| raylopez99 2007-03-29, 7:12 am |
| If you think anonymous posting is only for criminals and political
dissidents, check out the below, a lawsuit by a major corporation
against a customer for posting two complaints on a Yahoo group message
board. I don't know the dynamics of what's going on behind the scenes
or even the merits of the case, but suffice to say anyone who'se
anyone needs to on occasion surf anonymously.
My question: what is the best software for anonymous surfing given
the following ten requirements?
1/ Speed of internet access not a priority--I don't mind lack of speed
since I will not be using anonymous web surfing except occasionally
(such as posting a complaint about something). Probably once or twice
a month.
2/ I need the ability to integrate the anonymous s/w program into the
lastest version of Windows Internet Explorer, but be able to 'turn it
off' when I'm not using it (since it seems this type anonymous s/w
slows down web surfing).
3/ Cost is not an issue--I don't mind paying, though I rather pay a
one-time fee than a monthly reoccuring fee.
4/ Encryption of email is a bonus (see 5/ below)
5/ Ideally, since I think my current sysop can read my email and web
postings, I would like to encrypt my outgoing data streams (email, web
postings) to everybody including my sysop when I'm using the software
6/ Using DSL, if that matters; Windows XP; a modern Pentium
microprocessor
7/ Steganos Internet Anonym VPN? See the product review here:
http://www.steganos.com/en/products/siavpn/
8/ I'm not completely convinced I even know what I want,
notwithstanding specs 1-7 above, so feel free to chime in any random
issues I may have missed. For example, perhaps if I only want
anonymous email once a month, I can simply log onto a reputable server
who would know who I am, but promise that they would not compromise my
security and not keep records of what I posted once I logged on.
However, if such a service exists, it's not as preferable as 1-7
above, since you have to essentially trust somebody with a server,
probably offshore
9/ Reserved for future use
10/ I wanted to get to ten: I'll add that I'm offshore at the moment,
though a US citizen
Any suggestions welcome. Thank you.
RL
-
http://www.noriegaville.com/nville....1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2...yahoo-postings/
http://householdwatch.com/news/interactive/75
HSBC Sues Customer For Yahoo Postings
( 867 Views )
I am a US citizen living in Panama. I recently learned of a very
disturbing lawsuit filed by the multi national banking conglomerate
HSBC in Panama - a country where anyone can be criminally prosecuted
or civilly sued for defamation even if the statements that are the
subject of the suit are absolutely true (truth is not a defense). The
suit was filed by HSBC's Panama branch, which is (I believe) an
affiliate of the US corporation, against a British resident of Panama,
Peter Gordon.
Peter had been a customer of HSBC Panama but cancelled his accounts
because he was unsatisfied with HSBC's service and felt they were
nickel and diming him with excessive and unwarranted fees. He posted
numerous messages on several yahoo groups catering to foreign expats
living in (or planning to move to) Panama warning people not to bank
with HSBC because of poor service and excessive fees. Last year, the
bank sued him civilly for defamation based solely on the yahoo group
postings (the suit seeks $5 million dollars in "lost business") and
got an order attaching not only his personal assets, but also the
assets of a charitable foundation he had set up. (Panama law allows
the plaintiff in a lawsuit to attach the defendant's assets and freeze
them until the lawsuit is resolved, which usually takes years.)
This case is very important, particularly to the expat community and
foreign investors in Panama, not only because of the free speech
issues, but also because HSBC was able to obtain the order freezing
the foundation's bank accounts, even though such an order is a clear
violation of Panama's laws that protect foundations against asset
seizure unless the plaintiff can show that the foundation itself
(through its governing body) committed the tortious act or that the
person being sued engaged in fraudulent transfers of assets to the
foundation.
The issue of the asset seizure is now before the Panama Supreme Court,
although the lawsuit itself may not be tried for years. For more
information about this case, please contact Okke Ornstein, an
investigative journalist who publishes Noriegaville,
(www.noriegaville.com). An article about the lawsuit is HERE:
http://www.noriegaville.com/nville....=1&pb=1#more382
You can email Okke. Please publicize this lawsuit, it is a very
important free speech issue. I believe that this is the first time any
lawsuit has been filed in a Panamanian court based on postings made to
a yahoo group.
Editor's Note: This website, Household - HSBC Watch, was also
contacted by attorneys representing HSBC in an attempt to shut down
our watchdog and advocacy websites. The attorneys claimed
cybersquatting. Consumer advocacy, watchdog, and complaint websites
are clearly covered by free speech and other laws. It seems HSBC will
go after anyone and anybody to get their way and suppress the truth
about high fees, predatory lending, and past history.
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