privacy
Posts tagged “privacy”.
Why is an app on my PC talking to a Tor exit node?
Usually because something on your PC accepts connections arriving through Tor, a peer-to-peer app met a Tor user, or a program uses Tor itself. Malware does too, so check the app and direction.
Block ads and trackers on Android without root
Without root, the practical method is DNS filtering: Android's Private DNS setting pointed at a filtering provider, or an app that filters lookups through a local VPN. Neither catches every ad.
Cutting telemetry without breaking Windows Update
Use Windows' own diagnostic data settings for Windows, and block telemetry one app at a time for everything else. Blocking svchost.exe or Microsoft domains wholesale is what breaks Update.
The upload pattern that should worry you
Worry when one program uploads far more than it downloads, in bulk, to a place you can't explain. That's the shape of data theft. Backups and sync look the same, so context decides.
Encrypted DNS (DoH): what it hides, and from whom
DNS over HTTPS encrypts the names your PC looks up, so the Wi-Fi owner and your ISP can't read them. The resolver you use still sees every name, and the addresses you then connect to stay visible.
How accurate is IP geolocation?
IP geolocation is usually right about the country and often wrong about the city. It's an educated guess from registry records and network measurements, and CDNs, anycast and VPNs throw it off.
How NetSecWall sees every connection without a driver
NetSecWall reads what Windows already records: kernel network events through ETW, DNS answers, and the TCP and UDP tables. It sees which app talks to which address without capturing a single packet.
Inbound and outbound connections, in plain English
A connection is outbound when your PC starts it, inbound when another machine does. Your router and Windows Firewall stop most unsolicited inbound traffic, so outbound is where apps phone home.
Is my computer being tracked? What your network traffic says
Almost certainly, by ad and analytics services, which is normal and mostly happens in your browser. Signs of worse are specific: unknown programs, steady check-ins and flagged addresses.
Newly registered domains: a quiet warning sign
Phishing and malware campaigns tend to use domains registered days earlier, before blocklists catch up. A very young domain proves nothing alone, but it adds weight when an app already looks wrong.
Why is my PC uploading data when I'm not using it?
Usually it's cloud sync, a backup, Windows Update sharing pieces of updates, telemetry or a forgotten browser tab. Sort your apps by upload rate to find the one responsible.
Why some organizations keep security management on their own servers
Self-hosting keeps fleet data, policy and admin access inside your network. NetSecWall's Management Server (beta) contacts netsecwall.com once, to activate. Managed PCs still check for updates.
How to stop apps from phoning home on Windows
See what each app contacts, decide which calls you'd miss, then block the rest: the whole app, just its updater or crash reporter, or ad and tracking domains across every app.
What your DNS lookups reveal about the apps on your PC
Before most connections, an app asks DNS for a name. A per-app list of those names shows which services each program uses, what it checks in with, and odd lookups worth a second look.
Which countries are your apps sending data to?
Group your PC's connections by country to see where each app's servers are. Expect surprises that aren't problems: CDNs and cloud regions put servers far from the company that owns them.
Why every app connects to Cloudflare, Akamai and Amazon
Most software companies don't serve their apps from their own servers. They rent content delivery networks and cloud platforms, so the address owner you see is usually the host, not the company.