How One Individual Hides Online
Torrent Freak has an incredibly interesting interview with the owner of a torrent tracker in which the individual describes the steps he takes to ensure privacy and the survival of his tracker site. Running a tracker site is currently a legal gray area, but running such a site does open up individuals to lawsuits scorn and other issues. While the details aren’t too down and dirty the overall information is fun to read.
Paying for Stuff Online
When we need to pay for something we use disposable credit cards, and the same via PayPal. We also have a few other PayPal accounts scattered around which we run unverified, then dump when PayPal start asking questions. ‘We’ is a term I (we!) get into the habit of using often, it’s less focused than ‘I’.
Using Email
Use a few varied accounts and try not to ‘cross contaminate’ them by doing *any* personal stuff on them at all – site business *ONLY*! If your email address typed into Google returns results other than to do with the site, you are taking risks. Ideally a search would produce nothing at all. In addition, I always hide my IP when I pick up or send email.
I get into these ‘expose’ style articles even if the content is somewhat generalized. I think a ‘spy’ novel type book about the torrent underground could easily be a big hit. Rick Dakan the author of the Geek Mafia series is an author who I think could do a great job with this niche in the tech/spy genre. Lord knows the RIAA and the MPAA make perfect villains especially when coupled with a corrupt spying ISP or two! You can read the current Geek Mafia books for free or purchase them from Rick’s site. Does this type of novel sound good to you? let me know in the comments.
Dealing with Idiots and Haters Online
Over at LifeHacker Gina Trapani has posted on how to deal with mean people online.
There’s something about the feeling of anonymity on the Internet that can turn otherwise reasonable, pleasant people into complete blockheads. Given an open, free, global network to communicate, people use it to rant, rave, flame and complain. We’ve all done it.
But when YOU are the target of an insulting post or sharply-worded email, quite frankly, it can really suck. Today I’ve got some strategies for dealing with Internet Meanies: those faceless virtual bullies who take pleasure in shooting other people down from the safety of their keyboards.
Continue reading How to deal with internet Meanies
Josh Smith is a blogger, database manager and adjunct professor of business and technology. 
