I've been using Firefox for a while. I find it much easier to cleanup cache, history, cookies and other temporary files.

If you're worried about covering your tracks, I highly recommend it. It automatically cleans up all session data at exit. It also supports accessing sites through anonymous proxies.

Using anonymous proxies makes your connection slower but it hides your IP address. Some of the proxies encrypts all communication, which makes interception of contents of your e-mails or web pages you're viewing impossible by anybody, especially your ISP. Your ISP usually logs all the sites you're visiting and e-mails.

What methods do you use to secure your e-mails and browsing if any?

I agree about Firefox. As it turns out, I am looking into anonymous proxies.  Could you point me to some that do content encryption ?  Which ones have you used and would recommend ?  Thanks !

- MS

Could you explain how to set that up in Firefox.
Thanks.

the tool bar spell check! its awesome. I love Firefox. took a little getting used to but sooooooo worth it.


-- Modified on 5/18/2007 5:29:14 PM

Go to this link below
Shows how to set it up and even has visuals

I am forced to use Firefox browser when Safari is not compatible with some online sites (in this day and age..i am surprised MAC is still the exception to PC) -- I like it and actually find it quicker than most browsers...the added anonymous proxy feature is pretty cool!

-- Modified on 5/18/2007 5:26:49 PM

This doesn't work with firefox 2.x, only earlier versions...

Just started using it myself.  Love it so far>

How to configure Mozilla Firefox to use a proxy server Configuring a proxy server in Mozilla-Firefox 2.X)

SEE LINK...SCROLL down the page until you see in blue letters (subject title):
How to configure Mozilla Firefox to use a proxy server
Configuring a proxy server in Mozilla Firefox 2.X

a related question for all. What about the anonymizer program, does that really hide your tracks?

most of the free ones don't allow to access sites which require to log in such as TER or e-mail accounts. More importantly don't access your bank/credit card account sites using a proxy. Such sites use https and all communication with them is encrypted. So there is no reason to use a proxy for most of the times. But if you use a proxy, the communication between your computer and proxy is in plain text! The proxy communicates with your bank/credit card company over a secure channel on behalf of you while receiving/giving the same data with your computer with no encryption.

You can easily check if a proxy is hiding your IP address. Without using the proxy visit

http://www.ip-adress.com/

and check your IP address, location etc. Then do the same with the proxy. The results from two must be very different.

Hiding tracks is a different issue than hiding IP address. If the proxy isn't using encryption your ISP/company can still monitor the contents of your browsing. But the other site you're communicating with through a proxy can't track down your IP address, ISP and geographic location.