Ways to protect yourself from the NSA and other eavesdroppers

>If we really want to protect our privacy on the net what we need is more than better technology, we need fundamental changes in our laws and how we enforce the privacy laws we do have. Then, and only then, will we have a fighting chance of keeping our privacy on the Internet.

Correct me if I am wrong, but a common sense tells me, that if they are able to monitor all Internet traffic, and also can run their own Tor nodes, and also possess software to analyze those big amounts of data that the monitoring will produce, I just can't see how you cannot be ultimately tracked even on Tor.

As I see it, many of those defenses just assume that your adversary is not able to "cache" the whole Internet traffic, and that he also don't have such a strong computer to crack PGP. But relating to nation-state agency, those are already nothing more than assumptions.

Anyway, the points in the article are quite efficient against the lesser capable hackers. It never hurts to put less amount of private data to the Internet, for example.

No you don't. These services didn't even exist ten years ago and people got along just fine. Get rid of them and I guarantee your intrepid little human resourcefulness will find ways of managing without them. They're first world luxuries, nothing more.

Then maybe just use with your spouse . since those conversations are very private, maybe you could Convince him/her. And it does buy you protection from law and inadvertent snooping by friends(if I understand otr correctly).

Now talk about this with your friends. They might want to use the same strategy.

And now some of you're friends have the software, it's just a matter of setting keys. Seems possible.

It's always better to use alternatives to the eavesdropped service, but the benefit comes from minimizing and eliminating the amount of eavesdropped data, so it's always good to minimize the usage. If it means to use Skype only in strictly required cases, I think it's acceptable as long as you realize that whatever you say or imply directly or indirectly or whatever can be gathered through metadata or side-channels, it's a no biggie really.

The best hide is to hide in the crowd and realize the situation and act accordingly.

That's why instead of looking for ways to ditch these services, we need to make sure they are audited on a regular basis, and that government agencies don't feel they are above the law; to remind our masters that only our consent gives them the power they crave.

The worry has to be the data they have on us from the past. We now know to be careful, so presumably those wanting to be careful, will be.

I now don't care what they do from now on. The key thing is that I am now 100% sure the internet and electronic comms are insecure. If I need to be secure, I'll find other ways to communicate, or do all I can to lower the risk, act accordingly, and accept the risk.

But what I do want, as a non terrorist/pedophile/bogyman, is all the data they have that relates to me to be purged.

Wont happen.

I hate to say it but what you're saying is like telling a 17-year-old that the only way to protect themself from STD/pregnancy is to never have sex. I mean, you're right, but you're also failing to cope with the reality of the situation. ;)

Considering that the so-called Average User doesn't care aboit his/her privacy in the first place, is this much of an issue really?

Which still doesn't prevent you if the service provider is rogue.

But not a word, yet. Not one word.

Smart.