Internet privacy, security, age restrictions, VPNs and backups

[Samson]

GitHub - ValdikSS/GoodbyeDPI: GoodbyeDPI — Deep Packet Inspection circumvention utility (for Windows)

GoodbyeDPI — Deep Packet Inspection circumvention utility (for Windows) - ValdikSS/GoodbyeDPI

github.com

An interesting option would be for service providers to go over to DNS over HTTPS in friendly domains. Again I do not really understand it, but I think it is a new way of doing domain name resolution that allows a far greater degree of privacy and control and could really help in these situations.

The info megacorps did not like it, so there must be something to it.

Spoiler From 2019: British ISPs fight to make the web less secure :

British broadband providers are fighting a technology that's designed to make internet connections more secure to prop up their own, outdated content filtering systems.

The British ISPs' trade body, the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA), dubbed Mozilla a "villain" for supporting DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH). The technology replaces the current, insecure DNS system, which leaves consumers open to snooping and man-in-the-middle attacks that could result in computers being infected with malware when a user attempts to visit a legitimate site.

However, British broadband providers are launching a rearguard action against DoH because it knocks out their ability to track users' surfing habits and operate the filters that prevent them visiting blacklisted websites, such as those hosting child abuse images identified by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), or copyright infringements.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

At least the Hamster Forum is back up.

 

[IglooDame]

VPNs are great (ideal, even) for hiding one's origin IP and for ensuring one isn't "overheard" on untrusted wifi or other local connectivity (once upon a time, most hotel internet was via RJ45 jacks in each room), but nowadays with pervasive HTTPS the latter seems less necessary.

I'm about to spool up ProtonVPN purely because I'm already paying Proton for pro email and why not, but I've never particularly worried about anonymity as far as my ISP or destination sites correlating my source IP.

Edited to add:
Though I do gather that living in a state/country without any parental-access BS has enabled me to have that lack of concern. And nowadays I'm generally "public enough" with my life generally and careful enough with other personal security to warrant leaving that particular layer out.

 

[Samson]

If anyone is interested in payments processors which are less restrictive https://conjured.ink/ are a collective designing and building the software needed for folks who aren't techies to basically self host without feeling like they're self-hosting. Because you shouldn't need to be a sysadmin to free yourself from the yoke of restrictive payment processors.

Register if you are interested, they are not there yet. If anyone fancies helping they also need that.

 

[Clubber Lang]

One Week of the Online Safety Act: Cyber Experts Weigh In

The conversation around the UK's Online Safety Act has transformed over the past week. Since it came into force last Friday (25th July 2025), there has been a l

www.itsecurityguru.org