
http://someonewhocares.org/hos...
There are also several domains relating to Google and Apple.
If you have a small list of several domains you want to block, you can probably just search for hosts files and include several of those domains as additional keywords.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by whoozwah · 2016-02-01 06:47 · Score: 1

The Ublock Origin extension can be configured to pull this host file and apply it with automatic updates.
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:47 · Score: 1

Awesome. Don't forget to block the Microsoft ip addresses that are hard coded in a DLL somewhere in the network stack.
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-01 06:52 · Score: 1

I understand that, but it sounds like the OP is looking for more than browser-based blocking.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:54 · Score: 0

...meant to add, "with a hardware firewall."
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by tepples · 2016-02-01 06:55 · Score: 1

Which hardware firewall is recommended for use with a laptop on Wi-Fi at a restaurant or public library?
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by Aighearach · 2016-02-01 07:16 · Score: 1

Google maps doesn't have a leak; actually, google is the data provider! They're not providing a pipe to some other map, or putting a tollbooth in front of a public map, it is actually their map stored on their server, and when you use google maps you explicitly ask them for that data. Asking somebody for something isn't the same as leaking your identity to them. You're telling them who you are when you show them your face to ask to look at their stuff. ;)
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by silas_moeckel · 2016-02-01 07:18 · Score: 1

VM pfsence or similar route everything though that.
ZSUN Wifi Flash is tiny and there have been a string of portable firewalls to do just this.

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Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by omnichad · 2016-02-01 07:19 · Score: 1

You could run Windows in a VM or an alternate OS. Or, you could use a wireless bridge device connected to your laptop's LAN port.
Maybe you could write a rootkit to bypass the hardcoded IPs.
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by whoozwah · 2016-02-01 07:42 · Score: 1

I was more throwing that out there for the OP's benefit, piggybacking off your initial comment.
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · 2016-02-01 07:46 · Score: 1

To my understanding, some CDNs server a unique datafile to every response, instead of using cached files. This can be done by introducing meaningless arguments into the URL that resolve to the same location, but do not need to. It's similar to the 1 px transparent gifs.
Unlike the gifs, blackholeing the CDNs doesn't work, because the JS is required by the main page.
So, it's more expensive, but also more reliable.

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Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by niftymitch · 2016-02-01 08:28 · Score: 3, Informative

This is getting harder and harder to do.
If you do want to make progress invest in a Raspberry Pi
and a WiFi USB thing. Perhaps two....
Run the Pi and the laptop network hardwired together.
Have the Pi connect to the WiFi of the coffee shop.
A Pi can run a decent firewall and Squid proxy with one of many Linux
distro packages. It is easy to reload the uSD card with a clean
OS install. It is easy to remove the uSD card and inspect the
system for anomalies.
The second one... Install it as a VPN access point at your home network
connection. The Pi in your home and the Pi in the coffee shop can contain
shared secrets for a secure link that is harder to man in the middle attack.
There are cooperating groups sharing curated lists of addresses and host
domains that the Pi at home can slurp up and maintain.
The mobile Pi WiFi USB thing can be replaced for ten bucks and
some can have their MAC address randomized to look like yet
another iPhone.
I would love to see a product packaged like the Airport Express
that would manage a firewall and VPN.
It is also important to explore VM. A virtual machine
can operate as a sacrificial OS. Copy the image
start it, get work done, stop it and trash it.
This is astoundingly difficult to do correctly.

--
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't. Mark Twain.
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · 2016-02-01 08:30 · Score: 1

Right, I want to use some Google services (e.g. Maps) while preventing a data-leak when not using their service (e.g. being on /.)
I get that I cannot use G.maps without telling Google things. I just want to only tell Google what I want to tell them explicitly.

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Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by Aighearach · 2016-02-01 08:35 · Score: 1

If you're worried about a data-leak "when not using their service," it sounds like you're a bit confused about what you want. If it is some other thing that is leaking, like slashdot, then why are you even talking about maps?
Try to describe your complaint in such a way that your words are literally true. Whatever stylistic form you're attempting may be great, but your complaint is not at all clear.
It may be that you don't have a specific complaint, and just heard some people on the internet say some non-specific bad things about google, and now you've got concerns. In that case, chin up.
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · 2016-02-01 08:53 · Score: 1

I want to use Google maps. This means not blackholing all of Google to 127.0.0.1.
I want to use /. and other sites, without Google tracking me. Normally this means blackholing all of Google to 127.0.0.1
Sure, it's technically /. that put the tracking on their site, but the solution is normally to violently kill Google's IP.
Similar to how I typically keep FB from getting any requests, which means I could not log into FB if I want to.

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Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 09:16 · Score: 0

Right, I want to use some Google services (e.g. Maps) while preventing a data-leak when not using their service (e.g. being on /.)
I get that I cannot use G.maps without telling Google things. I just want to only tell Google what I want to tell them explicitly.
Erase previously stored cookies. Access Google maps through a VPN, possibly in browser privacy mode.
Re: To refine the question, with subquestions by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 09:23 · Score: 0

For this you want to use something higher up the stack. I use Umatrix. All requests to google domains are blocked unless I'm actually browsing a google.com page.
Re: To refine the question, with subquestions by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · 2016-02-01 10:16 · Score: 1

Thank you for the recommendation, AC. I plan on experimenting with umatrix tonight.

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Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by KGIII · 2016-02-01 11:43 · Score: 1

Look at uMatrix. It's available for Firefox now. It's so free, the author won't even let me send him money. However, it is a bit much at first. Once you get the hang of it, and save your settings, things go quite well. No, Google has no idea what I'm here. Yes, I can still use Maps.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Re: To refine the question, with subquestions by Lab+Rat+Jason · 2016-02-01 11:43 · Score: 1

Your Sig, Juxtaposed on this thread is freaking hilarious!

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Which has more power: the hammer, or the anvil?
Re: To refine the question, with subquestions by KGIII · 2016-02-01 11:46 · Score: 1

Ha! I so gotta learn to scroll down before posting. :/
It's worth setting up. It is a whitelist approach. It works. It's just a bit of a pain in the ass to get set up. I'd send you the JSON that I have saved but, alas, that'd reveal too much about me and I'm too lazy to fix that. Hmm... Well, I guess... It'd reveal the only porn site I have in my record is 4cam and that I took enough time to configure it to, umm... Watch. If you can get past that, I'd probably be willing to share. It's got mostly geek sites loaded. Some video sites. I'd make your own, it's worth the time investment.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Re: To refine the question, with subquestions by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · 2016-02-01 12:24 · Score: 1

I'm certainly capable of getting past 4cam being already set up with the whitelist. If you don't mind sharing your JSON file... well, I'll probably have to do a lot of work on my own. But it always helps to have a working example.
And, from what I understand, I would just use the JSON file initially until I found a specific site that did not work.

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Re: To refine the question, with subquestions by KGIII · 2016-02-01 13:26 · Score: 1

It turns out, that is a .txt file. No big deal. There's a rules and a settings backup. They are in this zip file:
http://www.filedropper.com/uma...
I just made that one. It doesn't have that particular site in it. ;-) I did have to edit it to enable the scripting on that page.
You are technically correct but making it sound harder than it is. You can use that file until you get your own going. Meaning, you'll just edit my file. You don't edit it personally or by hand. It is done by GUI. When you find a site that doesn't work, start clicking stuff. It changes colors to indicate that it is blocking stuff. There's green (go) and red (stop) and a few things to block or unblock.
It does have a learning curve. It is not too hard. It's like an old-school Windows firewall, software based, except it's just for your browser. One of the best things is that I can share the settings file. I've actually automated this (thus I never see it and had forgotten it is .txt). I simply place it on a network share and have it grabbed and copied with a cron job. (Yes, I have nothing better to do. Retirement is awesome like that.)
So, that should get you started. The rules are pretty straight forward. You can just use mine. They work well enough - edit as needed. The settings for sites is pretty straight forward but it takes some getting used to. Go ahead and use mine, that should give you the gist of it and a good leg-up. I've had that file for... Hmm... A while? I've been using it and migrating it for quite a while. I also have different preferences than you. So, you might want to take a peek. Often times, I've just decided to go for bare functionality - you may want to adjust that.
After you've loaded the file(s), just refresh this page. That'll give you a good example of what I've done - it works for me. If you've got any questions, I'll do what I can to help.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by bingoUV · 2016-02-02 00:25 · Score: 1

I presume you use google maps on a mobile device, and firefox on non-mobile device, so uMatrix cannot help you, right? Or am I mistaken?
For mobile devices, where google maps is most useful, I try blocking all access from it using Xprivacy / firewall when I am not using. This includes contacts, GPS, internet and some other. When using, I only enable GPS and internet, and disable again once I am done.
Not sure how good this is.

--
Bingo Dictionary - Pragmatist, n. A myopic idealist.
Re:To refine the question, with subquestions by watice · 2016-02-02 05:04 · Score: 1

Besides the someonewhocares list, I've used the yoyo list with dnsmasq for years, on a cron job updating every 2 weeks or so. http://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/...

APK - hosts file engine by unrtst · 2016-02-01 06:23 · Score: 1

How the hell are you someone that's been on slashdot EVER and haven't been bombarded by "APK" posts.
Google "APK Hosts File Engine".

Re:APK - hosts file engine by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-01 06:29 · Score: 1

In his quest to block ads that he doesn't want to see, maybe he's just looking for a piece of software that isn't advertised via spamming Slashdot.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:APK - hosts file engine by Aighearach · 2016-02-01 07:26 · Score: 1

I've been here for a long time, and active that whole time, and that doesn't really ring a bell to me. Probably seen it, but probably ignored it too. When was the last time I heard some neckbeard pining for hot grits? I don't know, I never paid much attention to that sort of idiocy. The idiocy itself sometimes rises to a level that feels like a bombardment, but it is generally a wide range of idiocy rather than a specific meme being the bomb.
When I think of slashdot and hosts files, I actually think of the Big Taco on Slashdot Radio talking about using hosts files (on linux) to filter web advertising, and whatever script was being used for email before SpamAssassin. Back then, half of slashdot had their email on a private mailserver that they managed themselves.
Oh, how times and users have changed! What a world the future is! (MEDICAL WARNING: FLASHING LIGHTS)
Re:APK - hosts file engine by IceAgeComing · 2016-02-01 08:18 · Score: 1

Who is responsible for that strobing set of web pages? Seriously, that's not cool.
Re:APK - hosts file engine by Aighearach · 2016-02-01 08:32 · Score: 1

Kinda silly to complain about the strobing when I put a warning right on the link.
It is by some famous artist, you'll have done well in life if you die half as famous as him. If it doesn't speak to you, well that is art. Nobody asked it to speak to you. Go and choose something else. Be strong, little newbie. You can do it. Find some kittens or something.
Re:APK - hosts file engine by Hognoxious · 2016-02-01 09:35 · Score: 2

You should have put the warning before the link. His finger got cramp before he reached it.

--
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Re:APK - hosts file engine by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 10:19 · Score: 0

We've yet to see any of you prove apk validly technically wrong on all his points in his hosts files posts. You advertiser sock puppets should go away. You failed against him and you fear him.
Re:APK - hosts file engine by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-02 06:03 · Score: 1

Wow, an "AC who is definitely not APK, posting about APK in the third person" posting a duplicate reply in the same comment thread? That's so unlike APK, APK never posts duplicate replies, this AC must definitely not be APK! APK is so clever!

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"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:APK - hosts file engine by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-02 07:24 · Score: 0

Wow so amicusNYCL's your real name? Advertisers like you are honest? Your post history screams of being an advertiser or weak competitor crony vs. apk. You're failing. Badly.
Re:APK - hosts file engine by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-02 09:46 · Score: 1

Get your story straight APK, this week I'm the Adblock shill, not the advertiser. Next week I'll probably be the advertiser again, or maybe just a bad programmer. Whatever your mind decides to conjure up that week, really.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black

If it hurts stop doing it by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:28 · Score: 1

There are plenty of OS's that are not made by Micsro$soft and do not 'phone-home'.

There is a small list

http://www.howtogeek.com/190217/10-alternative-pc-operating-systems-you-can-install/

Good luck ... by gstoddart · 2016-02-01 06:31 · Score: 3, Interesting

How Do I Reduce Information Leakage From My Personal Devices?

You haven't been given the same tools on your mobile device as we have on desktops, because the ad revenue from mobile devices is what everybody most wants.

The OS, and every app largely exist to track you and serve you ads.

I'd be surprised if there was an easy mechanism, which worked on multiple devices, and didn't require a rooted device. Because this is precisely the kind of thing which isn't nearly as available as it should be.

Me, I'm betting the OS makers have pretty much decided no way in hell you're getting that kind of control, and if they gave it to you malicious apps would use it to take over where your device really goes.

Being able to control that is a two way street, and the potable devices don't surrender as much control.

--
Lost at C:>. Found at C.

Re:Good luck ... by tepples · 2016-02-01 06:54 · Score: 3, Informative

Disable Google Play Services and obtain free apps through F-Droid instead of proprietary apps through Google Play Store. Better yet, if your phone is supported, install a third-party Android Open Source Project (AOSP) ROM such as CyanogenMod or Replicant. I can't guarantee it'll plug all leaks, but it should stop the big one.
Re:Good luck ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:12 · Score: 0

"...potable devices don't surrender as much control."
So basically you're calling them "impotent potables"?
Re:Good luck ... by gstoddart · 2016-02-01 07:23 · Score: 4, Insightful

So, root it, built it from a kit, forego the apps you really wanted, and hope you can trust these 3rd parties.
While technically correct, people generally don't wish to build their phone from a kit and have to take that level of control. Because it's a pain in the ass.
I've pretty much decided I'll use Firefox with no javascript or cookies enbaled for most of my browsing, I'll uninstall any app which is just a wrapper around content I can get from the web or which can't run in airplane mode, I'll mostly leave my wifi off, and when I used the native Google apps I just go "la la la". But for most people, that's not going to be acceptable either.
Your solution? I'd probably just stop using the device altogether ... at a certain point in one's life, endlessly fiddling with technology ceases to be fun, and just becomes a chore.

--
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Re:Good luck ... by AlanBDee · 2016-02-01 07:42 · Score: 2

CyanogenMod and Microsoft are getting a little too close for comfort. http://www.androidcentral.com/...
However, the last version I used (6 mo. ago) was very nice if you didn't want to tie your device to Google. At this point for security conscious people, Apple might be the least horrible solution. I've also started to be less critical of Microsoft lately.
Re:Good luck ... by castionsosa · 2016-02-01 08:26 · Score: 2

There is a balance, but it isn't easy for most:
1: Start with a decent phone that has an unlockable bootloader. HTC devices come to mind, as well as Google Nexus offerings.
2: Install CyanogenMod, or a good base ROM with support. It doesn't hurt to donate some as well to said project. Gapps after that.
3: Install XPrivacy if possible. This does an excellent job at stopping nosy apps cold.
4: Install AFWall+. This is a last resort, but a solid defense at keeping apps that phone home from doing so.
5: Enable mock locations, and set your GPS when on long trips.
6: Get a good VPN service. I am a fan of VyprVPN because they had a good Linux booth at a recent convention in Austin. There are others as well. Or, you can set up one yourself on a remote virtual machine hosting service.
7: Install F-droid and Ad-Away.
8: For a web browser, I have found Dolphin pretty decent, and good at stopping some of the nastier stuff.
9: Install Titanium Backup to back up apps and their data encrypted, then push them off to a cloud provider.
Yes, this takes time to set up, but it works well, and takes very little fussing or upkeep to keep things working.
Re:Good luck ... by sacrilicious · 2016-02-01 08:52 · Score: 1

I'll mostly leave my wifi off
Good practice, since (for example) a given grocery store can start correlating your media access address with your presence, even if they don't (initially) know your identity. Ditto anyone scanning for wifi pings on the highway.
So here's an elaboration on keeping wifi mostly off: I have an event managing app (in my case, Llama, there are others) that I've configured to shut off wifi every time I disconnect from any network. I manually re-enable whenever I get to my destination (e.g. home); for whatever reasons, it's easier for me to remember to re-enable as I start using some service at home than it is for me to remember to disable as I leave a given location.
I could tell my automator (Llama) to re-enable wifi when I my location gets close to work or home, but locating precisely enough to not turn on wifi at the supermarket near my house requires more battery than I like.

--
- First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then ???, then profit.
Re:Good luck ... by KGIII · 2016-02-01 12:07 · Score: 1

I got so sick of my Android that I asked around Slashdot and finally went with a Windows phone. I have no shame... None... So far, I've spent zero time, relatively, screwing with it. I don't have to worry about apps stealing my information - it doesn't have any apps. Well, not any that didn't come installed. I've added zero apps. It actually updates itself when needed. I don't have to worry about the OEM, the cell company, or a strange guy named Ralph who works in accounts receivable. Nope, updates come from (for better or worse) Microsoft. It's never even offered me Windows 10 but I believe I can install it - if I want.
I don't have a Windows computer. I do have a Windows phone. I'm pretty sure that, at this point, it's just the planet fucking with me. I don't have a giant ego but it sure seems like it's conspiring to fuck with me. Truth be told, I'm kind of happy with my Windows phone. It's snappy, has a fine battery life, and seems to get the job done. It looks like all the apps I could want are out there or in the store and most are even free (as in beer). So far? No issues. Yes, yes I said that about a Window-based phone.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

Simple... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:32 · Score: 0

Grab a bit of kitchen tin foil and wrap it around.

Problem solved...

Re:Simple... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 09:01 · Score: 0

So I tried this, and just wrapping tin foil around my Motorola phone did not stop it from ringing when I called it. I had to get a lot of tin foil and wrap it about 3 times, and then when I called it, it didn't answer but went straight to Voicemail. But that doesn't mean it isn't still leaking other information such as location, etc. Maybe if I wrap it 10x in Al foil . . . oh hell.

On a related matter, if you install something like NowSecure, you can at least see who's looking at your data.

My thoughts exactly by Giant+Electronic+Bra · 2016-02-01 06:32 · Score: 1

Windows will never really be safe, you have no idea what the heck MS is up to today, and what the next service pack will do. Just install FC23 or whatever and be done with it.

--
"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem." -- Jefferson

Re:My thoughts exactly by bhcompy · 2016-02-01 06:50 · Score: 1

Life is not safe.
Re:My thoughts exactly by tepples · 2016-02-01 06:51 · Score: 2

Just install FC23 or whatever and be done with it.
That's fine if you either A. own hardware compatible with Fedora (or whatever X11/Linux distribution for PCs) or B. were planning on replacing your PC anyway. Desktop compatibility is pretty good, I'm told, but laptop compatibility is not guaranteed unless it's from an explicitly Linux-friendly manufacturer such as System76.
Re:My thoughts exactly by Alain+Williams · 2016-02-01 07:24 · Score: 1

laptop compatibility is not guaranteed unless it's from an explicitly Linux-friendly manufacturer such as System76.
That it a bit pessimistic. A quick google will tell you what issues, if any, others have had installing Linux on your hardware. I find that most works well.
Re:My thoughts exactly by Teun · 2016-02-01 07:44 · Score: 1

Over the past 12 years I've had laptops by HP, Toshiba, Asus and Lenovo, on all of them Linux worked well to excellent.

--
"The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
Re:My thoughts exactly by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:57 · Score: 0

Just install FC23 or whatever and be done with it.
That's fine if you either A. own hardware compatible with Fedora (or whatever X11/Linux distribution for PCs) or B. were planning on replacing your PC anyway. Desktop compatibility is pretty good, I'm told, but laptop compatibility is not guaranteed unless it's from an explicitly Linux-friendly manufacturer such as System76.
Well, YMMV, but all of the laptops I've had at home have been fine with Linux. First was the Sony VAIO VGN-A117S from 2004 (celeron, 1GB, WUXGA), which ran Ubuntu Breezy so well that we removed XP completely. Then the Dell Precision M4400 (Core 2 Duo, 4GB, WUXGA), and the Acer Aspire 8951G (Intel i7, 16GB, FHD). At work, I have a Dell Precision M6800 (Intel i7, 16GB, FHD) which boots live CDs fine - all that I've tried.
Re:My thoughts exactly by Giant+Electronic+Bra · 2016-02-01 08:38 · Score: 1

Maybe not, but we KNOW that MS is actively gathering information. I don't doubt that if you are an expert enough Windows guru there are policies and documentation somewhere to allow you to root it all out and make it behave as you want, but I can install FC23 and OOTB I'm pretty much certain its not doing something untoward. Nor will it be filled with crapware that some OEM added which totally defeats all security (MAJOR problem IME).
Just saying "nobody is ever safe" is pretty silly though. There's a reason we don't let children play in traffic. Some things are safer than others, a LOT safer.

--
"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem." -- Jefferson
Re: My thoughts exactly by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 09:36 · Score: 0

There really isn't anything special about laptops anymore. Time was they had a lot of custom hardware that needed all sorts of weird drivers but manufacturers just use commodity hardware now.
I'm not saying that crappy laptops dont still exist, but you'd have to try pretty hard to end up with a laptop that can't run Linux out of the box.
Re: My thoughts exactly by tepples · 2016-02-01 12:15 · Score: 1

but you'd have to try pretty hard to end up with a laptop that can't run Linux out of the box.
Laptops whose keyboard is detachable (e.g. ASUS Transformer Book T100TA) and compact traditional laptops with the same chipset (e.g. ASUS EeeBook X205TA) have been troublesome, with keyboard, touch, Wi-Fi, audio, and suspend not working out of the box for quite a while. And that's disappointing, as the same company's compact laptops used to be poster children for X11/Linux support.

Don't write it down... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:33 · Score: 0

..anywhere... ever.

Not in your phone...
Not in e-mail or the internet...
Not in physical form (pen[cil] paper).

If you have to, determine the risk of using those mechanisms and plan accordingly.

Personally - I use the needle in a haystack of needles model. Aka.. hiding in plain sight. No one cares about my pictures of gun toting kitten riding flame-snorting unicorns... as everyone else has the same thing. Meh.. move along.

Fred In IT

HHG reference by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:35 · Score: 1

Keep the device switched off in the bottom drawer of a locked filing cabinet, in an disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'beware of the leopard'

Re:HHG reference by ihtoit · 2016-02-01 06:45 · Score: 2

you've been to my house, clearly. Please turn off the light next time, hm?

--
Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
Re:HHG reference by Mattcelt · 2016-02-01 10:07 · Score: 1

But then they'll claim they couldn't reach me, and bulldoze my house!

Self Controlled VPN + DNS Forward with Hosts by xanie · 2016-02-01 06:40 · Score: 2

I've gone the route of using VPN to my home network, and using a DNS Server with the Hosts file installed, effectively destroying many advertising links on my mobile devices. Unfortunately, it's not perfect, but I have ad-block in nearly ever application on my iDevice now.

--
Fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.

Recommended by Malwarebytes by tepples · 2016-02-01 06:45 · Score: 1

Then how about a piece of software advertised via the "Third Party Misc Tools" section of a site operated by Malwarebytes?

Also watch for the "ad spaminem" fallacy.

Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-01 06:50 · Score: 4, Insightful

You know as well as I do that his software would be better received if he maintained a web site for it and didn't treat Slashdot as his personal advertising site. When he posts 30+ wall-of-text advertisements in certain threads then his reputation gets diminished a bit. He is, by definition, a spammer, so people can be excused if they don't want to use a piece of "security software" advertised by a spammer, regardless of who else hosts or recommends it.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by gstoddart · 2016-02-01 08:18 · Score: 1, Flamebait

OK, what's the "crazy, strident, screeching nut job" fallacy one?
Sorry, I've seen the posts, and you don't get to be taken seriously by being a ranting idiot who is only a half a degree of crazy away from the time cube guy. At that point you should just accept that nobody is ever going to decide to try your "product" or listen to what you say.
Crazy internet troll posting isn't a criteria for ever trusting the crap you keep claiming is awesome.

--
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 10:26 · Score: 0

I read your post history. You constantly harass apk. It's ok for apk to post. He got you where you cite freedom of speech. It's obvious you're employed by advertisers or some weaker than hosts competitor of his and you fear apk. I've always noticed apk stays on the topic at hand. You don't.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 10:29 · Score: 0

Apk's an example of insanity and genius being same then if that's all you've got gstoddart. How so? We've yet to see any of you detractors of his validly technically prove apk wrong on his hosts posts' points.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 10:33 · Score: 0

AmicusNYCL you don't like apk's posts? Read above the default moderation threshold. Apk posts ac so you can avoid him. You have that option. Slashdot provides facilities to do so. Do that instead of trolling off topic and haranguing apk as your posting history shows you do.
Re: Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 15:08 · Score: 0

He is the spammer so he's the one doing the harassing.
I wouldn't try his product even if he used sane text formatting.
Re: Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-02 03:36 · Score: 0

You're not on topic in your failing crusades. You're a troll revealing yourself (advertisers or inferior competitors in addons fearful crony obviously). Your favorite color's transparent. We see right through you.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-02 06:01 · Score: 1

Apk posts ac so you can avoid him.
You are seriously still posting as other people, referring to yourself in the third person? Seriously? You still think people don't know that's you? Or some random AC out there just knows APK's motivation for posting as AC?
OK, you're saying that you post as AC so people can avoid you? Then here's a question: if you purposefully post using low karma so that your spam is easy to avoid, then why do you re-post your spam when someone mods it down? And then, after re-posting your spam 30+ times in a single comment thread, why do you gloat about "defeating" the moderating system?

I'll just burn you out of your modpoints (I've done so literally 175++ @ a time, lol) - so keep it up! I figure it this way - I can easily repost as much as I like
But now you're trying to suggest that the reason you post as AC is so that it's easy for people to avoid your spam? I don't buy it, APK. I think you would post at +5 if you could. The reason you post as AC is because, if you had a registered account, it would quickly lose karma and you would be posting at -1. So you stay as AC to keep your posts at 0 instead of -1. You also stay as AC because when you've tried crap like this on other forums they just ban you. You've finally found a place where you can't be banned, where you can post your spam all day long if you want to. That's why you're AC.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-02 07:16 · Score: 0

You have the option noted. Slashdot provides it. Of course that would interfere with your real reprehensible motivation off topic trolling your post history shows that you're an inferior competitor or advertiser lackey in fear of apk's superior methods, and failing vs. apk. Your favorite color truly must be transparent. We all see through you easily. You can't handle that apk outsmarts you at every turn can you? Look at your reaction. Says it all proving it for me. Hilarious. If you're trying to make apk look good you're doing a marvellous job.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-02 10:13 · Score: 1

Here's APK thinking that "outsmarting" means posting as someone else and referring to himself in the third person. Soon he'll be along to post as himself thanking himself for posting as someone else. This is APK "outsmarting" someone.

an inferior competitor
APK insult? check

advertiser lackey
APK insult? check

in fear of apk's superior methods
APK insult? check

failing vs. apk
APK insult? check

Your favorite color truly must be transparent
APK insult? check

We all see through you easily
APK insult? check

You can't handle that apk outsmarts you at every turn
APK insult? check

If you're trying to make apk look good you're doing a marvellous job.
APK insult? check
Yeah, there's noooooo way that's APK posing as someone else. Can't be that. An AC using all of APK's lame insults and backing him up, when no other people post to back him up, is definitely not APK. Must be some completely separate person, who didn't bother to register an account, but wants to post a message in support of APK anyway (and apparently familiar with my post history, as if I'm someone notable here).
Man, I really wish that I could be like APK, but he's just so damn clever and smart.
But wait, APK, you forgot to answer my question. I'm sure that was just an oversight on your part since you were too busy outsmarting me. Here, let me ask it again:
OK, you're saying that you post as AC so people can avoid you? Then here's a question: if you purposefully post using low karma so that your spam is easy to avoid, then why do you re-post your spam when someone mods it down?
You have an answer to that question, right APK? Go ahead, show me how smart you are.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 02:29 · Score: 0

Are you on topic amicusnycl? No. Are you trolling off topic amicusnycl? Yes. Nice self upmod by your sockpuppets adblock shill. Apk can post what he likes. You say so http://slashdot.org/comments.p...
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 02:35 · Score: 0

Every ac poster on slashdot is apk amicusnycl? Prove those posts are apk. You can't. Apk's shows others like his posts. You said it's ok for him to post what he wants to yourself quoted.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 05:57 · Score: 1

No APK, not every AC poster is you. Just the ones who defend you using the same lame insults or grammar structure that you use. And especially the ones who cite my post history, as if there are people out there not connected to either you or I who decide to spend the time going through my post history, as if they have nothing better to do. What's more, you know that I'm right, because you're sitting there actually making those posts. You know that it can't be proven, and you know that I'm right. You also know that you are being dishonest when you make those posts representing yourself as someone other than you. You know you're being dishonest, and so do I, even though I can't prove it based on the information that Slashdot shares about posters. You truly are an Anonymous Coward.
What's the first rule when dealing with spammers, APK? Spammers lie. You prove that statement true every time you post and refer to yourself in the third person, because doing so is dishonest. You are representing yourself as someone you're not, and you know that to be a fact. As far as I go, I *am* "amicusNYCL", that is my identity here. I don't post anonymously except if I have sensitive information to reveal, and I don't have any other registered accounts. amicusNYCL is my only account, it is my Slashdot identity, it is who I am. You can look through my post history and see every post I've ever made, other than the handful that had sensitive information which I posted anonymously. My record is there for all to see. Yours is not, because you are an Anonymous Coward. I know this to be true also. You can accuse me of having however many accounts you want, but I know for a fact that I have a single account, just like I know for a fact that you are intentionally dishonest with everyone by representing yourself as something that you are not. Every time you accuse me of having multiple accounts it just further cements the fact that you have no idea what you're talking about. You know that you have no idea, but that doesn't stop you from willingly saying things that are not true. That's how you represent yourself, as an intentionally dishonest person. You can post your anonymous messages of support to yourself all you want, but at the end of the day you know that you are a dishonest person, and I know it too.
What's the first rule when dealing with spammers, APK?

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 07:14 · Score: 0

Then stfu amicusnycl. I'm not apk. It's not apk's fault he made you eat your words twice http://slashdot.org/comments.p... and http://slashdot.org/comments.p... Nobody's helping you or stopping apk. In fact he posts how users like his posts and program quoting them in it.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 07:25 · Score: 0

Are you on topic amicusnycl? No. You're trolling off topic. Your post history shows your failed crusade vs apk. Apk still posts and you have failed.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 07:38 · Score: 1

Yes, you are APK. Which Anonymous Coward around here talks about people "eating their words" all the time? Which Anonymous Coward incessantly posts links to other Slashdot comments backing up his non-points? Which Anonymous Coward posts in support of APK as if APK has some legion of anonymous supporters but for some reason people who are actually registered don't seem to show up to support APK? Who else do you think is reading this thread, APK? It's just you and me, buddy.

I'm not apk.
APK, what's the first rule when dealing with a spammer?
Search your feelings; you know it to be true.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 07:39 · Score: 1

I'm not trying to stop you from posting, APK, I'm only trying to stop you from spamming. Getting you to admit that you are also a liar posting as other people would be a bonus, but I'm not exactly holding my breath on that one. Because I know what the first rule is when dealing with spammers.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 09:51 · Score: 0

Apk did make you eat your words in those two links AmicusNYCL using your own blunders and posts to do it. Question: You on topic? No you're trolling offtopic. You can't prove apk wrong on hosts. Give up adblock shill. You fail where it matters and you know it. Dice and malwarebytes hphosts people saw it too. Neither dice and slashdot nor malwarebytes hphosts helped you either.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 09:56 · Score: 0

Prove he's apk AmicusNYCL. You can't any more than than you can prove apk wrong on hosts. Are you on topic? No. You're trolling Mr. almostalladsblocked shill and failing against apk. He's still posting and you failed getting malwarebytes hphosts or dice slashdot to help you too. Why? You're obviously in fear of apk trying to take him down on bullshit saying he spams when you said it's ok for him to post citing article 19 on freedom of speech. It's jerks like you that cite those things and yet are the worst abusers of it and you show us this in trying to stop apk posting like the hypocrite easily seen through troll adblock shill you clearly are.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 10:29 · Score: 1

I've never tried to stop you from posting, APK. I don't submit all of your posts to Steve, only your spam. I like how you keep bringing up Article 19, since that was a discussion of an advertising POS trying to use Article 19 to justify why they should be allowed to advertise to everyone. I enjoy the fact that you're trying to use the same argument as an advertising POS to justify your own spam.
I've always said you're free to post whatever you want here. People are free to mod you down, and once you take that step of re-posting your crap because it got modded down then that's when you become the spammer that you've always been destined to be.
I also like how you keep trotting out the tired old "well you can't prove me wrong on hosts" line, as if I've ever even attempted to do that. Once again, you're playing a game that only you are playing, and you think you're winning. I have nothing to say about hosts files, and I never have. I have nothing to say about your technical skills. I've only ever criticized your spam. You want to talk about staying on-topic? You need to stay on-topic. I'm not talking about hosts files, I'm not talking about your technical ability, I'm talking about you spamming Slashdot, so stay on topic.
You want to spread information about hosts? Fine, post your advertisement once per topic if it makes you feel good, and if people think that it is valuable on-topic information then they will mod it up. People mod it down when they see it posted multiple times in a thread and they see it rightly for what it is: spam. If you don't want it to be spam, then don't repeatedly post it in the same thread, and try to actually engage what people are talking about instead of just pasting your canned advertisement all over the place.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 11:27 · Score: 0

Answer the question AmicusNYCL - quit evading it: Are you on topic here? No, you are not. You're trolling and failing. Apk's still posting facts on hosts superiority to your adblock when adblock or other inferior sold out blockable addons are noted, you shill. You can't stop him and you're helpless and you certainly don't show us you can produce a better ware that slashdot users are quoting liking too with apk's posts.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 11:31 · Score: 0

You're destiny is blowhard loserville. You claim you're a programmer: Where's your ware? It's not! Just like you can't prove apk wrong on facts he posts on hosts. You have to take that evasion since proving apk wrong is impossible. Quit deluding yourself. You're not fooling us mr. almostalladsblocked shill. You're dead afraid of apk and his facts on hosts superiority to that bloated junk you champion stupidly.
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 12:29 · Score: 1

The master of evading questions is really telling me to stop evading? Here, I'll post this now a fourth time:
OK, you're saying that you post as AC so people can avoid you? Then here's a question: if you purposefully post using low karma so that your spam is easy to avoid, then why do you re-post your spam when someone mods it down? And then, after re-posting your spam 30+ times in a single comment thread, why do you gloat about "defeating" the moderating system?
Am I on topic? Yes, scroll up and look at the title of this thread.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:Recommended by Malwarebytes by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 12:35 · Score: 1

You're destiny is blowhard loserville.
I remember 5th grade too, those insults were fun. Nice grammar, by the way.

You claim you're a programmer: Where's your ware? It's not!
What? It's not what? Have you been drinking, APK? Did you miss your medication? Did you take your medication then start drinking?

You're dead afraid of apk and his facts on hosts superiority to that bloated junk you champion stupidly.
The only thing I "champion" is clearing Slashdot of your spam.
Want to know a secret? I have 3 privacy/security browser extensions on Opera right now, and ABP is not one of them.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black

It comes down to VPN settings and tuning effort by Nonesuch · 2016-02-01 06:45 · Score: 5, Informative

If you don't want to root your device and don't want to tunnel all your traffic to a VPN server (adds latency) , you can use one of the Android "NoRoot" firewalls that routes app traffic through a local VPN for inspection and filtering. This uses more CPU and battery, but all protection is done within your mobile device. It takes a lot of manual effort to build a policy that blocks undesirable traffic and still lets apps work.

You can tunnel your traffic to a commercial VPN provider, but now you are trusting them to maintain performance and not invade your privacy, and they won't have any visibility to the contents of traffic that is inside SSL/TLS encryption, for better or for worse (e.g. cannot inspect Android apps downloaded as APKs from SSL websites).

Better yet, you can root the device and add your own Certificate Authority and firewall settings. Now you can use your own VPN to ensure all traffic from all applications goes to a remote VPN headend for inspection/modification, even traffic the device thinks is encrypted with SSL. If you have many users going through the same VPN, you can do things with packets and headers to make it difficult for CDNs and ad networks to identify individual users who are all behind the same gateway.

If you have more time than money, you can build up a VPN headend with open source tools (e.g. Squid+SSLbump)., and write policy to block traffic that doesn't meet your security policy, and to log what your device tries to send. You can use header modification to strip out identifying information and cookies.

If you are a business or otherwise have more money than time, the expensive approach is to use a commercial firewall appliance that has a client VPN and URL filtering service (e.g. Checkpoint, Palo Alto, Juniper, F5, etc). You set up the VPN to send all your mobile device traffic through the firewall, and use firewall policy to decrypt SSL, inspect APKs, and block ads. This solution is very effective at blocking ads and undesirable network traffic, and can often detect or block malicious APKs and other attacks.

--

I do not deploy Linux. Ever.

Easy Solution by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:46 · Score: 0

Place the device in a plastic bag that seals.

got root? by tepples · 2016-02-01 06:47 · Score: 2

You can't install it as an APK on your Android device because only root can write to the hosts file, and by default, only an Android device's manufacturer (not its owner) is root.

Duct Tape by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:48 · Score: 0

Every time I have a leak, duct tape seems to stop it.

Re:Duct Tape by Ann+O'Nymous-Coward · 2016-02-01 10:49 · Score: 1

Well that explains the screams coming from your toilet.

Xprivacy by snarfies · 2016-02-01 06:48 · Score: 2

1) Root your phone. If you don't have full control over your device, you have no chance.

2) Install Xposed Framework (http://repo.xposed.info/)

3) Install Xprivacy (http://repo.xposed.info/module/biz.bokhorst.xprivacy)

Xprivacy doesn't block your programs from sending whatever they want to send - if you try to do that, most programs will crash. Instead, it feeds your programs completely false information. Boom, you win.

Re:Xprivacy by hankwang · 2016-02-01 07:30 · Score: 1

Does Xposed stuff work on Android 5/Lollipop? At least when I upgraded from 4.4 to 5.1, most of the Xposed plugins that I had stopped working.

--
Avantslash: low-bandwidth mobile slashdot.
Re:Xprivacy by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:03 · Score: 0

This.
Though, it's not for the faint-of-heart. Improper settings will leak information, crash apps, or render the phone unstable/unusable.
Re:Xprivacy by castionsosa · 2016-02-01 08:38 · Score: 1

I just wish it had Android 6.x support. :/
Re:Xprivacy by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 11:28 · Score: 0

Works fine on my N6p:
[OFFICIAL] Xposed for Lollipop/Marshmallow [Android 5.0/5.1/6.0, v79, 2015/12/17]
XPrivacy
I don't think the pages linked in the GP have been updated recently.
Re:Xprivacy by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 18:20 · Score: 0

Yes both Xposed and XPrivacy run fine on Lollipop.

Easy.... by bobbied · 2016-02-01 06:49 · Score: 1

Two things...

1. VPN your network connection.

2. Don't put anything on your device you wouldn't want to publish on line.

Apart from that, who cares? IF you do, you are either worried about stuff you shouldn't for health reasons, or stupid to put information into that portable computer you call a Smartphone/Tablet..

--
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101

Re:Easy.... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:28 · Score: 1

This is dumb. your contacts list alone is subject to massive abuse if posted alone. Do you really use your fucking phone with no contacts, names, email addresses, or phone numbers? You are fucking idiot.

Do a whitelist of domains to trust by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:51 · Score: 1

I think you're running into the limitations a blacklist has -- you can't effectively block all known "bad" domains because there are simply too many.

It'd be more efficient to create a whitelist of all domains/servers you'd like to access instead, since you'd have that information much more readily available.

Cheap solution by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:51 · Score: 0

Get rid of your smartphones and buy a telephone. Then use the money You spend on stupid games to buy dope. Like I do.

Re:Cheap solution by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:06 · Score: 0

Once you're addicted to opiates like Cheap solution, you'll spend much less time paranoid about "security," and much more time acquiring and using the drugs you'll need to avoid the horrors of opiate withdrawal.

Not Possible by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 06:53 · Score: 0

All someone has to do is write a GUI interface in Visual Basic to track down your IP address and your at their mercy.

Compatible device? by truck_soccer · 2016-02-01 06:57 · Score: 1

Install ubuntu touch.

Re:Compatible device? by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · 2016-02-01 07:12 · Score: 1

Hahahahaah!
wait, you're serious? Allow me to continue,
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAHHAH
Half baked mobile OS that was what, three years late to the party? No.
Besides, then you're just leaking data to Canonical.

--
"Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
Re:Compatible device? by truck_soccer · 2016-02-01 07:35 · Score: 1

I installed it on my nexus 7 because I like to tinker, and it was....well....gross.

Double-ziplock bags by Theovon · 2016-02-01 07:01 · Score: 1

I prevent leakage by using those little plastic bags with the two rows of ziplock. Especially the ones with the yellow and blue making green (even though it’s actually magenta and cyan that make green).

Here's how to do it by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · 2016-02-01 07:03 · Score: 5, Informative

Here's my old comment verbatim:

First of all there are immortal cookies (infinite cache entries created specifically for your unique PC). Secondly, there's a unique combination of your web browser + OS + fonts + plug ins: https://panopticlick.eff.org/ Thirdly, there are unique patterns in your behaviour (websites that you visit and how frequently you do that) and other wonderful metrics to trace you.

If you want to avoid being traced and tracked there's just one way:

You buy a single time anonymous SIM card with Internet.
You go to some public place where there no web cameras installed or you're not under their monitoring.
You browse the web using at least TOR, or even better a combination of VPN + TOR.
You use the most common computer OS (Windows 7 64), the most common web browser (IE11/Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox) and the least number of browser plugins and extensions.
You do NOT login using Facebook/Google/Microsoft/Yahoo/etc. services, because these companies trace your presence on unrelated websites using various "Share Me" options.
You do NOT use Skype/WhatsApp/Vibe other apps.
You completely destroy your browser profile and this SIM card after you're finished.

This is actually a recipe for browsing the web anonymously however this is the reality of the modern web - not to be traced means to be anonymous as much as possible.

All other ways are only half measures. Or, like people have suggested, you may stop using the Internet completely. It should have long been renamed to a "Trackingnetwork".

Read how Black Hats Work by BoRegardless · 2016-02-01 07:06 · Score: 1

If you really want to start limiting info gathering, I would suggest a 2nd phone for digital work.

Your first phone might just be analog voice only, or at least you don't do digital on it.

Move the digital phone from ATT to Verizon every month back and forth with a new SIM card and disposable email addresses & new phone numbers if you really want to limit access.

Connecting through your lapto through a cell phone hotspot connection isolates it from WIFI snooping.

Depends by PopeRatzo · 2016-02-01 07:10 · Score: 0

n/t

--
You are welcome on my lawn.

Brave might suffice your browsing privacy needs. by Qbertino · 2016-02-01 07:13 · Score: 2, Interesting

Brave beta is just out. A project from the former CEO of Mozilla.
AFAICT out of the box one of the safest and most private browsers around.
Definitely a leg up from the usual suspects.

--
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca

windows 10 and now 7 and 8 data slurping by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:19 · Score: 0

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2979054/windows-security/windows-7-8-10-now-all-collecting-user-data-for-microsoft.html

This is food for thought. My interpretation of this would be OS host files aren't going to work very well. Maybe blocking at your router will work? I know hosts file blocking can be done on some third party router firmware. (I used to have an auto updating system on a router running tomato)

As to what unintended consequences this brings, I have no idea. Haven't played with it. I keep the listed updates uninstalled and hidden, but just like the 10 upgrade to my win 7 box, constant diligence is needed with auto updates off because they all come back every so often.

Firewall by aaarrrgggh · 2016-02-01 07:23 · Score: 1

Personally trying to set up a Ubiquity EdgeRouter to do the same. In my case, there are just a few devices I don't want to have any external access, so I will have a dedicated SSID for them and provide local network access but no routing. Other things I will have to manually switch a network port for a device to give access to the Internet.

Haven't hit the point yet where I feel a need to do a transparent proxy; my goal is mainly to strip "cloud" functionality off devices that I don't want to have it.

Try too hard though, and you will drive yourself batty.

(For the iPhone, I use 1-Blocker. It does a pretty good job, but far from perfect.)

What if you host your own DNS? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:24 · Score: 0

Internally at home I use scripts that keep a massive hosts file updated with the entries and I have the appropriate http response set up from a web server. This could all be relatively cheaply and safely hosted at home or in the cloud somewhere. If you could set your mobile system to use the same external DNS always (although I know how to do this for wifi connections I am not sure how/if can be done for carrier data connections) then you could neutralize most of it.

Fox Mulder by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · 2016-02-01 07:27 · Score: 1

Trust no one.

Re:Fox Mulder by burtosis · 2016-02-01 08:39 · Score: 1

Not even yourself.
Re:Fox Mulder by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 14:08 · Score: 0

Only the voices that scream inside your head can be trusted.

Otterbox! by yodleboy · 2016-02-01 07:27 · Score: 1

If it can keep crap out, it can keep crap in right?

Re:Otterbox! by wysiwig3 · 2016-02-01 08:22 · Score: 1

Yes! The Otterbox Faraday Edition.

Even simplerer by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · 2016-02-01 07:31 · Score: 1

Don't buy any devices.

Put them in the microwave oven by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 07:44 · Score: 0

A few minutes at full power should do the trick

KNOX? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:03 · Score: 0

Has anyone tried Samsung's MY KNOX on android? (https://www.samsungknox.com/en/products/my-knox) It does require root, (actually it requires you *not* root your device), and seems to lock your apps away from each other. At least you can lock some things away, like contacts and the like. In combination with a noroot firewall (with a nice blacklist) it seems to go pretty far. But I don't know. It seems XPrivacy is the best bet -- but how well is it supported?

Re:KNOX? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:05 · Score: 0

I meant to say it does *not* require root. My Knox seems to be the corporate response to data leakage with a free personal version.

Re:Perhaps Not Simple but ? by turkeyfish · 2016-02-01 08:06 · Score: 1

If that is the case, then shouldn't it be possible to create a program that pre-cashes all outgoing streams prior to their being sent and then inject meaningless random signals into the stream so that the receiving end simply gets garbled data?

This way one could conceivably "randomize" data except that you specifically wish to transmit. Presumably, such an algorithm would intercept all interrupts, trace their source, and randomize as required. No doubt it would greatly slow the system, but would it not in theory work?

Re:Brave might suffice your browsing privacy needs by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:11 · Score: 1

Definitely a leg up from the usual suspects.

Like a dog with it's leg up in the air and waiting for the piss to come. Because that's what brave is. As in you are brave if you think that a YACC (yet-another-Chromium-clone) is going to be the end all privacy-conscious super-powers-to-the-user browser of the future then you deserve to be pissed on.

You want privacy? NO TURN-KEY SOLUTION WILL EVER BE COMPLETELY PRIVATE. Start with TAILS Linux and a TOR enabled browser and JavaScript disabled then you'd be taking a step in the right direction, but with much distance still to travel since it will require drastic changes to your online habits to remain truly private in today's world.

Re:Perhaps Not Simple but ? by omnichad · 2016-02-01 08:13 · Score: 2

I have no idea what you are saying.

For Computers by psergiu · 2016-02-01 08:27 · Score: 1

For Computers - OS X and Little Snitch https://www.obdev.at/products/...
A bit costly but it does the job you want.
Also, OS X being a UNIX machine, you can use your hosts file.

--
1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.

Tool dip... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:28 · Score: 0

A nice rubber coating on the smartphone works wonders for data leaks....

Crap IP Lists... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:34 · Score: 0

iblocklist.com maintains several block lists of known crap IP ranges. They are usually used with peerblock but can be converted/used by other filtering software.

DN entries in a hosts file isn't super robust. Windows DNS client actively ignores it in cases of MS and windows domains. I have no reason to suspect the android client isn't equally terrible about this. An active IP based packet filter is a much better way to go.

Using Hosts = Already Failed by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:46 · Score: 0

It's been known for years that Microsoft is bypassing the hosts file for some things. If you're relying on a hosts file based solution, you've already failed.

In terms of using online services, you erase your cookies and related tracking marks when you're done touching the site. Not when you close the browser, but when you're done with the site. If you want until you close the browser, then the site may be tracking the other sites you're visiting that session. Follow the other private browsing best habits too.

Why are we getting these questions once a month? Just look back at all the other Slashdot articles asking the same thing. Nothing has changed. Microsoft not deleting private history hasn't changed anything. All the other browsers had (still have?) private mode data leaks too.

The best thing you can do is grow thicker skin and not be concerned if people know your darkest secrets.

Re:Brave might suffice your browsing privacy needs by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 08:49 · Score: 2, Informative

The last I read, Brave will inject it's own ads. No thanks.

Not Really by Giant+Electronic+Bra · 2016-02-01 08:51 · Score: 1

I've been running Linux since kernel 0.99a (the first one that had networking that really 'just worked'). I can count the number of times an x86-based piece of hardware that I could ATTEMPT to boot an install medium on failed to actually install without some sort of effort (and in EVERY case I got the machine working by searching around online for a bit and adding a kernel boot param). This includes many different laptops. I think there've been a very few cases where some ancillary piece of hardware on a laptop didn't actually have a driver, but it was always something weird. I bought a newer Logitech USB headset last year, and never could get Linux to work with that, so its not that ONE HUNDRED percent of stuff always works, but the ratio is 99% at this point, even of new hardware.

Truth is there's enough people out there running linux on most hardware, often as parts of various products where the consumer never sees the OS and doesn't need windows, so that few vendors avoid Linux support anymore. Even weird stuff like my Chromebook, and various oddball laptops all seemed to work. Truthfully even if there's a weird peripheral on them someone has developed support for it.

Frankly its gotten to the point where you just don't even need to consider hardware compatibility, though certainly if I am going to build a machine or buy a printer or whatever I'll go find out how well the hardware support works and buy what is likely to be 'the best'.

While I'm clearly a 'Linux guy' I'm far from a ravening hardcore 'true believer' either. Its just that over the years, certainly for my purposes, its proven to be most useful. The fact that its relatively secure and entirely free of 'surprises' is a bonus.

--
"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem." -- Jefferson

Re:Not Really by KGIII · 2016-02-01 11:58 · Score: 1

I go through a lot of hardware. Linux works on all of it. Well, all of it that I've tried. I have hardware that I've never actually turned on. I have hardware that is still in unopened boxes. I suspect Linux works on them all. If it doesn't work by default (and it generally does) then I can usually find someone else who has made it work. Sometimes, I'm the guy who makes it work and sometimes I'm the one who asks for help. Usually, it just works.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

Re:Perhaps Not Simple but ? by mikael · 2016-02-01 08:59 · Score: 1

turkeyfish is suggesting that the TCP/IP sockets layer attempts to cache all the data being sent. Unfortunately, this isn't going to work because the reason the application stalls is because the TCP/IP layer is attempting to request a DHCP address from the network (which isn't going to happen), look up the address of a particular hostname (which isn't going to happen either), then stalling again when it tries to open a synchronised two-way connection with the desired host (which isn't going to happen as well).

--
Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads

Adult Depends by trevc · 2016-02-01 09:03 · Score: 1

Adult Depends should work (or were you talking about personal electronic devices? I only read the headlines).

Re:To refine the question, with subq's: localhost? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 09:06 · Score: 0

So far as I can see with a quick visual scan, the hosts file from "someonewhocares" is using the localhost IP, 127.0.0.1 for each entry, but I thought it is more efficient to use 0.0.0.0 instead to eliminate the timeout wait period before an HTTP request fails (even though on a local loopback connection) - not so?

Re:Perhaps Not Simple but ? by vtcodger · 2016-02-01 09:11 · Score: 1

"I have no idea what you are saying."

Proof that the scheme works.

--
You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey

Re:Perhaps Not Simple but ? by omnichad · 2016-02-01 09:20 · Score: 1

My subthread was about this tracking being better (or at least unnoticeable) if performed asynchronously to the main program thread (it works offline just fine). They likely use the word cache (or cash) when they meant buffer. And changing the outgoing data is just going to cause an error response from Apple and still put the app on hold . Why not just block the request or simulate a dead connection (airplane mode) instead? There's no point interpreting his post, it's worse technobabble than you'd find in an episode of CSI: Cyber.

With Hammer by nirved · 2016-02-01 09:36 · Score: 1

Use the force. Repeat until smashed into gray goo.

Re: What crime are you afraid of being caught doin by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 09:57 · Score: 0

Until the criminals get hold of all the data you leaked and use it for criminal purposes.

Re:Perhaps Not Simple but ? by bigtreeman · 2016-02-01 10:22 · Score: 1

bamboozled by bullshit

--
Go well

You'd be surprised how much you lose by Cute+Fuzzy+Bunny · 2016-02-01 10:37 · Score: 1

About 18 years ago, well before our current models of internet, social media and data collection were even born I had an interesting experience.

I applied for a high end insurance package with a lot of umbrella/liability protection that came at a very low cost. The cost was low because as my insurance agent put it "They're going to crawl up your with a microscope the size of a small country". Since I've held top secret and nuclear q clearances, this didn't really bother me.

About 3 weeks later I get a call from an investigator asking what my association was with an ex-girlfriend's ex-husband. I'd actually never met him and only dated her for a few months and there was very little paperwork of any form where we'd be 'linkable'. As in she may have filled out some forms with my address/phone as an alternative contact on her health insurance or at Blockbuster. And yet here I was answering questions about how well I knew her ex. As it turns out, back in the 80's he'd been implicated in some insurance fraud.

All without access to any of my internet doings, because it barely existed at the time.

Right now I know everything I buy at a store with a loyalty program, everything I buy from credit cards or on an online retailer is fully sorted and collated and probably sold many times. My picture is taken dozens of times a day when I'm not aware of it, with many of those photos linked to usage of a payment method or some other means of identifying me and the picture.

I guess the long and short of it is that someone somewhere knows a hell of a lot more than you think they do, even if you shop with cash and a mask.

These days I'm more interested in simplicity and convenience. I use a chrome box and a chrome book with 1tb of Drive storage. Its unlikely that something can persistently get into either product without physical access. I'd suspect that google has far better protections for my data than I could ever provide even if I were an expert in every aspect of security and maintenance. I'd imagine that they follow far more rules about who and what can look at my data than the local supermarket does.

I also imagine that if I used some super secure hardware with a super secure open sourced everything, a VPN and encrypted everything I might be safer. From what is a different question. I'd also imagine that I'd land on some watch list and would be okay with that because I'd imagine that a lot of people who would stray so far to secure their privacy are doing it because they're routinely committing crimes or planning to do so.

Duct tape by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 11:10 · Score: 0

Duct tape works. However it makes the phone somewhat hard to use, so I recommend the method you use for bike tyres:

1. Fill a bucket with water.
2. Partially inflate your phone and suspend in bucket.
3. Note where bubbles appear, remove phone, dry and mark spot with chalk
4. Rough area around leak sandpaper.
5. Apply volcanising rubber glue and allow to dry so it is no longer tacky.
6. Apply patch.
7. Enjoy your new, leak free phone.

Simples.

I'm Old School by sizzlinkitty · 2016-02-01 11:15 · Score: 1

I've handled this issue in the past for devices I just use for web surfing by not setting a default gateway on the network interface (via dhcp most of the time). Then I use socks proxying over ssh to a jump box on my network with firefox for my web browsing (Firefox is loaded with ABP and Ghostery).

Re:Perhaps Not Simple but ? by KGIII · 2016-02-01 11:33 · Score: 1

> CSI: Cyber.

Ha! I Googled. That actually exists!

Err... I don't get out much.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

Turn it off, select devices with care by AHuxley · 2016-02-01 11:51 · Score: 1

If a smart TV has ethernet and wifi, never use it. Use the USB or that data connections to "sneaker net" any files to the device.
Buy a camera thats a camera and not a networked database device with a good lens. Select the images you like and upload them later or from an OS.
Sort the images on a computer and select only the images you want to share. Understand that any free cloud, hosting, advertizing network or OS uploads will have all images examined for facial recognition, for images of interest of the security services, NGO's and police.
Facial recognition: Privacy advocates raise concern over 'creepy' system Government says will enhance national security (10 Sep 2015)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/201...
Stop uploading your information to turn key, free services supplied by advertizing brands.

Understand what Microsoft, Apple and Google do and offer to profit from you and your use of their products and services.
Securing against cloud and networked products is not a good idea. They have your data just by using their products.
Use MS or Apple OS for a limited set of applications. Play games on MS, enjoy media on Apple. Anything more interesting and keep it to an OS that you understand and know will not "phone home" or use cloud AV on every file.

The need for a device that can live stream video is useful, ensure that that device is only used for that. If lost or taken, all that is lost is that device and not other data sets, files, contacts.

--
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"

WTF by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 12:03 · Score: 0

WTF would you ask that question here ?

Re:Perhaps Not Simple but ? by rtb61 · 2016-02-01 12:09 · Score: 2

Best bet is for a fire wall router to block all undesirable IPs out and in and this updated from the internet, with user interaction required. Trying to secure an OS from perv http://www.urbandictionary.com... OS manufacturer, is impossible, the can straight up go around any software blocks you put in and redo them every single update. So either drop the OS or upgrade to a secure modem router designed with the express purpose of blocking pervert corporations. Windows anal probe 10, specifically requires a redesign of the firewall router to keep M$'s prying eyse out of you system. You might very need to check and approve of disapprove every single IP address the router firewall attempts to access. So the firewall reports back with a delivered page for each new IP access with a request for temporarily approve, allow or block, with details gathered about the site and presented, before access to the site is allowed.

--
Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen

Re:Fox Mulder FTFY by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 12:53 · Score: 0

ESPECIALLY not yourself...

Re:APK Hosts File Engine uses that & 9 more by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 13:08 · Score: 1

So, I've been trying out your HOSTS list. It has blocked all these web sites:

adf.ly afterdawn.com betanews.com bit.ly bleepingcomputer.com cbc.ca cdfreaks.com cloudfront.net cnbc.com cnet.com cnn.com destructoid.com download.cnet.com foxnews.com guru3d.com hothardware.com linux.com list-manage.com mirror.co.uk neowin.net netdna-cdn.com netdna-ssl.com netflix.com nytimes.com opensubtitles.org osnews.com pcper.com rockstargames.com seattletimes.com slickdeals.net sourceforge.net thesmokinggun.com timesunion.com tomshardware.com tomshardware.net usatoday.com washingtonpost.com yuku.com

Some I can understand, but most of them just seem like overkill

To stop personal data leakage by mjwx · 2016-02-01 13:27 · Score: 1

To stop leakage, buy an Ipad with wings.

--
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.

Those are from my sources, 1st of all... apk by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 13:46 · Score: 0

See subject: I'm merely a middleman importer from 10 reputable security community sources of hosts data - Take it up with them should you find extreme problems with those.

Secondly, there is a SITE CHECKER main menu if those all "pass muster" with those you have a point/case with the sources I noted. IF you pass those sites thru those clean, my sources will most likely remove them (hpHosts does this all the time with its removal lists as an example thereof).

Lastly:

Should you make no headway with my sources in the security community that provide the data my program imports & find those objectionable?

Simply UNBLOCK THEM YOURSELF!

It's easy to do, by editing your hosts file - Either with my program (rightclick on its Normalize screen, it has a find function + delete menu options) OR via notepad.exe (which my program also provides a rightclick menu to there as well, as it is a decent enough editor BUT, be sure to save hosts as "ALL FILES" not "*.TXT" & in another folder other than hosts location (unless you run notepad.exe as ADMINISTRATOR privelege class, it won't save to hosts' default location of %WinDir%\system32\drivers\etc)

* And, there you go... & that last one's a REAL BEAUTY of hosts files - you have control. You wait out NO program updates as with the case with adblockers or antivirus, but have direct control (doing it with adblock is 'doable' but diffcult for most folks - regular expressions to them are chinese for all intents & purposes vs. hosts' easy text format).

APK

P.S.=> Problem solved... as always, courtesy of "yours truly" (lol, the "LORD OF HOSTS", so-to-speak)... apk

I just tested your list (you're lying imo)... apk by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 14:03 · Score: 0

See subject - I just tested your claim with neowin.net, afterdawn.com, cnbc.com & others: I can reach them - so my subject above's true/you're mistaken OR LYING...

APK

P.S.=> Did you use my program REALLY or are you just trolling by ac posts? If you're not trolling, you've made some error here but couldn't have been my program that did it so, check my other reply to you here:

http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

As it offers a way to get around LISTS MY PROGRAM ACTUALLY PRODUCES YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH FORCING the 10 reputable security community sources I merely import's data to be ALTERED BY THEM @ the SOURCE (as your case would indeed, be valid - but based on my test via neowin.net from your list above, you don't appear to be telling the truth here)

OR

By letting YOU EDIT IT YOURSELF immediately & easily @ the hosts file level locally on YOUR SYSTEM, YOURSELF, easily... apk

Re: UBlock doesn't do DNS resolution & more by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 14:52 · Score: 0

Virus scan? 32bit? It's a hosts file for fucks sake.

If windows is a prerequisite your product is useless.

Re: APK Hosts File Engine uses that & 9 more by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 16:10 · Score: 0

Didn't she turn everyone into vampire zombies?

Re: Perhaps Not Simple but ? by omnichad · 2016-02-01 16:49 · Score: 1

It's worse than it sounds. I watched the first episode and laughed. It has worse technobabble than regular CSI's "GUI interface using visual basic to track the killers IP"... By far.

Re: Perhaps Not Simple but ? by KGIII · 2016-02-01 17:34 · Score: 0

I don't really watch TV and haven't really watched any since the 1980s. There were just too many commercials. I do watch documentaries online. That's been great for me.

So, I'm going to take your word for it and I'm not going to click that link. ;-) It's like the missus when we go out to eat. She comes from a poor(er) family who has eaten mostly out of a box her whole life. I like to tease her about eating people food. She's forever saying, "This is the grossest stuff that I've ever tried, try it!"

"No, no dear... I am not going to try it. You just pointed out that it was the grossest thing you ever ate - I'm going to take you at your word." You can order anything on the menu (I don't think anyone else had ever asked me that question before) but that doesn't mean I want to eat it. (I also come from a pretty poor background but not that poor, we were fairly middle class. That and she finds it a bit endearing and amusing. Sometimes, I think she pretends just for our amusement. And no, I have no idea which fork gets used for what.)

To digress a little... I am both bored and talkative. I might as well write a little to share. I wasn't doing anything better. How about people?

So, no... I'm not gonna click that link. I'm gonna take your word for it. I'm going to trust it is every bit as bad as you indicate. There's no motivation for you to make that up, after all. It is a bit amusing, in a good way, to see the changes she's undergone from having to actually worry about money (having never had even $100 of her own) to being in a position where that just isn't a concern. Some might see it as a hardship but we laugh about it. It's odd, to the point where I kind of have to stress that she now has a debit card, in her own name, with no realistic limits and that it's her's to use - with no strings attached. No, I don't even want an accounting. It's a gift and no, even if she were to leave tomorrow, she owns everything in that account.

"Here's the receipt!" Umm... Thanks? That goes in the trash. No, no I don't want to check it, no I don't want to know. If I did then it wouldn't be *her* money. When it runs out or gets close, there's a nice older lady in Maine that she's never actually met yet (but surely will) who puts more money into the account for her. The essential thing is that it belongs to her, I've given it to her. She's not stealing it if she takes off with it. She's not stealing it if she spends it. It belongs to her.

That's a very unusual concept for her. It's also very new, as I'm sure it is with most people - it took me years to adjust. I imagine she'll go through a thrift phase, a spending phase, and then back to something in the middle. So far, as near as I can tell, she's pretty thrifty. That nice old lady in Maine will call me and bitch if she isn't. She's my accountant, it's what she does. I know it took me quite a while to get over that I could just buy shit and then settle down. It literally took me years. I sold and retired back in 2007 (though you could say finalized in '08) and actually have more money now than I had when I sold. I know how and why that is true but I'm not so sure it should work as well as it does. I literally make more now, doing not a whole hell of a lot and just by letting other people use my money, than I ever made while working. There's a lot to be said on that subject...

At any rate, that's my kind of odd observation for the day. I've been observing the trend since back in late September, early October, and she seems to be settling down already. It was a kind of startling revelation for her as her parents are both now incarcerated and she's not long out of high school and was technically homeless (but not without a roof over her) when we met. To go from there to having access to more than many will make in their lives is quite a transition. And yes, yes it'd be really dumb of her to "steal" from me. She could just as easily go for the long-con and get a hell of a lot more. I'm old and stuff. She could even stick it out until I

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

Question: WHO're the REAL vampires? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 18:30 · Score: 0

See subject: Answer = Advertisers & Malware makers/Botnet Herders infecting us (BOTH do thru negligence in the former & malicious intent in the latter - end result's the same) STEALING our monies OR bandwidth AND SPEED we pay for - again, end results the same - & they BEHAVE the same (ClarityRay/BlockIQ/PageFair using POLYMORPHIC ad server rotating's the SAME GENERAL MECHANICS of a fastflux rotating botnet really)

Anyhow/anyway, on the note of "I AM LEGEND" since you brought it up, specifically in your reply:

I think of it more as the quote in my subject actually since hosts works vs. malware ruining folks' systems, stealing from them, & advertisers BEING VAMPIRES actually too!

Hosts work - easily putting away the "vampires" in advertisers that leech our bandwidth & infect us (along w/ malware makers - botnet herders they're starting to act like in fact) using something you already natively have that does FAR MORE w/ far less vs. crippled redundant inferior in abilities bloating RAM + CPU consumption & as far as this site + my posts on hosts here? These quotes from that film apply:

"I'm not leaving. This is ground zero. This is my site" Dr./Col. Robert Neville, I.M. LEGEND

As far as slashdot is concerned AND after all - from my posts, this applies on THAT note:

By "yours truly" - "The Lord of Hosts" so-to-speak:

"The image this title brings to mind is a mighty military commander who can at a mere word summon rank upon rank of protective power" -> https://answers.yahoo.com/ques... & THE WORD = hosts!

APK

P.S.=> And, "there ya go" by way of analogy (sort of, lol)... apk

Re: APK Hosts File Engine uses that & 9 more by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 18:36 · Score: 0

That were cancer free, faster, and stronger. In Apk's case free of advertiser and botnet cancers, faster online, and stronger for being safer online through hosts files.

Re: UBlock doesn't do DNS resolution & more by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 18:40 · Score: 0

You should read better before replying. That program of apk's creates the best possible hosts file from 10 reputable security community sources for more speed, security, and reliability online. Hosts run on all platforms that have a BSD based IP stack. The end result of his program's outputs is a custom hosts file for all the things I have just stated it does.

I could easily port to OTHER platforms by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 18:49 · Score: 0

See subject: Via Delphi Object Pascal I coded it in (fastest rising languge in the 2015 TIOBE index in fact-> http://www.tiobe.com/content/p... ) & Delphi 10 (& earlier versions) port to all major platforms -> http://www.embarcadero.com/pro... easily but since Windows runs on ~ 94.5++% of ALL the world's PC's (the SUPERIOR overall "weapon of choice" for me) & roughly a 50/50 of all the servers? Then, how far WRONG can I be?? I command a BIG market segment & hosts run on ANYTHING with a normal BSD derived IP stack - pretty much on any OS, any device (barring bogus alteration to favor advertisers that is (Google KitKat ANDROID smartphone toys imo onward)).

APK

P.S.=> Pascal & Object Pascal have shown their superiority since the 1990's & stood the test of time. Borland USED to have Kylix but FreePascal & it's Lazarus IDE (proving it's risen from the dead there too, pun intended) are, as I said, COMING BACK W/ A VENGEANCE (hype from other vendors notwithstanding) - like superior tools always do! It can do JUST ABOUT ANYTHING my other fav. in C++ can (yes, even drivers via added on toolkits) & BEAT IT as far back as 1997 in of all places, a competing trade journal (VBPJ) taking 4/6 tests, tying 1 with C++, losing only 1 (which C++ did to VB too on a dead platform in ActiveX forms) but SMOKING IT, more than DOUBLING IT in math & strings work (which face it, every program does) - it's why I love it, it's been my fav since that Sept./Oct. 1997 issue "INSIDE THE VB5 COMPILER" in fact... with good reasons - it's the BEST! apk

he wants a list by gl4ss · 2016-02-01 19:28 · Score: 1

he seems to know already you need to block at the router.

what he is looking for is a simple list. amazingly nobody has posted one.

one problem is that you need to keep updating the list, because microsoft keeps adding new to the list.

--
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.

Re: Perhaps Not Simple but ? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 20:13 · Score: 0

Oh shut up already.

Financial models is the key by shanen · 2016-02-01 20:15 · Score: 1

Only mention of "financial models" in the thread? But that is the key.

IF (the big "if") the financial model depends on protecting your privacy, then your privacy might get protected.

If the financial model depends on abusing your privacy, then you are firetrucked.

Small solution: Persuade the google (good luck, Mr Phelps!) to add a financial model tab to Google Play. The developer would explain what the financial model is, and the google would add a secure annotation about any part of the financial model they can confirm. This would give us some basis to decide which apps might be legit. (However, as regards the google, remember that their operative motto now is "All your attention are belong to us.")

Big solution for the push advertising part of the problem: Turn the entire system on its head with a privacy-protection intermediary for a pull-driven advertising system. (Details of one possible implementation available upon polite request.)

--
Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.

Re:Financial models is the key by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 22:05 · Score: 0

Details of one possible implementation available upon polite request.
If you had anything worth talking about, you'd have already talked about it instead of fishing for attention.

block drop quick all by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 21:43 · Score: 0

Use a dedicated firewall and block ALL internet traffic through it.

Create a VM image with some open source OS (freebsd is what i use) with the essentials needed for on-line work: browser, mail client, torrent client, chat application, whatever. Configure the VM to discard all changes to disk device(s) across reboots (xen discard-enable with file backed storage for example).

Allow ONLY this VM to cross the firewall. Use NFS/SMB/FTP/whatever to share data between it and the other machines that are not allowed outside.

Its pretty simple by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 22:32 · Score: 0

Get an iOS device, and :

- don't use Google services
- don't use Ad supported Apps
- don't use Apple Music
- don't select "send usage and diagnostic information to Apple"
- use an Ad Blocker

that will get you a long way. Similarly on the desktop - OS X/Linux/BSD will be fine.

If you want to get super paranoid, pre-paid burner SIMs as well.

Generally speaking, most "free" services are free because the users are the product. Android (other than AOSP) and Chrome are basically machines to turn users into a revenue stream.

Linux: No outgoing firewall control by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-01 23:25 · Score: 0

This has been my number one gripe with Linux over the years. There is no equivalent of the early versions of "ZoneAlarm" for Windows which notifies you when *ANY* program tries to connect to the internet and gives you the option to say yes or no.

I do not want *ANYTHING* from my PCs being able to connect to the 'net without my say so. And yes this includes fundamental stuff such as DNS. I want total control at the application level. It should be up to the user what is allowed to connect to the 'net. Not the O/S authors, not the program/app authors.

No exceptions !

Re: Perhaps Not Simple but ? by omnichad · 2016-02-02 02:32 · Score: 1

For not having watched television for 3 decades, you seem to be able to practically quote The Simpsons:

We can't bust heads like we used to, but we have our ways. One trick is to tell 'em stories that don't go anywhere - like the time I caught the ferry over to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for my shoe, so, I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. Give me five bees for a quarter, you'd say.

Now where were we? Oh yeah: the important thing was I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time. They didn't have white onions because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones...

THIS APK can be (hosts) by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-02 03:54 · Score: 0

See subject: On any device, any OS platform - On Google's stuff, Android Debugging Bridge & it's PUSH/PULL commands can insert a hosts file onto a rooted ANDROID phone though...

* :)

(... & it works - "Neville - it's working!")

APK

P.S.=> They just CAN'T stop "The LORD of HOSTS" tepples - & you and I BOTH know it -> https://pineight.com/mw/index.... (left you a little note @ the bottom there to "overcome the last objections" (that I don't REALLY have to either due to sinkholing, but... it's MY work, ALL MY WORK, not anybody else's so - has to be PERFECT & done absolutely 100% right better for ALL conditions & I'm just the guy to do it)... apk

Correct & this uses conversion of that file &a by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-02 07:03 · Score: 0

It also covers MORE via 10 reputable sources for custom hosts files +built-in filtering vs. false positives http://slashdot.org/comments.p... using that very smaller, faster parsing on load 0.0.0.0 blocking address converting the data from that site & all the FULLY OPTIONAL CUSTOMIZABLE others in it also...

* :)

(Enjoy - because "It's working - Neville: It's working!" for FREE, no strings attached & proven safe + the MOST superior hosts file creation tool under the sun currently...)

APK

P.S.=> Does FAR more for FAR less vs. inferior redundant sold out to advertisers inefficient "so-called 'competitors'" bar-none WITH LESS no less, using what you already NATIVELY have (less IS more = GOOD engineering)... apk

Re: Perhaps Not Simple but ? by KGIII · 2016-02-02 08:54 · Score: 0

LOL I actually know that quote *mostly* from people relaying it to me. (I'm not sure how to take that.) On the other hand, I have watched quite a few episodes (including that one). They're online at Hulu+ which still has damned commercials. They're kind of funny. I've watched quite a few of 'em. I've even watched some other cartoons like that - I liked and have seen all of Futurama. I like Family Guy, American Dad is alright, and Southpark can be kind of funny.

Oh, a friend turned me on to another one. I go catch up on episodes when I think of it. WTF is the name? Oh! Ha! Squidbillies. That one cracks me up.

I'm not entirely a stick in the mud! I just don't watch television 'cause I hate commercials as they're an even greater waste of time. I've tried figuring out how to skip 'em on Hulu. I often will go pirate stuff instead of using my perfectly good lawful method. I also watch documentaries, almost exclusively, and I find those online and without commercials. My current series is still The Century of Warfare. It's pretty good, I've seen it a few times. It's not very deep or anything but I learn/remember something new with pretty much every episode.

I'm usually pretty careful to clarify 'cause some folks here can be a bit pedantic. ;-) However, I actually even have (if you've been keeping track) cable here in Florida. I don't even want to know how long I've had cable or how long I have been paying it for. But, I have it. Err... I've got a pretty nice package, complete with HBO and Show. The missus flips it on sometimes and a few other people watch it. I have watched the news and even a football game on it. Meh, I'm still not going to get television when I get back home - unless the missus decides she wants it.

I've even watched some movies - in the theater! Err... That doesn't happen often but I recently saw The Martian flick. Back home, I get to cheat with movies. I have a buddy who owns a theater and I can't be much more specific because that kind of narrows it down - quite a bit. Hell, just saying that it narrows it down, narrows it down. (I'd probably ought to take that off-site.) Now that friend might, if you were interested enough, allow you a private showing - so long as the tickets are purchased and accounted for. They might allow someone to come in, as they're closing, and watch a movie if they're good friends. They might even let someone see a movie before it is released if they're good enough friends. I'm pretty sure that they'd lose their license if they did so, so I'm just going to speculate that it's possible.

So, yeah, I've even seen a movie. I've even seen a few of 'em! Hmm... I've even seen The Simpson's Movie. I even finished it.

But, back home at least, I do have televisions. I have several of 'em that are actually mounted and plugged in. I don't own any really fancy televisions. I did have satellite for a while but that got shut off, disconnected, the holes caulked and repainted, and never re-installed because I didn't watch enough TV to justify the thing hanging off the side of my house. I'm told I can get OTA, even with just an internal antenna, but I've never actually tried it and I don't believe them anyhow. The people who have told me this don't have OTA. They have satellite. I've never actually seen any of them with OTA TV that I know of. I'm assuming they're telling me the truth but a government web page told me that the signals did not propagate that far into North Western Maine. Err... I've never actually investigated any further than that. I'd probably watch MPBN (PBS) if it were available and I remembered when Nova or Frontline were on.

I didn't stop watching TV to make a point or anything. I didn't even stop to make a fashion statement. I was never a huge watcher but, sometime in the 1980s, they changed some regulations and that enabled them to play more commercials. Sometime around that time, I just started doing stuff during the commercials and not returning to television. It just kind of phased out.

Yes, that means th

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

Re: Perhaps Not Simple but ? by omnichad · 2016-02-02 09:06 · Score: 1

I'm told I can get OTA, even with just an internal antenna, but I've never actually tried it and I don't believe them anyhow.

I do use OTA. But I have a poor connection and poor aim - it's inside my attic pointed at a metal vent and with trees and a building in the way. And for that matter, I think the F-connector was crimped onto the cable wrong at the attic end. The antenna itself is half a broken outdoor antenna that I got for free from a friend. At 40 miles out, I get all the major networks in HD (ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, CW, PBS). It's better quality that satellite or cable, since they recompress and rebroadcast from antenna source anyway.

And if you prefer to do your viewing on a computer screen while multitasking, get an HDHomerun network tuner.

they are tools by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-02 09:16 · Score: 0

Use them as such.

When not in use, unplug them and put them away (in a Faraday bag of course)

There is no real reason to give your device any personal data that would persist between boots. Its much harder to leak what isn't there rather than to secure a device that you do not fully own.

Re: Perhaps Not Simple but ? by KGIII · 2016-02-02 11:36 · Score: 1

I might have to look into it for the missus. I guess I can get her satellite if she really wants it. The place is covered in solar panels, it might as well have an uglier doodad sticking out of it somewhere.

According to this site:
https://transition.fcc.gov/mb/...

I get nothing...

I could have sworn there was a local site from maine.gov but I am not seeing it. You can put in Rangeley, Maine. My home is actually about 24 miles away from the village center. That site says nothing reaches me but neighbors have said that I should get it. I'm also way, way up on the side of a hill. I seem to recall one neighbor telling me that they even got some Canadian channels with their aerial antenna. I'm a wee bit more than 40 miles out - probably closer to 120 miles out, as the crow flies.

I am now a bit curious. I'll have to poke at it when I get home. It'll give me an excuse to get up on the roof and check the solar panels and see if any damage was done during the winter. Thanks! (No novel this time, I am tired.)

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

Re: Perhaps Not Simple but ? by omnichad · 2016-02-02 12:13 · Score: 1

Way up on a hill will greatly increase your range (as will having a mast otherwise). In fact, instead of putting your street address or zip, put in your direct latitude and longitude (zoom in on Google Maps and pull it from the URL as a cheap trick). Or drag the marker. That web site takes elevation into account. I always used antennaweb.org but I like this a lot too. No parameters on either site to adjust for a taller antenna or a stronger gain antenna.

Problem with these sites is that if you're "out of range" it tells you nothing. I put in 44.8960003,-70.5338503 (which is 10 miles SE of Rangeley) and it lights up with several channels. Even Rangeley Planatation lights up.

I dragged the marker to the tops of hills (mountains?) all around Rangeley and get channel listings showing. Just not in the valleys (where the larger hills cut off the signal).

Re: Perhaps Not Simple but ? by KGIII · 2016-02-02 14:23 · Score: 1

I'll definitely have to give it a shot? I'm not completely anti-television or anything. I'm just not into TV enough to have a dish on my house. I'd probably watch Nova or Frontline if I remembered when they came on. With a TV card, I can even go so far as to do my own DVR thing. That's good thinking, thanks! It might even keep the missus amused but she doesn't seem to be into TV a whole lot either. She just kind of turns it on and meanders around aimlessly. She's kind of taken to playing with VMs of varied OSes as of late. She does the same thing in all of them (mostly contacting friends back home and reading a few sites that she seems to like) but at least she's having fun and mostly harmless.

I guess one technically has to be a mile high to be a mountain or something like that? If that's true, Maine only has one technical mountain. The rest are just hills. They're old and have been rubbed off by glaciation. They're not majestic, like the Rockies, but are old and wise mountains. (That's really what they remind me of.)

So, I'm probably not technically on the side of a mountain at home. At least not on a mountain that's a mile high. I just typed in Rangeley (I don't actually have a zip code of my own) but moving the marker does seem to indicate more than if I type in the name. So, I might get something up on the house. I'm also on the "right" side of the mountain - so I'm exposed to the SSE which lines me up with the side to get reception.

I have a friend with a rather fancy transit. I think that's what they're called. At any rate, leveled out and looking through it has shown that my house is quite a ways up there. The cell phones and GPS all say different heights. All of them. Even if they're on the deck railing, they say different heights. Otherwise, I'd share that information too but it so happens that I not only don't remember it, it's seemingly pretty inaccurate. As I recall, they had as much as 50' of difference between them? (We tried a few in one day, one of which was even a fairly expensive Garmin or the other brand - TomTom I think.)

*snickers* Someone has come along and moderated me as OFF TOPIC. I mean, really? It's not incorrect but that's kind of what I do. I might be on-topic once in a while but it's not intentional! Pfft... Slashdot *IS* my personal blog. Thank you. It was good for a chuckle. I'd say I'm sorry but I'd rather not lie and I am not sorry. In fact, I'm so not sorry that I'll probably do it again tomorrow. 'Cause that's what I do.

Either way, I'll certainly have to look into it. From the looks of things - and doing a little more research, I might not even have to go with an outdoor antenna. I do not actually have an attic (double envelope house - salt-box style if you're curious) but I can probably figure something out internally - if needed. I mostly just stream stuff. I'm not actually sure what I'd do if I didn't have broadband. I've not had it before but I always had something to put on in the background. If it gets really rough, I can read.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

This takes a three step process by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-02 17:44 · Score: 0

Step 1: Turn off device Step 2: Wrap in tinfoil Step 3: Shove it up your ass

iptables by NewYork · 2016-02-02 22:49 · Score: 1

I'd install http://wiki.debian.org/iptable...

--
Casteism

AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #1/2 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 01:04 · Score: 0

"The community says, in a fairly loud voice, that we do not want to see your advertisements. People with mod points use them to deal with your malicious behavior - by amicusNYCL (1538833) on Monday January 25, 2016 @04:01PM (#51368907)

Real /. users, not almostalladsblocked shill sockpuppets, say different LOUDER:

"his hosts program is actually pretty good" - by xenotransplant (4179011) on Monday August 10, 2015 @03:34PM (#50287195)

"I like your host file system." - by Karmashock (2415832) on Wednesday September 09, 2015 @03:57PM (#50489401)

"APK is kinda right. I've given up on JS based adblocking and gone to blackholing in /etc/hosts, just like it was back in the 90s. The computational load has gotten intolerable for any ad-blocking using JS. I've tried his hosts file generating software. It works." - by bmo (77928) on Thursday October 15, 2015 @11:30AM (#50736071)

"APK is totally right on this count. Adblock Plus on Firefox mobile is a dog on older, or lower end, phones. A hostfile based adblocker makes for a much better experience in this context" - by chihowa (366380) on Saturday May 16, 2015 @11:40AM (#49705641)

"his hosts tool is actually useful for those cases in which one does indeed want to locally block stuff outright while consuming minimum system resources" by alexgieg (948359) on Friday September 25, 2015 @09:57AM (#50596461)

"I find your hosts file admirable." - by vel-ex-tech (4337079) on Tuesday November 24, 2015 @10:27PM (#50999097)

"APK isn't wrong" - by cfalcon (779563) on Sunday October 04, 2015 @05:11PM (#50657891)

"No complaints from me, I like APK's spam. Reminds me to use a host file. Also, his stuff is free." - by aaaaaaargh! (1150173) on Tuesday November 17, 2015 @09:31AM (#50947415)

APK

P.S.=> Which of these are you, or representing:

1.) Advertiser
2.) Webmaster
3.) Inferior competitor
4.) Malware maker/Botnet herder

(Real users like my program. It gives more speed, security, reliability & anonymity - enumerated list above doesn't)

... apk

Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #1/2 by OffTheWallSoccer · 2016-02-06 18:02 · Score: 1

(Real users like my program. It gives more speed, security, reliability & anonymity - enumerated list above doesn't)
... apk
That may be true, but your constant spamming annoys a much larger group (not that you give a shit).
Worse than your spamming is your trolling. Again, not that you give a shit. I only ever see your posts because I browse at -1 so that when I have mod points I can mod-up underrated posts. I don't need to waste my mod points on your posts because others have already "destroyed you". Sorry for borrowing your catchphrase (not that you give a shit).
Don't waste your time replying. Or waste your time, if it suits you (I don't give a shit).
Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #1/2 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-10 13:07 · Score: 0

It's true, can't deny it. Real /. users quoted unlike you advertisers or webmasters profiting by them sockpuppets. Amicusnycl ATE HIS WORDS, hahahahaha.

AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #2/2 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 01:19 · Score: 0

Here's what Article 19 says: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers by amicusNYCL (1538833) on Tuesday January 26, 2016 @01:38PM (#51375371)

Practice what you preach adblock shill: You talk about my posts being downmodded? You do it by sockpuppets - it's not like you advertiser cronies haven't been caught in that act before!

AmicusNYCL's your REAL name too? No.

That alone shows you have NO INTEGRITY using a "phantasyland" delusional fake name in your REGISTERED 'LUSER' ACCOUNT in the 1st place!

(... & that you have no reason to be proud of yourself OR anything you've ever done - since you haven't done anything in the latter @ all, ever, lol... & you KNOW it (I do, anyone else reading does as well)).

APK

P.S.=> Your post history shows the rest in your failing 'crusade' saying I 'spam' YET I AM ALWAYS ON TOPIC - YOU ARE NOT, TROLL!

I merely reply ON TOPIC to users of blatantly inferior, redundant, crippled by default/sold out, inefficient addons usually informing them of a BETTER tool - hosts, especially via my program populating hosts.

(LMAO - even TEPPLES CALLED YOUR METHOD "Ad-Spaminem" - that's funny in his giving you guff for what you do my way)

LASTLY:

Others say differently here & LIKE MY WORK vs. your bs Mr. "AlmostALLAdsBlocked" shill -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #2/2 by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 05:44 · Score: 1

APK, you forgot to answer my question for a third time. Here it is again:
OK, you're saying that you post as AC so people can avoid you? Then here's a question: if you purposefully post using low karma so that your spam is easy to avoid, then why do you re-post your spam when someone mods it down?

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #2/2 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 07:22 · Score: 0

None of apk's downmodders prove him wrong on his points on hosts in his posts so it's definitely sockpuppeteers from adblock shills like you and advertisers that bought almostalladsblocked out so it doesn't work right by default who farm karma to abuse it downmodding is who is doing it. I suspect you of doing it in fact amicusnycl. Ever wondered why slashdot wouldn't help you when you said you wrote dice? That's why. It was the same when you tried to get apk's software removed by malwarebytes hphosts and they wouldn't. They're all onto you. We're onto you.
Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #2/2 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 07:27 · Score: 0

Are you on topic amicusnycl? No. You're trolling off topic. Your post history shows your failed crusade vs apk. Apk still posts. You have failed.
Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #2/2 by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 07:53 · Score: 1

None of apk's downmodders prove him wrong on his points on hosts in his posts so it's definitely sockpuppeteers from adblock shills like you and advertisers that bought almostalladsblocked out so it doesn't work right by default who farm karma to abuse it downmodding is who is doing it.
Take a deep breath and try that sentence again.
None of your downmodders prove you wrong? News flash: people who moderate a thread cannot post in that thread, and vice-versa. So, yeah, people who want to hide your spam don't also take the time to try and address any points you make, they just hide your spam. That's how it works here. Welcome to Slashdot, Alex.
Which Anonymous Coward incessantly talks about how no one can prove him wrong? Which Anonymous Coward accuses everyone of being a sockpuppet? Which Anonymous Coward accuses people of being adblock shills? Which Anonymous Coward uses the term "almostalladsblocked"? Which Anonymous Coward keeps trying to post as other people and thinks that no one knows what he's doing? What's the first rule when dealing with a spammer?

I suspect you of doing it in fact amicusnycl.
I'm sure you do. I actually believe you when you say that. But you're wrong about it, and I know for a fact that you're wrong because you're talking about me, which just goes to reinforce my opinion of you and what you think about me. I haven't used my mod points in probably 3 months, I honestly can't remember the last story I modded. They keep giving me 15, but they keep expiring before I use them.

Ever wondered why slashdot wouldn't help you when you said you wrote dice?
No, I didn't, because I realize that the management of Slashdot doesn't really give a shit. If they gave a shit about making Slashdot a great place then it would support Unicode. They bought the site and have been just riding it out since then. BTW, Dice does not own Slashdot any more.
By the way, which Anonymous Coward knows that I wrote to Slashdot about filtering out your spam?

It was the same when you tried to get apk's software removed by malwarebytes hphosts and they wouldn't.
Steve still thanks me when I send him your spam reports. He's a pleasant guy to deal with. You've seen what I've sent him, you know that I'm not being emotional or vindictive, I just send him the collection of your spam links when you flood a story.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #2/2 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 09:49 · Score: 0

Question: You on topic? No you're trolling offtopic. You can't prove apk wrong on hosts. Give up adblock shill. You fail where it matters and you know it. Dice and malwarebytes hphosts people saw it too. Neither dice and slashdot nor malwarebytes hphosts helped you either.
Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #2/2 by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 10:19 · Score: 1

I figured you would offer some lame non-reply. I was right.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #2/2 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 10:27 · Score: 0

I figured you'd avoid a simple question with a lame evasion. I was right. Asking again. Question: You on topic? No you're trolling offtopic. You can't prove apk wrong on hosts. Give up adblock shill. You fail where it matters and you know it. Dice and malwarebytes hphosts people saw it too. Neither dice and slashdot nor malwarebytes hphosts helped you either.
Re:AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #2/2 by amicusNYCL · 2016-02-03 12:44 · Score: 1

Asking again. Question: You on topic?
Definitely.

You can't prove apk wrong on hosts.
I've never attempted to. I don't care to.

I figured you'd avoid a simple question with a lame evasion.
Truly, you are a master of the "I know you are but what am I?" school of debate, APK.
This is what your little fit is down to now, throwing out the same lame non-insults and evading any questions about your spamming habits or the fact that you dishonestly misrepresent yourself. You're a paper tiger. You're pathetic. You think that if you claim victory enough times then people will start to believe you've won. You haven't won anything, you're desperate to appear intelligent or meaningful when in fact you're a spammer relying on anonymous posting to try and make yourself look good. And, what's worse, you think that people can't tell. You won't even sign your posts any more, just stringing along some vain misguided attempt to appear respectable. No doubt at some point you'll decide again to post "as yourself" where you once again declare victory, once again point out that I'm not proving you wrong when I'm not even trying to, and throw out the same stupid taunts and insults while trying to show "support" coming from yourself posting anonymously.
I feel bad for you, man. You've got a lot of growing up to do.
Suck my balls.

--
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black

AmicusNYCL's "APKolypse" #1/2 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-02-03 01:32 · Score: 0

"The community says, in a fairly loud voice, that we do not want to see your advertisements. People with mod points use them to deal with your malicious behavior - by amicusNYCL (1538833) on Monday January 25, 2016 @04:01PM (#51368907)

Real /. users, not almostalladsblocked shill sockpuppets, say otherwise LOUDER: