My question is, when I re-new my passport that expired last month...and supply the state department with the legal documents...are both of my names appearing on the passport?? Or only my new name?? I need to know before applying.

... I would assume only the new name, but I am posting this to ask if any of you readers know the answer for sure. (Also, Marco, you could ask at a post office or other place where passports applications are taken.)

Are you saying you dialed one of your own numbers with a Vumber to determine where the Vumber call would show as originating from? To see what the caller ID showed? Which "true" cell phone number was revealed? The one you were calling or the one you were calling from? Was this a potential glitch in Vumber's normal processes or was it the result of a third party tampering with the programming? I'm more than a little confused here, thanks for clarifying!

THIS business owner is going to do ALL she can to protect herself, no matter how the debate shakes out in privacy forums. For those who care just how much online spies can find out about you from your browser, check out the website below. Technology represents the biggest and most dangerous threat to protecting our privacy (which is why one of Wired magazine's blogs is called "Threat Level"!) and it should be managed accordingly, not ignored because it's more expedient since "the NSA's watching our every move, anyway."

Finally, personally, Google is one of the scariest privacy threats I've seen on a long time and I'm getting away--FAR away--from anything Google as fast as I can. I won't exchange my privacy with Google for their money.

Submitted Link #1: http://browserspy.dk/...

However, several things.

1) Do you research; search the names of the providers online and read recent forum posts about them before subscribing.
2) Learn how to pay for the services privately but legally.
3) Use anonymous proxy websites that scrub your computer's information from the browser to access and post to your site(s).
4) Don't permit unmoderated posts on your site. (Go to Poynter dot org and sign up for their media law web course.)
5) Create a terms of service that looks like something out of a legal research book to protect yourself.
6) Check out other similar sites terms and conditions for accepting subpoenas and requests from law enforcement and governments.
7) Make sure the service you're using doesn't tolerate and illegal activity (like warez, spamming, pornography, etc.) on the one hand but allows you to post the content you write on the other. You'll find a lot of those.

Also, have a virtual phone number, anonymous email address and make sure any content you upload is completely scrubbed of information from your computer like the name of the creator and the date, local URLs, etc. Protect your sites code with software that hides it. And make sure you've covered EVERY privacy related track you can before you go live. After you launch, keep checking to make sure you're covering your tracks. I hope this all helps or at least gives you a starting place.

One caveat, though. I once used a Vumber to determine where a particular caller was actually phoning from. When I called their number, I heard "You're calling from..." and my TRUE cell phone number! So, new technology is always being created to invade our privacy, usually in the interest in protecting privacy. In my case, I'm learning to find ways to use technology to achieve my privacy preservation ends. But, we should all be wary.

Finally, I think in the case of a domestic violence victim, using a VoIP phone behind a proxy server AND properly configured hardware firewall may help prevent them. Though VoIP phones are much like Vumber, a virtual phone, the user should have someone else with a properly configured (for privacy) VoIP phone call the stalker at a time when the stalker is not answering their phone and see what happens. ALWAYS be testing the technology to see if you can use it to protect your privacy.

I am involved with a liberty and privacy oriented group that's turned out to be rather popular on the various free sites and networking arenas as well as off-line. At a recent meeting, we discussed the idea of creating a website or two(news, discussion, solutions, covering local events and documenting them, etc.) Has anyone had any experience with creating an anonymous website with or without the use of nominees. We understand that a couple of years back, it was essentially made illegal to "use a pen name" when registering a domain. Is that true?

Also, since we'll most likely have a moderated discussion forum of some sort, it seems almost impossible to be completely private because if someone gets out of hand and posts something violent or illegal, the FBI will want to get that person's IP address, etc. from the website "owner."

If there is no absolute privacy when it comes to websites, is it worth it without an attorney?

2) Use a Vumber or Spoofcard for calling the court-ordered stalker ON TOP OF the Tracfone in #1.

If worse comes to worse, one could use the Tracfones listed in #1 on a one-time-only basis. That would be an expensive option, but possibly a necessary one. Like Wendy and Mr. Luna say: "How much is your privacy worth?"

The bigger issue to me, regarding court-ordered meetings with stalkers, would be the possibility of being followed physically (rather than electronically) after such a meeting. It would seem to me that guarding one's privacy in that circumstance would be much more necessary from the "rear-view mirror" rather than from the "cell towers."

I faxed a request to Intelius.com with a requested to remove my listings, per the instructions, but they have not acted upon it. It's been three weeks.

As I mentioned in the previous email you should check out NOVA's website on the spy factory, you can watch the program online. Every single email, phone call, internet traffic etc is stored by the NSA, (whether its legal or not) its the world we live in, so I guess my point of view is pessimistic as to the effectiveness of trying to block electronic information.

In my opinion the electronic end of things is the least of your worries as to identifying you. The NSA would have anything they need despite the blocking techniques discussed and internet sites are not going to use the information they gather to track you down and harm you. Google is gathering the information to make money. If protection in what you want your best bet is ghost address, bank account utilities, etc. If you are just talking time - I guess for me all the time it takes to block scripts would negate the extra time it takes to load a page.

Is the tracking annoying? Absolutely - I agree 100%. Worth blocking, maybe to you but not for me. I wish you all the best!

Submitted Link #1: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/spyfactory/...

So I have several specific questions about forms where privacy will be compromised. First, there is the application for a Federal Employer Identification Number which asks for the name and social security number of the principal officer of the company. The second is the California equivalent of the Federal Identification Number. The third is the state website which lists officers of the corporation. The fourth is postal form 1583 which asks for 2 forms of id when trying to use a mail drop. The fifth is setting up a bank account in California which requires all signers on the account to appear personally with 2 forms of identification. How would you go about incorporating? How do I get around these privacy breaches? I would really appreciate your insight on this matter. John

... NEVADA: Your CPA is correct. Don't do it.

... CORPORATIONS: You will forego your privacy if you insist on going that route.

... ALTERNATIVE: Do business with a personal account, using initials. The details are in Appendix C of my e-book Skip College: Go Into Business for Yourself. See the subheading "How to create an invisible owner for your new business."

Google reads my mail!

For example, if I receive an email that mentions Atlanta (or even ATL), there's going to be an ad for 'Hotels in Atlanta' on the sidebar or something similar (try it yourselves)

This means that (a) Google (or one of its applications) is reading my mail, and (b) the information (keywords) is kept, so I don't get a duplicate ad in the future.

I think even receiving on gmail is to be avoided...

I'm not saying you should give away your identity, but all this speculation about blocking ip addresses and dns etc. is futile.

Your best bet, set up ghost addresses, bank accounts, utilities, etc. and relax!