So I'm Sitting Here Using 22.75GB of RAM

[landbeforetimelover]

No matter how much I upgrade my master computer, it always seems like I need more so fast.  I remember back in 1999 I upgraded my hard drive from a 2GB to an 80GB.  Spent a boatload to do it too.  I seriously never thought I'd use that much.  Right now I have 4 1TB hard drives, 1 500GB hard drive, and a 128GB SSD.  They're not all full, but it just goes to show you how much technology changes.

Now if you guys remember, I just upgraded my computer to an i7 3770k 3.5Ghz quad core with 32GB of RAM.  I seriously thought that I wouldn't need an upgrade anytime soon.  But now as I sit here using 22.75GB of RAM, I am once again reminded of how futile it is to try to build a computer so powerful I could never use it.  This is what I currently have open:

*12 Waterfox (internet browser) windows open with a total of probably 300 tabs between them
*9 Google Chrome windows open with probably 200 tabs open between them
*6 folders open
*AVG open
*2 Books open in Adobe Acrobat Reader
*Opera internet browser open with 4 tabs
*TOR anonymous browser with probably 10 tabs open
*Windows Update open
*Text document open with proxy server list
*Media Center open with Netflix
*Internet Explorer with 1 tab open
*Photoshop with probably 10 things open
*Media Player with music open
*Settings/Computer Info window open

This is typical in a day for me.  As some of you may know, more RAM doesn't make your computer faster.  It just allows you to have more things open at once.  And I love my minimize button.  I rarely close anything.  I'm seriously wondering when I'll need to upgrade my motherboard so I can handle 64GB of RAM.  Or, may the heavens help me, 128GB of RAM.  Still, I have enough power on this computer so that I can keep all this open and running and still run a game like Skyrim.  Maybe I won't have to upgrade anytime soon after all.  I don't know.  But anyway, just thought I'd share this with y'all.  Technology sure does move fast.  Oh and don't be thinking you're in the stone age if you have 4GB of RAM or even 2GB.  For "normal" use, that's more than plenty.  Even really expensive computers from HP and Dell only have 8GB or sometimes 12GB.  I just have a more extreme machine.

[Mr Wonk]

What you have so far is really cool. Of course the bigger the better right! I see you use a anonymous browser but do you know about DuckDuckGo? I think you like it. I've never heard of Waterfox before is it any good?

[landbeforetimelover]

I see you use a anonymous browser but do you know about DuckDuckGo?

TOR is different.  It's a truly anonymous browser.  It allows you to access the darknet/deep web.  So long as you know what you're doing, you can be 100% anonymous to the point of even being able to do illegal things.  You can buy illicit drugs off the Silk Road .onion psudo domain, look at child pornography through places that I don't know much about (I've never been there) but know exist, find banned and illegal literature, and overall be completely anonymous online and be part of an underground community.  

So what do I do on the darkweb?  Nothing illicit.  But I do download literature that was banned in the United States and secret documents that big corporations don't want you to read.  And research of course.  I always have to keep up to date on everything you can do on the computer.

I've never heard of Waterfox before is it any good?

It's just the "unofficial" 64-bit version of FireFox.  Without it, I couldn't have all those things open as my computer could only use 3GB out of my 32GB.  All programs on my computer MUST be 64-bit otherwise they can only use that 3GB portion of my RAM.  And yes, it's a very good program.  A little unstable, but what do you expect for an unofficial version of a program?

[Mr Wonk]

(TOR) I apologize for the really late reply. I'm really interested now and might download it for myself. I've heard of the darknet but always wounded how does someone get there? And now I know.

(WaterFox) So I see. I will also check this one out as well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me.

[DarkHououmon]

DuckDuckGo isn't the same as TOR, I agree with that. DDG doesn't record or track your searches, but it doesn't hide you behind anonymity. Your ISP can still see what you're doing.

I heard of Tor. I do have a Tor browser but I don't use it much. It doesn't work very well for me. I'm not sure what I did wrong. Maybe if I try again I can get it to work.

[landbeforetimelover]

The TOR network is extremely slow.  You need to look up things manually.  The Hidden Wiki is a great resource for beginners looking for content.  

I'm obsessed with anonymity.  I use foreign proxies, a VPN, TOR, and other less-known methods to encrypt my data.  I doubt even the Department of Defense would be able to figure out who was on the other end of the computer.  In any case, it would require the collaboration of about 12 foreign countries - many of which have no policies dictating they have to share info with the US.  It would take years to track me down.  They wouldn't do that unless I was selling weapons of mass destruction to the Taliban or something.  Even then I'd be long gone by the time they tracked me down.  The government and large corporations fear people like me.  Luckily for them, I'm not a bad guy.  Unlike most people, I do what's right because it's right, not because someone's watching me.

[DarkHououmon]

Ah yes, I've noticed Tor is slow. I tried it again the other day and it does work, but it took several minutes for multiple sites to load up for me, so I didn't use it for very long.

I do have plans on getting a VPN at some point in the future. I was looking at BTGuard. Reasonable price I think. I probably won't get a VPN until after I move out, though.

A friend of mine is also obsessed with anonymity, and is currently using Tor and JonDo. He wants a VPN but is looking at the free ones only as he doesn't have money to purchase a VPN.

[landbeforetimelover]

Make sure when choosing a VPN to look at their data recording/retention policy.  Many VPN services record all your activity and store it, just waiting for the damned government to come along and demand your IP and all your personal information.  Pretty much makes the VPN worthless.  I'm currently using privacy.io.  It's pretty good for the money.  Add several layers of proxies from several foreign countries with no agreements with the US and TOR and you've got yourself a pretty good layer of protection.

[DarkHououmon]

I think Torrentfreak has an article listing some VPNs and their policy regarding data retention. I think BTGuard either keeps it for a week or they don't retain any data. I forget which it was.