rafiramadhana/proxy.txt

## proxy.txt
Proxy servers are not the holy grail of internet surfing, that this video makes them out to be.  There are drawbacks, too.

1) Proxy servers will speed up the retrieval of requests that you make -- but only if those requests were already made, and are in the proxy's cache.  Otherwise, your request will be slower (even if you do not notice), because you are involving yet another computer to be a middle-man for a request that could be done directly, without the proxy.

Also know that your own computer has cache, that does the same thing.  The advantage of using a proxy, is that if anyone else (that also uses the same proxy) has visited a site, and you visit the same site, then you will reap the benefit of using the proxy's cache for a faster response.  But to be clear... if you both visit amazon, and you shop for different things, the cache will not help (only slight help, for data in common, like amazon specific logos, etc).

2) Your IP address is hidden, and it is not hidden.  It depends on how much you trust the proxy server, as it very likely keeps logs on everything.

3) Your identity is often not hidden.  When you go to facebook, and post, etc, facebook knows who you are.  When you buy that item on amazon, amazon knows who you are (how could you possibly make a purchase, and have it delivered, without amazon knowing who you are?).

4) VPN services claim that they do not keep logs.  The customers have no way, none, to verify their claims.  If, for example, a VPN service is within the jurisdiction of the USA, then a judge can order that VPN service to keep logs on you, and the judge can order the VPN service to keep that order secret (a gag order).  Look up "vpn 5 eyes" and "vpn 14 eyes" for more information (the eyes are the number of countries that have a level of jurisdiction and reciprocal agreements with each other, to issue court orders, to force VPN services to monitor you).

Even if a VPN service is not logging any of your activity, know that your connection between you and the VPN service will be encrypted.  But if you are using the VPN service to, for, example, shop on amazon, then between the VPN service and amazon, your surfing is done in the clear.  amazon might not know your computer's IP address, but they will know you when you sign on to make a purchase.

5) Your web browser:
If you use google chrome, then all of your web surfing is probably being sent to them, in one form or another.  No one knows the code within chrome's browser, so no one knows how much tracking the browser does.  But it is reasonable to conclude that google, who makes its ocean of $$ by spying, designed their chrome browser to do just that.

6) Windows (most folks use it) tracks everything that you do, down to the keystroke and the mouse click.  If you are serious about security and privacy, then you must ditch all Microsoft (and google, and others, etc) products, in favor of a reputable Linux open source solution, and use only open source alternatives (there are endless good ones) for all of your on-line activities.

The internet is a public network.  It was neither designed with security nor privacy in mind.  There are ways to obtain a high level of both, but it is not simple, and it is not convenient.

This is a well made video.  But it should cover the pros and the cons of the subject matter.  It should not leave the audience with a false sense of privacy or security.

Cheers!

src: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cPIukqXe5w&t=27s
	Proxy servers are not the holy grail of internet surfing, that this video makes them out to be. There are drawbacks, too.

	1) Proxy servers will speed up the retrieval of requests that you make -- but only if those requests were already made, and are in the proxy's cache. Otherwise, your request will be slower (even if you do not notice), because you are involving yet another computer to be a middle-man for a request that could be done directly, without the proxy.

	Also know that your own computer has cache, that does the same thing. The advantage of using a proxy, is that if anyone else (that also uses the same proxy) has visited a site, and you visit the same site, then you will reap the benefit of using the proxy's cache for a faster response. But to be clear... if you both visit amazon, and you shop for different things, the cache will not help (only slight help, for data in common, like amazon specific logos, etc).

	2) Your IP address is hidden, and it is not hidden. It depends on how much you trust the proxy server, as it very likely keeps logs on everything.

	3) Your identity is often not hidden. When you go to facebook, and post, etc, facebook knows who you are. When you buy that item on amazon, amazon knows who you are (how could you possibly make a purchase, and have it delivered, without amazon knowing who you are?).

	4) VPN services claim that they do not keep logs. The customers have no way, none, to verify their claims. If, for example, a VPN service is within the jurisdiction of the USA, then a judge can order that VPN service to keep logs on you, and the judge can order the VPN service to keep that order secret (a gag order). Look up "vpn 5 eyes" and "vpn 14 eyes" for more information (the eyes are the number of countries that have a level of jurisdiction and reciprocal agreements with each other, to issue court orders, to force VPN services to monitor you).

	Even if a VPN service is not logging any of your activity, know that your connection between you and the VPN service will be encrypted. But if you are using the VPN service to, for, example, shop on amazon, then between the VPN service and amazon, your surfing is done in the clear. amazon might not know your computer's IP address, but they will know you when you sign on to make a purchase.

	5) Your web browser:
	If you use google chrome, then all of your web surfing is probably being sent to them, in one form or another. No one knows the code within chrome's browser, so no one knows how much tracking the browser does. But it is reasonable to conclude that google, who makes its ocean of $$ by spying, designed their chrome browser to do just that.

	6) Windows (most folks use it) tracks everything that you do, down to the keystroke and the mouse click. If you are serious about security and privacy, then you must ditch all Microsoft (and google, and others, etc) products, in favor of a reputable Linux open source solution, and use only open source alternatives (there are endless good ones) for all of your on-line activities.

	The internet is a public network. It was neither designed with security nor privacy in mind. There are ways to obtain a high level of both, but it is not simple, and it is not convenient.

	This is a well made video. But it should cover the pros and the cons of the subject matter. It should not leave the audience with a false sense of privacy or security.

	Cheers!

	src: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cPIukqXe5w&t=27s