Tues Tech Tool

This article came from Readers Digest and it talks about hiding your tracks online:

Just as your computer's browser maintains a history of the websites you visit, your Internet service provider (ISP) may keep an electronic log of the ones you peruse. Until recently, this was all just worthless data. But now some ISPs are considering selling these lists to companies that analyze them and then send targeted ads back to you. If you're bothered by this, there are three things you can do:

Go to vancouver.cs.washington and let the site automatically check whether your ISP is using monitoring devices.
Since this check is not comprehensive, call your ISP and ask if it's contemplating selling browsing data; if so, object.
Download a free software program called Tor from torproject.org, which will help block those prying ISP eyes.
Similarly, when you type a phrase into a search engine, you're broadcasting your interests and personal information. Like ISPs, some search companies routinely gather, store, and sell analyses of such data strings. That's why you should never search your full name and Social Security number or your name and password. Some other tips from the WPF:
Don't sign up for e-mail with your favorite search engine. This makes it easier to link you and your interests.
Use a variety of engines and computers for searching. This makes it more difficult to profile you.
Find out if your ISP uses a static IP address system, and if it does, periodically request a new IP address (essentially your computer's address).
Use software that masks your computer's address, like anonymizer.com, and anonymouse.org.