Last week, a new feature became available for those who use Google services (anyone with a computer and an Internet connection) to download or delete their entire archived history of search terms, whether to export that data for use elsewhere or to wipe it out completely.
Most of us take free reign on the Internet for granted and work under the assumption that there's nothing to fear if we aren't breaking the law. While civil liberties and protection against warrantless surveillance have become increasingly weighty issues alongside debates about net neutrality, in daily practice our economic sustenance depends on
a basic trust, or a leap of faith, in secure, benevolent systems.
The global community that runs the
Tor Project exists to safeguard freedom of communication and transmission of information. Users who connect to the Internet through Tor's servers cannot be tracked by websites and, in situations where they may face censorship, they don't have to reveal their identities and locations to set up websites.
On the other hand, Tor can be used for criminal purposes, from commonplace media file sharing to distribution of child pornography or drugs.
The people who run these encrypted networks take on major risks by hosting anonymous activities that can attract the attention of law enforcement agencies.
The piece examines the story of "Richard," whose home in Indianapolis was raided three years ago by FBI agents investigating what appeared to be a computer network breach of Major League Baseball's Houston Astros. The article gives the "dark web" an enlightening look and helps demystify the tangled issues in a world of increasing cyber attacks and persistently oppressive state censorship.
Read the full story at
Vice.
