Privacy

Privacy and Content Control

You might be unaware that as you "surf" the web, you are not only leaving a "trail" (where you come from [IP address] where you've been, how you got there, what browser or operating system you use), but also are picking up "snippets" of code that stick to your system like a parasite sucking up your storage, CPU and memory resources as well as reporting back to any number of organizations and individuals your surfing habits and other data.  Scared yet? 

On top of that, any number of sites or individuals purveying inappropriate content  would just "love" to get their "products" in front of your or your children's eyes.  If you've ever made a mistake and typed in a URL that landed you at a site that you found "interesting" at best, or used a search engine to research a topic, clicked on a link and, again, found yourself confronted with an "interesting" screen, you know exactly what we're talking about. 

Privacy and content control software were designed to protect you from these latest "innovations" in web technology.  When we purchased our first anti-spyware software some months ago, and ran it on a couple of our PCs we were absolutely SHOCKED to see the number of spyware "snippets" it discovered as well as cookies that had been deposited on the hard drives.  We're frankly embarrassed to admit that the number was in the thousands (too much surfing for information!). We have also found content control good more for productivity than anything else.  If the site isn't one we'd REALLY be interested in, we just don't get there because our content control software blocks access. 

Obviously, privacy protection and content control are good things.  But now that you've decided you need the software, what should you look for before you buy?

• Your software should block "unwanted" software parasites like cookies and ads.  It should also allow you to "clean up" and delete these parasites and other "undetected" spyware from your system

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• Content filters should allow you to block web sites that contain inappropriate content yet have an easy-to-use override function - after all, maybe your brother-in-law does need some entertainment.
• Additionally, we believe there are other software security functions (and we've included some of them on this page) that you might need - permanently erasing files upon deletion (did you know that when you delete files, they really aren't gone???), password protection for your system, files or hard drive, encryption of data transferred over the Internet and more.  We've included some of these software products as well under the "privacy" banner. 

So, if you don't like that fact that web site you visit has learned something about you, that some of them have planted software "parasites" on your system or have been offended by content you regard as inappropriate - read on.

Some vendors offer more than one package in this category.  We'll review them in table format within that vendor's detailed review.

Privacy and Content Control Software Review

Privacy and Content Control Software*

(Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)

* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro

Allume (Recently acquired by Smith Micro)           

Click Here to Buy Internet Cleanup For Windows!

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Allume's software is easy to install and set-up for initial use.

Cost - $$$$

Internet Cleanup (Windows and Macintosh versions) is priced at $29.99 (upgrade is $14.99).

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

Allume's privacy software  will help plug the gaps that intruders or inappropriate content can exploit - saving you time and money!

Ease of Use - @@@@

Internet Cleanup is simple to customize for your specific privacy requirements.

Works With - YYYY

Allume makes privacy software for both the Windows and Macintosh environments.

Support - ppp

Allume offers a FAQ and knowledge base.  If you need more help, you must use their online tech support forum and hope that their folks respond to your questions quickly.

Features - iii1/2+

Pretty basic privacy functionality - removal of spyware and cache and cookie clean-up.  Useful, basic software capabilities.

Overall Rating - %%%1/2+

Basic software at a competitive price.  Costs are low for the software through limited tech support, so just remember that before you purchase the software if tech support is important to you (in other words if you sometimes struggle with your system or implementing new software on it).

Anonymizer

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Anonymizer's software and software/service combinations are all simple to install and customize to meet your privacy needs.

Cost - $$$$

Total Net Shield is priced at $99.95 for one year, $179.95 for two years, Anti-Spyware $29.95 for one year, $49.95 for two years, Digital Shredder Lite at $4.99 for one year $6.99 for two years,  Anonymous Surfing is $29.99 for one year, $49.99 for two years, Anonymizer Dialup is $199.98 per year ($16.67 per month), Nyms is $19.99 for one year, $29.99 for two years, Safe Surfing Suite is $49.99 for one year and $69.99 for two years and Safe Surfing Professional is $119.99 for one year, $199.99 for two years.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

Anonymizer's privacy services and software  will help plug the gaps that intruders or inappropriate content can exploit - saving you time and money!

Ease of Use - @@@@1/2

Anonymizer's Privacy Toolbar makes it easy to customize the service to meet your specific "privacy" needs.  And, as Anonymizer delivers 99% service (not desktop software), you won't be faced with as many compatibility and system performance issues as with a software only solution.  All of the Anonymizer solutions are simple to setup and use.  And, once you have them in place, you probably won't have to "tweak" them much, they'll just be there - protecting your system and your data.

Works With - YYY1/2

Although the service "works" with any Internet-connected system, you'll need Windows and Explorer 6.0 for the Privacy Toolbar and any service customization to function.

Support - ppp

Anonymizer offers a useful FAQ, but if you run into any problems that can't be answered there, email is your only option.  This is a somewhat questionable strategy for a "service" rather than "software" provider.

Features - iiii+

We especially like the Total Net Shield Service that "privatizes"  Email, Chat, Instant Messaging and Newsgroup data, Nyms that provides disposable email addresses for online use, as well as the I.D. Protection Suite that combines Anonymizer services with ZoneAlarm firewall software.  However, Anonymizer offers a comprehensive software privacy product line-up that is unequaled and, that probably includes as much - or as little protection as you'll need. 

Overall Rating - %%%%+

We often struggle with the service versus software question.  If you purchase the service, you pay every year, year after year.  However, as security software companies now have begun charging a yearly "subscription" price for virus and privacy updates, the yearly cost - service versus software and subscription - is just about equal.  So, Anonymizer's service approach is as good, if not better, than most software implementations.  Our biggest complaint about the Anonymizer privacy services is their lack of any customer contact capability beyond email.  If the service is out, and you can't send them an email.........

Ashampoo

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Ashampoo's Magical Security products are simple to download and install on your system.

Cost - $$$$

Magical Security is priced at $19.99, Magical Security 2.0 is $29.99.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

If you share a hard drive or have information on it that MUST remain private, Ashampoo's Magical Security products are great utilities to encrypt data as well as store encrypted data (back it up!) on CD or DVD.  Real time savers that are simple to use.

Ease of Use - @