Firefox variant lets users surf without a trace

**Brandon Sheley** · 09-20-2006, 07:21 PM

It changes a computer's IP address every few minutes

Every few minutes, the Torpark browser causes a computer's Internet Protocol address to appear to change. IP addresses are numeric identifier given to computers on the Internet. The number can be used along with other data to track down a user, and many Web sites keep track of IP addresses.

Torpark's creators, a group of computer security gurus and privacy experts named Hactivismo, said they want to expand privacy rights on the Internet as new technologies increasingly collect online data.

The browser is free to download and is a modified version of Portable Firefox, an optimized version of the browser that can be run off a Universal Serial Bus memory stick on a computer.

The Torpark browser uses encryption to send data over The Onion Router, a worldwide network of servers nicknamed "TOR" set up to transfer data to one another in a random, obscure fashion.

Internet traffic, such as Web site requests, carries information on where it came from and where it's going. But that's muddled using TOR, which has been endorsed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and is hard to trace back to a source.
One minor downside is that surfing with Torpark is slower than with a typical browser over the same connection.

Torpark cautions that data sent from the last Tor server to the Web site is encrypted. Since only the user's connection is anonymous, Torpark advises that sensitive data such as username and passwords should only be used when the browser displays a golden padlock, a sign that a Web site is using encryption.

Torpark's user interface appears similar to that of Firefox with a few changes. It shows the current IP address that would be seen by Web sites in the lower right corner and features a special "Flush TOR" button to reset a new, random server connection.
A test of Torpark using a computer in London employed IP addresses of servers registered in Berlin and Madison, Wisc.

**Anorak** · 10-11-2006, 03:40 PM

Sorry B, I hate it, havnt even tried to use it as the next generation "portable" << seem to be popping up everywhere ?? software. The last time I got a anon FF "addon" heck it locked me out of my comp for weeks, think I found the file in admin/docs/??/......... ff , then open with wordpad, success. They should issue advanced warnings, however with Tor, it didnt take over my comp - still don't trust it.

**Brandon Sheley** · 10-11-2006, 03:44 PM

Actually, I only use a few FF addons..

one being that I can see my adsense earnings.
one that helps in submitting to directories, it keeps the info I need for submissions, title, url, descriptions, email all that stuff.. it's helped me out a lot

and then I have a pr bar,, sometimes I add the webmaster stuff, but I don't have it on right now..

**Anorak** · 10-11-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon

Actually, I only use a few FF addons..

I try anything thats going

Is usually why you dont see me for weeks

Dont get me wrong, a mate uses Tor and he LOVES it........"portable" means memory stick, but heyyy, who writes or even reads the rules ?

Anyone thats not on Moz should check it out.

**Brandon Sheley** · 10-11-2006, 06:23 PM

what is this "Tor" ?

**Anorak** · 11-01-2006, 03:27 PM

sorry babe, something like an anon browser, which fekks up F.F. This one however runs off a stick so isnt supposed to {fekk up} Anyways so me, as usual, didnt read the destructions. All gone now.
My little friend swears by it ??? and runs it on his mobile { are we missing something ? }