Site Changes
- Note 1: Major changes to the Privacy Act 1988 will come into effect in March 2014. Agencies, businesses and not for profits need to start preparing for these changes. For more information go to our privacy law reform page at www.oaic.gov.au
- Note 2: From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date. For new privacy content visit the www.oaic.gov.au website.
Online security
The following information gives you an overview of tools that will help protect the privacy of your information while you are online. Disclaimer
5 steps to better online privacy
1. Only conduct business, visit sites or become involved with web sites that have adequate privacy policies that cover at least:
- To whom your information will be passed onto
- Why the information is being collected
- How the information will be used
- How you can access information the organisation holds about you
2. Install and use privacy enhancing software including:
- Firewall
- Cookie Remover
- Web Bug Remover
- Anonymous Web Browsing
- Encrypted Email
- Advertising Filters
- Anti-Spam Tools
- Anti-Spyware Tools
- Further Information
3. Opt out of all further contact with the organisation when filling in forms unless you know you want to be in further contact with it
4. Only give as much personal information as you are comfortable with
5. Use an online identity and free email service to protect against giving out your details to spammers
Firewalls
Install a firewall to stop unauthorised access to your machine while you are online such as the following:- Agnitum Firewall ( Not Free )
- Black Ice Defender ( Not Free )
- Firestarter( Opensource )
- Kerio Firewall ( Not Free )
- McAfee Personal Firewall ( Not Free )
- Norton Personal Firewall 2006 ( Not Free )
- Tiny Firewall ( Not Free )
- Zone Alarm ( Free )
- NetDefender ( Opensource )
Check your firewall doesn't leak:
Cookie Removers
Where possible and practical do not accept cookies when browsing the Internet and use cookie management and deletion programs such as (Please note most browsers enable you to delete cookies within the application):
- Buzof ( Not Free )
- Cookie Cop2 ( Free )
- Cookie Pal ( Not Free )
- HistoryKill ( Not Free )
- IEClean ( Not Free )
- Norton Internet Security ( Not Free )
- Tracks Eraser ( Not Free )
- WebWasher
Further cookie information:
Web Bug Remover
Install web bug detection software such as:Anonymous Web Browsing
Use anonymous web surfing services such as:
- Anonym.OS LiveCD
- Tor (Anonymous Internet system, Opensource)
- Torpark (Tor Anonymous Internet system for portable USB drives)
- Anonymity 4 Proxy
- Anonymizer
- Freedom
- IDzap
- Norton Internet Security
- Ponoi
- Proxy Switcher
- Proxy4free
- The Cloak
- TheFreeSite.com: Anonymous Freebies
- httproxy (Firefox proxy switching tool, Opensource)
Further tips are available in Thomas C Greene's anonymity tips article published by The Register.
Encrypted Email
Use secure email programs which enable you to send encrypted emails such as:
- DataMotion Asia Pacific SecureMail
- eMailman
- Enigmail (Opensource encryption plugin and signing for Mozilla and Thunderbird email clients)
- Ximian Evolution (Opensource linux email client with encryption support)
- Freedom.net
- Gnu Privacy Guard (Opensource encryption for MS Windows, Macintosh and Linux)
- IZEMAIL
- HushMail
- Mail2Web
- PGP--Pretty Good Privacy
- SafeMessage
- SafeIT E-mail Encryption
- Tumbleweed Secure Messenger
- Windows Privacy Tools (Opensource encryption and signing of content for MS Windows)
- ZipLip
- ZixMail
- Truecrypt (Free open-source disk encryption software)
Advertising Filters
Use advertising filters to stop pop up windows that often use cookies to collect information about you while you are online such as:
- Ad Block (Powerfull ad blocking plugin for Firefox)
- AdSubtract
- AntiPopUp for IE
- Junkbuster
- Mozilla (Advanced Opensource web browser with builtin ad and pop-up blocking)
- Meaya Popup Killer
- Muffin
- Norton Internet Security
- PopUpCop
- PopUp Stopper
- Privoxy
- Proxomitron
- STOPzilla
- Zero Popup Killer
Anti-Spam Tools
Install software that stops spam
Anti-spam software includes:
- Anti-Spam Sheriff
- Blubottle
- MailWasher
- Norton Internet Security
- No Spam Today!
- Outlook-Spam-Filter
- PostArmor
- SpamAssassin
- SpamButcher
- SpamNet
- Spamtrap
- SpamWasher
- SpamX
Anti-Spyware Tools
Install anti-spyware software such as:
- Ad-aware Standard Edition
- Aluria Spyware Eliminator
- HijackThis
- Keylogger Hunter
- KL-Detector
- NetCop System Shield
- PestPatrol
- SpyBot-Search & Destroy
- SpyStopper
- SpySweeper
- SpywareBlaster
- SpywareGuard
- X-Cleaner Free
Further Information
- Better Business Bureau--FAQs
- Coalition Against Unsolicited Bulk Email
- Consumer WebWatch
- EFF's Top 12 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy
- EPIC Online Guide to Practical Privacy Tools
- Federal Trade Commission - Spam Email
- IIA no-spam trial
- Netalert.net.au (information on how to protect your children online)
- Privacy on the Net
- Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
- So, You Want A Cookie, Huh?
- ID Theft - A kit to prevent and respond to identity theft
- W3C Platform for Privacy Preferences
More privacy related software is available @
- Firewallguide.com privacy page
- Spychecker.com
- Spywareguide.com
- WebAttack.com (freeware) security-privacy page
- ZDNET online privacy software page
Disclaimer The Office of the Privacy Commissioner does not endorse the products listed on this page nor has it tested the products. The links are provided for your information only. If you have any suggestions for this page please email mailto:enquiries@oaic.gov.au



Get RSS feeds