Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2015 September 19

= September 19 =

Automatic data sent while using internet
How do I check 1) what datas are/were sent/getting sent and 2) How do I stop it? -- Space Ghost (talk) 03:36, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * [1] Use an open source operating system such as Linux and use tcpdump. You can try using the same utility on Windows (it's called WinDump) but you can never be sure that Windows or some malware isn't hiding the traffic from your monitoring tool.
 * [2] Use Tails (operating system). It boots from a CD/DVD and doesn't touch your existing operating system.
 * --Guy Macon (talk) 04:36, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Thanks Guy. Option 2 sounds familiar - SementicMantis and Aspro spoke to me about a 'Live CD' option for Linux OS once, also gave me link(s) to download which I've bookmarked, I did not come around to download it yet due to internet usage problem... -- Space Ghost (talk) 18:45, 19 September 2015 (UTC)


 * I would suggest it makes no sense to trust monitoring on the OS period, particularly when there are far better alternatives. Particularly since if you are asking this question, it's unlikely you have the ability to analyse the source code of either tcpdump, or the network stack of the OS you're using. Since the traffic has to be going somewhere, unless it's a mobile device using a cellular netowkr, you probably have control, or can have control over the next hop. So it makes far more sense to monitor the AP or router the device is connected to. You still have to trust the device you are using for monitoring and the tool on it, but in that case it's a specialised system so far more likely to have been properly look in to plus the kind of bugs that would cause traffic to be missed are different and probably less likely to occur. (In one case you have be sure that the monitoring tool is probably attached to the network stack and no traffic can be sent without being captured. In the other case you just have to be sure everything received is captured.) Using a tool on the sending side may still be useful, since you then can more easily determine what's sending the data etc, but if you're talking about trust you should generally have something on the other side to be sure. Nil Einne (talk) 06:18, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * -- Space Ghost (talk) 03:50, 23 September 2015 (UTC)
 * wireshark and netstat to view, peerblock to stop. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A03:2880:3010:BFF9:FACE:B00C:0:1 (talk) 18:32, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Awesome! Thanks! -- Space Ghost (talk) 18:45, 19 September 2015 (UTC)


 * Ubuntu will automatically send your desktop search terms over the Internet to a large number of third parties unless you configure it not to (see e.g. ). All major Linux distros can track everything you install through their standard package repository, in contrast to the traditional Windows model where you get most software from distributors not affiliated with Microsoft and they generally have independent update mechanisms. Microsoft is apparently starting to collect installed-software telemetry too, and they now have a Windows Store over which they exercise dictatorial control, but they are only able to get away with that now because it was pioneered and made acceptable by other companies that people don't hold to the same standards as Microsoft.
 * Independently of what OS you use, ad networks can track your browsing behavior across all pages that display their ads, social networks can track you across all pages that have "Like" buttons, and other third-party services like Disqus can do the same, via third-party cookies. Ghostery can help with this.
 * Many software products, including browsers, have a "help me improve this product by collecting anonymous usage statistics" option that may be turned on by default. At least Chrome, Firefox and Safari use Google Safe Browsing. There may be other default-on features of this type so you generally have to pore over all the settings and figure out what you want to turn off.
 * In short, the idea that using Linux is going to protect you from monitoring is nonsense. The general social trend toward acceptability of this sort of monitoring affects all OSes and applications. Tails is a different matter since it's specifically designed and configured to avoid this stuff, but it's also a very limited way to use a computer. -- BenRG (talk) 21:28, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Hello, sorry! I forgot about this post, I was busy with some other thoughts...with daydreams/OBEs. I understand. I'm using google chrome, I'm logged into the browser application with my google e-mail ID.
 * 'Ubantu' software is available where I am, along with 'fedora' and 'Linux Red Hat'. I've been dying to get into UNIX OS for such a long time, finally I found a 'Live CD' method, still it feels like miles away, in order to get into it...cause I don't know nothing about it; I'll definitely need you guys to help me during the infancy and toddling period  I will try to get into it the day when I become free, that's if I don't start daydreaming/having OBEs...

Thanks friends. I appreciate it. I'm gonna read into it on the upcoming festival day. Regards. -- Space Ghost (talk) 18:21, 20 September 2015 (UTC)


 * Space Ghost, again, when you choose which live CD to use. I highly recommend Tails (operating system). All you do is boot it up, wait a bit while it does its magic, and suddenly you are using Firefox through a secure connection on an operating system that is specifically designed for the one task of not revealing anything about your identity, location, or IP address. I trust it to protect industrial secrets when I am in China working on toy designs through a WiFi connection owned by a company that badly wants to see what I am doing on the internet. --Guy Macon (talk) 01:10, 21 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Thank you very very much! I really really need something like this… -- Space Ghost (talk) 06:18, 21 September 2015 (UTC)
 * How exactly does this help? The OP is asking about how to check what data is getting sent and how to stop it. It's extremely unlikely that this will even answer the first question, nor the second.  A Quest For Knowledge (talk) 01:58, 21 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Are you sure you are posting to the right thread? Because in this thread the OP was quite specific:
 * "I've been dying to get into UNIX OS for such a long time, finally I found a 'Live CD' method, still it feels like miles away, in order to get into it...cause I don't know nothing about it; I'll definitely need you guys to help me during the infancy and toddling period"
 * So we know he is concerned about "Automatic data sent while using internet". We know he wants to get into Linux, and we know that he wants to try using a live CD. Put those together and you get Tails. Plus it is the Live CD I use the most, and I am going to make a point of helping him "during the infancy and toddling period". --Guy Macon (talk) 21:16, 21 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I'll be honest, I do have people dying trying to get into my PC. They've been failing ever since I installed my Antivirus from Canada, but this doesn't mean that they'll stop... Yes, they've used the WIFI connection in order to get into my PC before... -- Space Ghost (talk) 03:21, 23 September 2015 (UTC)


 * What OS are you using? Are you using Windows, Android, iOS, etc.?  If you're using Windows, and are just concerned about web browser data, you can just open developer tools and look at the data.  If you are using Windows and want to see all data regardless of app/browser, [[Fiddler (software)|

Fiddler]] or Wireshark will work. If you're using iOS, I don't think it's possible (unless perhaps you want to rootkit your phone). I don't know too much about Android, so I can't say one way or another. A Quest For Knowledge (talk) 01:44, 21 September 2015 (UTC)
 * PC – Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit OS. Data viewing is not as important as ‘data sent’ blocking while using the internet; it’ll be good to know though. 1stly, I’m on ‘pay bite as you go’, it hurts my feelings when my eyes suddenly catch the 'Data sent' information on the modem’s window, what shouldn't be more than ‘Data received’ information... -- Space Ghost (talk) 11:33, 21 September 2015 (UTC)


 * OK, I am going to get a bit technical here, so ask questions if I am not clear. Read these articles:
 * http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/microsoft-accused-of-adding-spy-features-to-windows-7-8/
 * http://www.extremetech.com/computing/213183-once-more-with-tracking-microsoft-backports-privacy-invading-windows-10-features-to-windows-7-8
 * http://www.ghacks.net/2015/08/28/microsoft-intensifies-data-collection-on-windows-7-and-8-systems/
 * Basically, as part of the Windows 10 rollout, Windows 7 started "phoning home" and sending data to Microsoft. The articles above tell you how to get it to send a lot less. And of course, as we discussed before using a Live CD like Tails means that no data is sent without you personally sending it. I personally would never access, say, my bank's website from Windows. --Guy Macon (talk) 21:16, 21 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Guy Macon: Hello, hope you well. I've read the information you guided, then I recalled, I 'system restore(d)' my PC recently because my sound system was messing around, thereafter installing the new version of YTD (Youtube Downloader). I had to restore it 3-5 days earlier which resulted in the deletion of Windows 7's update files; about 1GB datas. I think that's why it was creating such data issue(s). I have 155mb data receiving left from Microsoft, hopefully it won't create any issue thereafter. I'll definately look through for 'CEIP' and 'telemetry' turn off options, once I re-top-up my internet. -- Space Ghost (talk) 03:42, 23 September 2015 (UTC)

Tails OS
I have a 16 GB 'pen drive' and a 32GB 10x 'SD Card', which one shall I use for the 'Tails' OS. Note: If there is a possibility of saving work, then I'd be happy to use the 32 GB (or more as I don't mind buying; safety comes first for me...). If I can't save any work from the Tails OS then I'd be happy to use the 16GB.

Okay, the following is a big issue:


 * 1) If I download the software, it will cost me round about the price of 3 CD; 150 ($1.50)...
 * 2) I have a guy who can download it for me but it will cost me 1 CD price. Q: Which link will help me/should I give to my guy to download it for me? I wish to go to him thereafter he downloaded with my 'pen drive' or 'SD card' then insert it inside my memory card/drive, come back home, then, either install it in my 'pen drive' or 'SD card' or run it from it as a 'Live CD'...

Note: I can't give him my 'pen drive' or 'SD card' to install straight from the internet...the trust factor is not there...he tries to eat people/me for money (but he fails with me cause I speak the truth)...I have to associate with him because I need him for downloading purposes...

Space Ghost (talk) 03:21, 23 September 2015 (UTC)