My main question is- can my ISP intercept my emails and view my web
activity?
Why do I have this question? Basically, I live in an area in the
Balkans where the main religion is not one to which I adhere. The
service provider for the village in wich I live is very small and is
owned by a person who is a "leader" in this area for this religion. He
knows that I do not believe what he does. He is the only service
provider for my village and I don't trust him. His operation isn't
very big and I will not put it past him to snoop into my business.
This is why I would like to know if it possible for him to read my
emails, follow my comings and goings on the internet, etc. Also, if I
do go with his service, is there a way for me to know for sure if he is
spying on me?
"KH" <youthminman@yahoo.com> wrote in news:1130881280.647255.90690
@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
> My main question is- can my ISP intercept my emails and view my web
> activity?
>
> Why do I have this question? Basically, I live in an area in the
> Balkans where the main religion is not one to which I adhere. The
> service provider for the village in wich I live is very small and is
> owned by a person who is a "leader" in this area for this religion. He
> knows that I do not believe what he does. He is the only service
> provider for my village and I don't trust him. His operation isn't
> very big and I will not put it past him to snoop into my business.
>
> This is why I would like to know if it possible for him to read my
> emails, follow my comings and goings on the internet, etc. Also, if I
> do go with his service, is there a way for me to know for sure if he is
> spying on me?
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> KH
>
>
Yes, he can read your emails (unless they are encrypted) and, yes, he can
see what you do on the internet (unless you tunnel out encrypted to a proxy
server). However, there is no way of truly knowing whether he does actually
spy, log your activities, etc.
To avoid him knowing everything you do the two main ingredients are
encryption and a remote proxy server. Some commercial servers (like cotse
or findnot) will provide support for most protocols (email, surfing, etc.)
or you can use free services like mixmaster and Tor.
Even if you take these precautions he will still be able to track some
things (such as when you are online) but he will have no ability to know
the *contents* of your internet activities.
In alt.computer.security, KH dared to utter,
> My main question is- can my ISP intercept my emails and view my web
> activity?
Without a doubt: yes. Unless you're doing something extra, your e-mail
is 100% plain text. Anyone that intercepts it along the way can read
it, and by definition your ISP is going to intercept it. As for web
pages, anything that isn't SSL encrypted is just as clear to them.
> Also, if I
> do go with his service, is there a way for me to know for sure if he is
> spying on me?
No, not really. Depending on what you do, it's possible that you might
be able to detect it, but if you have to ask this question you're
obviously not skilled enough to extract information on his activities.
Even then, nothing is 100% garaunteed to work.
Of course, there are ways to encrypt your traffic so he can't make
sense of any of it, but really no way to prevent hiim from intercepting
any of it.
- --
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise,
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:5
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> My main question is- can my ISP intercept my emails and view my web
> activity?
>
> Why do I have this question? Basically, I live in an area in the
> Balkans where the main religion is not one to which I adhere. The
> service provider for the village in wich I live is very small and is
> owned by a person who is a "leader" in this area for this religion. He
> knows that I do not believe what he does. He is the only service
> provider for my village and I don't trust him. His operation isn't
> very big and I will not put it past him to snoop into my business.
>
> This is why I would like to know if it possible for him to read my
> emails, follow my comings and goings on the internet, etc. Also, if I
> do go with his service, is there a way for me to know for sure if he is
> spying on me?
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> KH
Use a web based email service that uses SSL (https) not only for the login
but also ALL data (ie viewing emails, etc). If you do not know what I mean
reply back and I will explain more.
As far as the web sites, the ISP can trace them (and rather easily). You
will need to use a proxy some where out in the Internet and bounce you web
viewing off of (through) the proxy. Just make sure whatever proxy you use
also uses SSL encryption from start to finish.
"KH" <youthminman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1130881280.647255.90690@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> My main question is- can my ISP intercept my emails and view my web
> activity?
>
> Why do I have this question? Basically, I live in an area in the
> Balkans where the main religion is not one to which I adhere. The
> service provider for the village in wich I live is very small and is
> owned by a person who is a "leader" in this area for this religion. He
> knows that I do not believe what he does. He is the only service
> provider for my village and I don't trust him. His operation isn't
> very big and I will not put it past him to snoop into my business.
>
> This is why I would like to know if it possible for him to read my
> emails, follow my comings and goings on the internet, etc. Also, if I
> do go with his service, is there a way for me to know for sure if he is
> spying on me?
This one comes up a lot (although not necessarily on this particular group).
Basically, an email is the equivalent of a postcard - everyone between you
and the recipient can take a look, if they so wish.
To secure it, send a letter (i.e. wrap it in an envelope that makes it hard
to see in. Some envelopes [encryption levels] are harder to get through than
others.
Because this sort of thing is entirely non-intrusive, the only way for you
to know that your stuff it being read is for the other party to make a
stupid mistake.
--
Hairy One Kenobi
Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this opinion do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the highly-opinionated person expressing the opinion
in the first place. So there!
Spying ISP 
Linear Mode
