Your Cocoon add-on will stop working once you update Mozilla Firefox to version 6 as it isn’t compatible with the newly launched version 6. If you are a regular user of Cocoon security add-on then stay away from Mozilla Firefox version 6 otherwise you might just get frustrated.

Cocoon is one of the famous security add-ons that help you hide your self while surfing the Internet. It helps the user hide his IP address as cocoon converts your Firefox browser into a virtual VPN like system where your original IP address is hidden. It is one of the most famous security add-ons available for Mozilla Firefox and it is free!

We will keep you posted the moment we see any updates from Cocoon, but for now please don’t update your Firefox browser.

Update (22nd August, 2011) - Cocoon is not yet compatible with Firefox 6. You can continue to use Cocoon with Firefox 3.6 through 5 at this time. We are working on an update for Cocoon that should bring compatibility to Firefox 6. We hope to have it out within the next few days. We appreciate your patience while we update the Cocoon client. ~ Parker Lohman, The Cocoon Team

Update (5th September, 2011) – Looks like Cocoon is working fine with the latest version of Firefox. Go ahead and download it guys. Thanks Tekquisite for the update.

Salman Siddiqui is an expert technology analyst and regularly blogs on his tech. blog CompuWorld. His vast experience of freelance writing is backed by his passion to swim against the tide. You can grab him on Twitter.

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Stay Away From Firefox If You Like Cocoon [Update from Cocoon Support]

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2. Understanding The Most Secure Firefox Add-on – Cocoon
3. 7 Firefox Add-Ons To Browse Anonymously

If you are a Firefox user, most of the time, you would be using Firefox, enter your credentials for checking your e-mails, hanging out on Facebook, watching the news, … and the list goes on. Then you keep on reminding yourself to clear all browsing history when you’re done with the practical CTRL+SHIFT+DEL keystrokes.

On recent Firefox versions, you can decide to only clear the last hour browser activity, or everything … I personally found out that choosing to clear the latest hour history isn’t “safe enough” as I clearly lose track of time once I am on the internet, I don’t know about you. The same feature is available on Google Chrome by hitting “Ctrl +H”, then clicking on “Edit items”. The “good” thing about Google Chrome’s history feature is that you can pinpoint and chose whatever history you want to delete (ain’t that a great feature if you only want to leave the impression that you didn’t do anything nasty on the computer by leaving the browsing history “untouched?”)

Clearing the history can be a good idea only if you remember to do it when you’re done. However, chances are that you’re borrowing someone else’s computer because you just had a few spare time to use- and, as if Murphy’s law never fails, you usually have to hurry up leaving that computer for different reasons: an urgent phone call that kept you away for a long time, the pal you’ve been waiting for just showed up and asked you to hurry up because you’re late for another meeting … Then what? There’s a high risk you would forget clearing your browsing history …Even worse, you would even ask the computer owner to close your sessions – meaning, you’ll be leaving the responsibility  for protecting your own stuff to a third party … Hmm, that’s bad…Chances are they’ll take a sneak-peak into what you did first – you know- trying to find out the nasty things you may have done …

So how do you protect from those “unpredicted hurry” that don’t even let you clear your browsing history when working on someone else’s computer (or on a public computer?).  If we stick with the two browsers mentioned above, here’s how you’d do it:

- On Mozilla Firefox: at your initial launch, quickly hit “CTRL+SHIFT+P” (or go to “Tools- Start Private browsing”)

- On Google Chrome, still at your initial launch of the browser, hit  ”SHIFT+CTRL+N” (or got to the Settings menu, and click “new incognito window”)

Whether on Firefox, or on Chrome, a new window will then open – do your own things from this window as it won’t record your browsing history, nor your password, nor your site preferences. You’re safe, at least on the browser side of things (because you never know if there’s a keystroke recorder on the computer, nor if there’s a network sniffer somewhere on your network …but that’s another story). Now, when the urgent call rings, or when the Pal you’ve been waiting for just steps by and push you to leave, all you have to do is close the browser window and that’s it … No sessions to close, no browsing history to clear …You can leave the floor with peace of mind….

Hope this helped you…. Now we’d love to hear about experience using other people’s computer while maintaining privacy. Share on the comment section.

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Tips for Leaving No Trace When Using Someone Else’s Computer

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How does Cocoon look like?

Well, Cocoon installs itself as a toolbar in your Firefox. The add-on can be turned on or off by using the universal button on the left of the toolbar. Cocoon also offers the lock/unlock and pause button right next to on/off button. You might find it a bit difficult to edit settings as the drop down that offers edit settings feature isn’t easy to spot.

Mesmerizing features of Cocoon.

Cocoon is bound to grow due to some of the amazing features that it brings to your Firefox browser. Here, we will jot down some of the lucrative ones:

• As already explained, Cocoon hides your IP address and you start using Internet via a U.S. based IP address. Just enable Cocoon and note down your IP address and then disable Cocoon and validate your IP address again. This can help Netflix users watch video from outside U.S. as Netflix blocks content to non-U.S. based IP addresses.
• All the user data is stored in a cloud and can be accessed by the user only via a secure connection. The downside of such a feature could be the risk behind your password being compromised. Once your password is compromised then all your browsing information will be available to the user who has your password.
• Cocoon comes loaded with unlimited on-demand e-mail “mailslots” that will keep your e-mail address private to the outside network. The mailslots feature will let you create a new email address for a new account registration. The user behind Cocoon can create a temporary email address that will be deleted after the user is done with its purpose on the particular website. One temporary email address cannot be used for two different website logons.
• The anti-cookie feature of Cocoon protects you from stalking advertisers. This is somewhat similar to Internet Explorer’s tracking protection.
• Cocoon has a note-taking feature using which users can type notes as and when they visit the Internet. The notes can be used for future references.

Salman Siddiqui is an expert technology analyst. His vast experience of freelance writing is backed by his passion to swim against the tide. You can grab him on Twitter.

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Understanding The Most Secure Firefox Add-on – Cocoon

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1. Stay Away From Firefox If You Like Cocoon [Update from Cocoon Support]
2. Firefox Add-on ‘Cocoon’ Is Free!
3. How To Hide Your IP Using SwitchProxy Firefox Add-on

FoxyProxy

One of the best features of FoxyProxy is that it allows you to set up pre-defined “rules”. Thus, FoxyProxy can automatically switch between one or more proxy servers depending on which website you’re browsing.

You can set up FoxyProxy so that your proxy remains inactive until you go to certain websites. As soon as FoxyProxy recognizes the URL you have predefined, it automatically opens the website using a proxy and will keep it active until you leave the site.

If you have access to a good UK proxy you could use FoxyProxy to watch UK TV online. Below you can find several rules/patterns for different UK online streaming sites (Via WebTV Unleashed):

BBC iPlayer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/*

ITV

*mercury.itv.com*

DemandFive

http://demand.five.tv/Episode*

http://demand.five.tv/style*

BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/4/gtis*

SeeSaw

http://www.seesaw.com/videoplayer*

How to set up a pattern for FoxyProxy

If you want to access youtube using a proxy while browsing the other websites normally, you’ll have to setup the following URL pattern:

http://www.youtube.com/*

In the FoxyProxy settings click “Add New Pattern”.

The URL pattern to add is: http://www.youtube.com/*

You can activate the URL pattern you setup by right clicking the fox icon in the bottom right corner of your browser window and selecting “Use proxies based on their pre-defined patterns and priorities”.

Do you know other FoxyProxy URL patterns for watching UK online TV? Let us know!

P.S. Are you looking for premium proxies? Here is what I recommend: Anonymous Proxies.

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FoxyProxy Matching URL Patterns For Watching UK Online TV

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The Private Browsing Window add-on starts a new instance of Firefox alongside your existing session, with a new profile in which Private Browsing is enabled. You don’t have all your old bookmarks or preferences in your new private window, but you don’t have to end your non-private session.

In a Private Browsing session, your private browsing windows will always have different preferences, bookmarks, add-ons, and themes from your regular Firefox windows.

How is this add-on useful?

The main function of the add-on is to create a new session that it can be used for “sensitive browsing”, while still having the regular browser windows open. Thus, you can anytime close the private browsing window and come back to the regular browsing.

More, a private browsing window does not leave any traces of your browsing activities. But, there is always a “but”, the Private Browsing add-on does NOT hide or change your current IP address!

The browser won’t have a record of your browsing history, BUT your internet service provider or employer will still be track the pages you visit.  Keep this in mind while browsing in private!

[Private Browsing Windows add-on | Via Lifehacker.com]

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Firefox 3.6 Add-on for Chrome-Like Incognito Window

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The problem: where to find working proxies to be used with these add-ons?

The solution: proxy list sites.

You should know from the start that there is no such thing as fast and reliable open/free proxy. Most open proxies have a short life (from several days to several weeks) and they provide low speed due to the high traffic demand. Do not expect to watch Hulu using a free proxy! (If you find such a proxy let me know )

Still, open proxies are good for anonymous browsing and unblocking websites like Facebook, MySpace and Orkut.

So, where to find good proxies? Here is a list of 5 sites that provide pretty good, tested proxies:

• SamAir.ru
• Proxy4free.com
• Xroxy.com
• Freshproxylist.org
• Tech-faq.com

Go to any of this sites and select a proxy (IP address and the port – IP:port) from the desired country. If you want to unblock Facebook for example the best choice would be a US proxy.

Important! Make sure you always choose high-anonymous proxies. (Q&A: What type of proxy should I use?)

What to do next?

After you choose a proxy you need to setup FoxyProxy and SwitchProxy to use it. The following tutorials show you how to do it:

• FoxyProxy – A Firefox proxy add-on with a twist
• How To Hide Your IP Using SwitchProxy Firefox Add-on

Do you use open proxies? What is your source of good proxies?

[Review FoxyProxy & SwitchProxy on Hide-IP-Tools.com]

P.S. Are you looking for premium proxies? Here is what I recommend: Anonymous Proxies.

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Where To Find Working Proxies To Use With FoxyProxy And SwitchProxy?

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How Tor Works

A user of the Tor network runs a proxy server on his computer. Internet-facing software can then access Tor through a SOCKS interface. Once inside a Tor network, the traffic is sent from router to router, the Tor software periodically negotiating a virtual circuit through the Tor network, ultimately reaching an exit node at which point the cleartext packet is forwarded on to its original destination.

Viewed from the destination, the traffic appears to originate at the Tor exit node The Onion Router (Tor) is a free software implementation of second-generation onion routing – a system which claims to enable its users to communicate anonymously on the Internet. [Via Wikipedia]

Tor-Based Tools

To connect to Tor network easily you need to use an application that performs most of the configuration steps. Here are the best tools that use Tor network to hide your IP address and achive online anonymity:

1. Vidalia Tor Bundle

Vidalia is a cross-platform controller GUI for the Tor software. Vidalia runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux or other Unix variants using the X11 window system.

[Vidalia Tor Download]

2. OperaTor – Opera + Tor

OperaTor is a portable software bundle which allows you to browse the web anonymously. It combines the power of the Opera Browser, Tor and Polipo. With OperaTor no data will be stored at the computer you plugged your portable memory into.

[OperaTor Download]

3. TorFox – The Anonymous Browser 

Torfox is  a simple secure portable open source browser based on The Tor Project and Mozilla Foundation technologies: an anonymous browser which allows users to browse web pages hiding their IP address and other parameters which may be used to identify user data.

[TorFox Download]

4. Xero Bank Browser

xB Browser is a free and open-source anonymous web browser that can be used to securely and anonymously surf the internet, and bypass firewalls and website censorship.

The main advantage compared to other anonymous web browsers is that xB Browser requires no configuration or technical knowledge in order to achieve anonymity. xB Browser is open-source so you can feel safe knowing what goes into our code. Additionally, it is even portable on a USB stick so you can take it to work, school, or on vacation.

[xB Browser Download]

5. Portable Tor

PortableTor allows you to connect into the Tor anonymous internet system from any computer with your flash or thumb drive. This allows you to browse the internet anonymously from public locations, such as internet hotspots, library, or school computers and public terminals.

PortableTor has all of the features as the regular Tor, except without actually installing the application.

[Portable Tor Download]

6. Incognito

Incognito is an open source LiveDistro based on Gentoo Linux assisting you to securely and anonymously use the Internet almost anywhere you go, e.g. your home, work, university, favourite Internet café or local library. 

Incognito can be used from either a CD or a USB drive and has several Internet applications (Web browser, IRC client, Mail client, Instant messenger, etc.) pre-configured with security in mind, and all Internet traffic will be anonymized.

[Incognito Download]

7. Tor Browser Bundle

The Tor Browser Bundle lets you use Tor on Windows without needing to install any software. It can run off a USB flash drive, comes with a pre-configured web browser and is self contained. The Tor IM Browser Bundle additionally allows instant messaging and chat over Tor. If you would prefer to use your existing web browser, install Tor permanently.

[Tor Browser Bundle Download]

8. TorButton

Torbutton is a Firefox add-on that provides a button to securely and easily enable or disable the browser’s use of Tor. It is currently the only addon that will safely manage your Tor browsing to prevent IP address leakage, cookie leakage, and general privacy attacks.

[TorButton Download]

9. FoxTor

You may not realize this but every place youFoxTor is a Firefox add-on that provides an easy and convenient way to browse the web using the anonymous and encrypted TOR network. This offers greater privacy compared to regular proxy services or extensions.

[FoxTor Download]

10. TorChat

TorChat is a peer to peer instant messenger with a completely decentralized design, built on top of Tor’s location hidden services, giving you extremely strong anonymity while being very easy to use without the need to install or configure anything.

[TorChat Download]

11. Torcap

Torcap is a tool that allows any network application to connect through Tor, even if the overlying application doesn’t support SOCKS. Torcap works by injecting a DLL into every process running under the current user. This DLL then hooks Winsock API to intercept DNS lookups and TCP/IP connections.

[Torcap Download]

Do you know other good Tor tools?

Share them with us!

Make sure you also read: Pros and Cons of Using Tor.

Post from: How to hide ip

11 Best TOR-Based Tools For Hiding Your IP Address

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When you are concerned about your privacy, it is important to be careful about what traces are left in the PC after you leave the system, especially when you use a computer that is also used by others in your absence.

Solution: delete all the traces of your browsing, once you have closed the browser.

Most browsers have the options to clear your private data anytime through their menu. But they are limited options.

There is a Firefox add-on, called “Private Browsing” that is perfect for this job. It can hide surfing trails that the browser leaves behind. You can select the different data you want to remove after ending the private session, including:

• Browsing History
• Downloads History
• Disk Cache
• Form Information
• Cookies
• Saved Passwords
• Flash Cookies

You can set if must be show a statusbar icon, if you want the private browsing mode runs when start Firefox, and if you want the application alert you about undeleted downloads in your disk after private mode to select it to delete.

There are a lot of options you can choose from and cutomize your private browsing.

This extension is based in Private Browsing Mode in Firefox 3.1 and in Distrust extension with many modifications.

Important! This Firefox add-on does not change/hide your IP address.

[Download & Install Private Browsing]

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Hide Your Surfing Trails With Private Browsing Firefox Addon

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FoxyProxy is a well-know Firefox add-on that completely replaces Firefox’s limited proxying capabilities and automatically switches an Internet connection across one or more proxy servers.

Guys from FLOSS Weekly, Randal Schwartz and Leo Laporte, have interviewed Eric Jung, the creator of FoxyProxy. You can listen Eric beautifully explaining what a proxy is, talking about censorship, about what FoxyProxy does, future development plans and many more. Excellent interview! Highly recommended!

[Listen Eric Jung on Developer Fusion] [Review FoxyProxy on Hide-IP-Tools.com]

Post from: How to hide ip

Interview: Listen To Eric Jung, The Man Behind FoxyProxy

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The extension embeds itself into your status bar and shows you a list of all tracking scripts in a small notification rectangle in the upper right-hand corner of each page you visit.

Tracking the visitor details is very common on modern day websites. Since the vast majority of web sites are advertising supported, you’ll see the notification on every page load if you keep it enabled.  

What Information is Tracked About You?

Most web site record:

• IP address
• Location
• Browser agents
• Visitor path

Take a look on our What is my IP address page to see what I am talking about.

This information is used to find out more about the visitors’ online behavior on the site and sometimes are also used for displaying advertisements based upon the tracking data.

The tracking is done by special tracking services like Google Analytics, StatCounter etc., which provide tracking javascript codes to the webmasters. The code is integrated into the source code of the webpages and when visitor downloads a page from the server, the javascript code informs the tracking website about the details of the visitor. The info is recorded and categorized to be presented to the owner of the website.

Should You Be Worried?

As this is common practice nowadays, you probably shouldn’t. 99% of the websites you visit have tracking codes. But if you are really concerned about your privacy issues do not really want to disclose slightest details about yourself, then yes, this tracking can reveal a lot of information about you.

Conclusion: if you’re worried about your privacy online, this extension is definitely for you.

[Download and install Ghostery]

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Ghostery Shows Who is Tracking You While Browsing

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