10 Ways to Fight Back Against Big Brother
You’ve probably seen it all over the news lately. In an effort to “curtail terror” all over the globe, there have been some serious infringements of privacy by governments all over the world. Secret wiretaps, blogger arrests, internet data mining, the list just goes on and on.
It’s tough for the little guy to sit by and see all this horrible stuff happening and not know what the hell to do about it. So, without further ado, here’s a list of 10 ways to fight back against big brother. Lovers of freedom of thought and information need only apply.
1. Make a donation to the EFF
Yes, the Electronic Frontier Foundation mainly does work in the United States, but most of its projects have reprocussions around the world. For instance, their Freenet project created an anonymous discussion area on the net, and their TOR project helps people behind big firewalls (China) see an unfiltered internet. The TOR software also anonymizes visits to websites, so people inside of the US can keep their website visits secret from a snooping employer.
2. Set NaplesIsHome.com/freedom as your homepage
For every computer that sets the NaplesIsHome site as their homepage, $7 is donated to charities working for freedom of information around the globe. This really is the easiest way to do the greatest amount of good. It’s a frontend to Google, and so you get the same results as you normally would.
This is really a great use of computer resources if you’ve got them. Becoming a TOR exit node helps make the TOR network possible. You’ll be helping ensure people all over the world have equal access to information, regardless of what their government thinks is dangerous.
This is a big one, and most people will never do it. Start by encrypting emails with your friends, if only for the novelty. Each encrypted email is another letter less easy for a government to read. If everyone encrypts their email, it becomes impossible to track every single letter sent, and whether the ideas in those send up red flags.
5. Use open source software
Closed source software is impossible to audit and prove effective. By using open source software, anyone can check and make sure that the code does exactly as said. Companies providing privacy software have been forced by their government (Germany) to provide backdoors. Open source software is global, and beyond any government control.
6. Spread the Word about the DemocraKey
Walk up to any computer, plug in a USB key, and you’re surfing the net anonymously and securely. The DemocraKey puts TOR and other encryption on a portable key you can take anywhere. Best of all, the directions on how to build them are free, and they’re available here. Can’t afford one? Sign up for the DemocraKey mailing list and you’ll automatically be entered to win one.
7. Get an EFF Badge for your Blog
Putting up an EFF badge for blogger’s rights helps get the word out about the need to protect freedom of speech. Everywhere.
8. Stay Educated
Pay attention to the independent news sites. Read blogs. Make sure you keep yourself up to date with the latest technology designed to track your every move, both on the net and otherwise.
9. Vote
Of course, voting assumes that the new voting machines aren’t rigged, and that the politicians haven’t been bought already, but do it anyway, it’s tradition. And it might work someday.
10. Pass it on
Spread the word about how to fight back. That with a little work, anyone can protect themselves from snooping and regulation of thought. It’s not that hard.
