Jan 12, 2013 03:37 PM
(This post was last modified: Jun 1, 2013 04:09 AM by Arbitrage.)
Anti-Forensics Guide (Networking)
Anti-Computer forensics is a set of techniques used as counter measures against computer forensics. Reading this guide will certify you with knowledge that will carry you milestones into staying anonymous and out of jail.
This Guide is centered around the Networking part of Anti-Computer forensics. This guide provides an in-depth overview, explanations and tips on how to implement anti-forensic techniques to secure yourself and cover your traces while online.
Networking
Networking is a fundamental part of computers, and covering your traces over networks, is a critical part into staying anonymous. Most of your daily lives revolve around the internet and the use of computers, and you'd be lying if you mention otherwise. As a hacker, regardless of hat, it's only without question, that you would want to make yourself anonymous while on the internet. And thanks to the work of programmers, there are many solutions to masking yourself while in the cloud.
Basic Terminology
Network - A way for computers to communicate with one another. The internet is a type of network, but it is not the only one.
TCP/IP - TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol and IP stands for Internet Protocol. The TCP/IP protocols are the protocols used to send data across the internet.
IP address - This is the address that your router uses to connect with everyone else on the internet. There are currently two standards of the IP address (IPv4 and IPv6). Whenever you visit a website, they instantly have access to your IP address. Your IP address can give off information such as your location or ISP so treat it like your actual address, and be mindful of what websites you visit. To view your IP address, visit whatismyipaddress.com.
DHCP - DHCP also known as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, is the protocol that automatically assigns your computer an IP address that can be used to connect to the internet. If you disable DHCP, than you will have to manually configure your IP address.
Default Gateway - This is the address that allows your router to access other networks.
What are Proxies?
A proxy is simply a way to protect mask your IP address when browsing websites. As you already know, your IP address gives off vital information about you when you browse websites. With a proxy, those websites will no longer gain that vital information about you.
Web based proxies are proxies that you use inside of your web browser. Using a web based proxy will hide your IP address from web servers and will make you a bit more anonymous over the web. Although, using a web proxy does not make you completely anonymous. Therefore, you do not use a proxy for hacking. Instead a proxy can for things like gaining access to blocked websites on an enterprise network.
You can find web based proxies in the below links:
http://www.proxynova.com/web-proxy-list/
http://www.azproxies.com/
http://anonymouse.org/anonwww.html
You can also configure a proxy through your web browser if you have the IP address of a proxy server.
There is also Tor which is a download that comes with it's own browser and can be used to hide your identity from websites. You can put it on your flash drive and use Tor as a proxy anywhere you go. (https://www.torproject.org/)
Furthermore, if you want to use a web proxy that does not keep any logs, than make your own one! (http://www.glype.com/)
There are many other ways to get your own proxy, just find a free web host to upload the files.
Using your own web proxy behind a VPN (next chapter) is a good way to stay anonymous over the internet as just using a proxy only keeps you anonymous from web servers and not your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
What are VPNs?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. This is when your computer connects to another network virtually that could be thousands of miles away from your current location. Doing so protects your IP address while browsing the internet from both web servers and your ISP. A proxy does not protect your web traffic from your ISP, thus, there is an advantage to using a VPN. As mentioned earlier, using a VPN along with your own proxy is a good way to better secure yourself while browsing the web.
Although, in reality, being completely anonymous with a VPN comes with a price. Yes, there are free VPNs, but those VPNs keep logs of your web traffic. So if you want to completely stay anonymous while browsing the internet, you must pay for a VPN from a VPN provider. Below I will only be listing free VPNs, as I can not vouch for any paid VPNs.
- SecurityKISS
- Spotflux
- Hotspot Shield
- Keplar
- OpenVPN
- ProXPN
And don't be discouraged if you cannot pay for a VPN, using a free VPN is better than nothing and being out in the open to your ISP. Even if you're a beginner at hacking, maybe one day, you'll be great. When that day comes, you don't want your ISP to have logs of you spending 24 hours a day learning over a hack forum. That can be used against you if you ever get into any trouble.
I cannot stress over how important it is for a hacker to use a VPN, even if you don't do anything bad. Your ISP keeps internet traffic logs from the second you connected to your network! If you ever do something bad, your ISP can give all of those logs to court to be used against you! So if you aren't already using a VPN (not Tor), than do so now!
When downloading hacking tools/program, never download them on a home, work or school network, especially not without a VPN! And when downloading Torrents, be sure to use a VPN or a method for anonymous Torrent downloads. Taking these measures helps hide your hacking persona from your ISP. ISPs see what websites you visit and what you download.
Your Identity
Now that you know how to hide your web traffic from your ISP while in the cloud, you must also know how to maintain your online identities.
Firstly, always THINK before you DO something over the internet. As a hacker, you want to separate your internet usage into three main sections.
1. Hacking persona (your hack forums identity)
2. Online persona (your identity on forums, and stuff not hacking related but not personal either)
3. Social life (if you have one)
I will tell you how to keep each of your three persona's separate and the risks of not doing so!
Hacking persona
It is important to keep your hacking persona separate form your online persona and your social life. Always use a VPN/proxy when doing your "dirty hacking business". And never use the same email address that you use in your online persona or social life. Not only should you never use the same email address, but you should also never use the same username, avatar, signature, and never link to any profiles in those persona's. You should never tell anyone anything about you in your hackers identity, and there should be no similarities in your hacker identity as in any of your other persona's. Pretend to be someone who you are not. The goal is to remain anonymous.
Online persona
This is your persona that is separate from your Hacking persona and your social life. Regardless of why you've chosen to separate yourself on these communities from your hacking and social lives, it is important to keep them separate. In online persona's, avoid using the same email address/usernames for everything, and avoid giving actual information about yourself such as your age, location, etc. Doing so helps you from being traced as your image on every community is different and not under the same name. Also be sure to never tell people that you are a hacker, you never know what might happen if you do! You may lose trust, you may get banned, or you may be talking to a FBI agent!
Social life
If you are apart of a social networking site on top of being a computer specialist, than you may want to reconsider having a social life over the internet. For starters, colleges and employers have access to your face book account per se, allowing them to see everything you've done since you made your account (all of your photos, friends, statuses). This is a true story, and they do not even need your password to obtain this information. But if you're someone who is not a member of a social networking site, you will not need to worry about this. Secondly, having a social networking site makes you less anonymous online. Your ISP can see your activity on that site, and keeps logs of it. Facebook (or whatever site you're using) has instant access to all of your activity, and your account. If you are ever a victim of a RAT or keylogger, your attacker will have access to all of your information. And not only that, but your friends have access to all of your photos and information about you! You never know when they might take your pictures and post them elsewhere online! Now then, there is nothing wrong with having a social life on the internet, but just be aware of all of the side effects in the long run to make healthier choices. And if you do have a social life online, keep it completely separate from your other lives. Use a specific browser, email address, etc, all for your social life and nothing else! And never talk about hacking!
Fake identity
Lastly, to stay anonymous online, create a fake identity! Get fake images, and everything! Whenever you meet someone personally over the internet, you will be two steps ahead, because everything that you telling them is fake! Your name, location, school, age, gender, fake it! There are millions of people in this world, people will never know the truth! Plus, making a fake identity for yourself can be fun!
Web Browsers
When browsing the internet, be sure to not save web history, or any web logs. You can save cookies, but be wary of tracking cookies as they are hard to get rid of. And be mindful of the sites you visit on each of your online persona's. When browsing the internet, act as if you are always being watched.
Here are two Firefox Addons to help with staying anonymous.
Multifox - Allows you to create an infinite number of Firefox profiles without having more than one Firefox installation!
ipFuck - Simulates the use of a series of proxies changing at each connection.
Summary
Staying anonymous over the internet involves being pro-active to prevent your ISP from logging activity, creating a fake identity, and taking counter measures when downloading or signing up for websites.
Anti-Computer forensics is a set of techniques used as counter measures against computer forensics. Reading this guide will certify you with knowledge that will carry you milestones into staying anonymous and out of jail.
This Guide is centered around the Networking part of Anti-Computer forensics. This guide provides an in-depth overview, explanations and tips on how to implement anti-forensic techniques to secure yourself and cover your traces while online.
Networking
Networking is a fundamental part of computers, and covering your traces over networks, is a critical part into staying anonymous. Most of your daily lives revolve around the internet and the use of computers, and you'd be lying if you mention otherwise. As a hacker, regardless of hat, it's only without question, that you would want to make yourself anonymous while on the internet. And thanks to the work of programmers, there are many solutions to masking yourself while in the cloud.
Basic Terminology
Network - A way for computers to communicate with one another. The internet is a type of network, but it is not the only one.
TCP/IP - TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol and IP stands for Internet Protocol. The TCP/IP protocols are the protocols used to send data across the internet.
IP address - This is the address that your router uses to connect with everyone else on the internet. There are currently two standards of the IP address (IPv4 and IPv6). Whenever you visit a website, they instantly have access to your IP address. Your IP address can give off information such as your location or ISP so treat it like your actual address, and be mindful of what websites you visit. To view your IP address, visit whatismyipaddress.com.
DHCP - DHCP also known as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, is the protocol that automatically assigns your computer an IP address that can be used to connect to the internet. If you disable DHCP, than you will have to manually configure your IP address.
Default Gateway - This is the address that allows your router to access other networks.
What are Proxies?
A proxy is simply a way to protect mask your IP address when browsing websites. As you already know, your IP address gives off vital information about you when you browse websites. With a proxy, those websites will no longer gain that vital information about you.
Web based proxies are proxies that you use inside of your web browser. Using a web based proxy will hide your IP address from web servers and will make you a bit more anonymous over the web. Although, using a web proxy does not make you completely anonymous. Therefore, you do not use a proxy for hacking. Instead a proxy can for things like gaining access to blocked websites on an enterprise network.
You can find web based proxies in the below links:
http://www.proxynova.com/web-proxy-list/
http://www.azproxies.com/
http://anonymouse.org/anonwww.html
You can also configure a proxy through your web browser if you have the IP address of a proxy server.
There is also Tor which is a download that comes with it's own browser and can be used to hide your identity from websites. You can put it on your flash drive and use Tor as a proxy anywhere you go. (https://www.torproject.org/)
Furthermore, if you want to use a web proxy that does not keep any logs, than make your own one! (http://www.glype.com/)
There are many other ways to get your own proxy, just find a free web host to upload the files.
Using your own web proxy behind a VPN (next chapter) is a good way to stay anonymous over the internet as just using a proxy only keeps you anonymous from web servers and not your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
What are VPNs?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. This is when your computer connects to another network virtually that could be thousands of miles away from your current location. Doing so protects your IP address while browsing the internet from both web servers and your ISP. A proxy does not protect your web traffic from your ISP, thus, there is an advantage to using a VPN. As mentioned earlier, using a VPN along with your own proxy is a good way to better secure yourself while browsing the web.
Although, in reality, being completely anonymous with a VPN comes with a price. Yes, there are free VPNs, but those VPNs keep logs of your web traffic. So if you want to completely stay anonymous while browsing the internet, you must pay for a VPN from a VPN provider. Below I will only be listing free VPNs, as I can not vouch for any paid VPNs.
- SecurityKISS
- Spotflux
- Hotspot Shield
- Keplar
- OpenVPN
- ProXPN
And don't be discouraged if you cannot pay for a VPN, using a free VPN is better than nothing and being out in the open to your ISP. Even if you're a beginner at hacking, maybe one day, you'll be great. When that day comes, you don't want your ISP to have logs of you spending 24 hours a day learning over a hack forum. That can be used against you if you ever get into any trouble.
I cannot stress over how important it is for a hacker to use a VPN, even if you don't do anything bad. Your ISP keeps internet traffic logs from the second you connected to your network! If you ever do something bad, your ISP can give all of those logs to court to be used against you! So if you aren't already using a VPN (not Tor), than do so now!
When downloading hacking tools/program, never download them on a home, work or school network, especially not without a VPN! And when downloading Torrents, be sure to use a VPN or a method for anonymous Torrent downloads. Taking these measures helps hide your hacking persona from your ISP. ISPs see what websites you visit and what you download.
Your Identity
Now that you know how to hide your web traffic from your ISP while in the cloud, you must also know how to maintain your online identities.
Firstly, always THINK before you DO something over the internet. As a hacker, you want to separate your internet usage into three main sections.
1. Hacking persona (your hack forums identity)
2. Online persona (your identity on forums, and stuff not hacking related but not personal either)
3. Social life (if you have one)
I will tell you how to keep each of your three persona's separate and the risks of not doing so!
Hacking persona
It is important to keep your hacking persona separate form your online persona and your social life. Always use a VPN/proxy when doing your "dirty hacking business". And never use the same email address that you use in your online persona or social life. Not only should you never use the same email address, but you should also never use the same username, avatar, signature, and never link to any profiles in those persona's. You should never tell anyone anything about you in your hackers identity, and there should be no similarities in your hacker identity as in any of your other persona's. Pretend to be someone who you are not. The goal is to remain anonymous.
Online persona
This is your persona that is separate from your Hacking persona and your social life. Regardless of why you've chosen to separate yourself on these communities from your hacking and social lives, it is important to keep them separate. In online persona's, avoid using the same email address/usernames for everything, and avoid giving actual information about yourself such as your age, location, etc. Doing so helps you from being traced as your image on every community is different and not under the same name. Also be sure to never tell people that you are a hacker, you never know what might happen if you do! You may lose trust, you may get banned, or you may be talking to a FBI agent!
Social life
If you are apart of a social networking site on top of being a computer specialist, than you may want to reconsider having a social life over the internet. For starters, colleges and employers have access to your face book account per se, allowing them to see everything you've done since you made your account (all of your photos, friends, statuses). This is a true story, and they do not even need your password to obtain this information. But if you're someone who is not a member of a social networking site, you will not need to worry about this. Secondly, having a social networking site makes you less anonymous online. Your ISP can see your activity on that site, and keeps logs of it. Facebook (or whatever site you're using) has instant access to all of your activity, and your account. If you are ever a victim of a RAT or keylogger, your attacker will have access to all of your information. And not only that, but your friends have access to all of your photos and information about you! You never know when they might take your pictures and post them elsewhere online! Now then, there is nothing wrong with having a social life on the internet, but just be aware of all of the side effects in the long run to make healthier choices. And if you do have a social life online, keep it completely separate from your other lives. Use a specific browser, email address, etc, all for your social life and nothing else! And never talk about hacking!
Fake identity
Lastly, to stay anonymous online, create a fake identity! Get fake images, and everything! Whenever you meet someone personally over the internet, you will be two steps ahead, because everything that you telling them is fake! Your name, location, school, age, gender, fake it! There are millions of people in this world, people will never know the truth! Plus, making a fake identity for yourself can be fun!
Web Browsers
When browsing the internet, be sure to not save web history, or any web logs. You can save cookies, but be wary of tracking cookies as they are hard to get rid of. And be mindful of the sites you visit on each of your online persona's. When browsing the internet, act as if you are always being watched.
Here are two Firefox Addons to help with staying anonymous.
Multifox - Allows you to create an infinite number of Firefox profiles without having more than one Firefox installation!
ipFuck - Simulates the use of a series of proxies changing at each connection.
Summary
Staying anonymous over the internet involves being pro-active to prevent your ISP from logging activity, creating a fake identity, and taking counter measures when downloading or signing up for websites.
