If you are interested in privacy (presumably you are, or you would not be on this site), then avoid Majic Jack (!!!)

Submitted Link #1: http://broadband-nation.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 10/ re...

... (The URL seems to be two years old and does not work.)

Since that time, it's been a very pleasant casual relationship. All of the info. provided on that basic application form has since changed, except for the pre-paid cell phone number I provided. Now, I just learned the owner, who's 77 with serious medical issues, has recently been hospitalized. His daughter has been running the answering service temporarily and has indicated her father may close the business, since it merely kept him busy during the day. I have all of my credit card and banking mail go to this address, and I'm fearful I may have to start from scratch again without much notice, should the owner or the family decide to close.

If I have to find another small business to receive my mail, would you recommend an independent CMRA or a Post Office Box? Have you or your readers had good luck with independent telephone answering services for mail receiving?

The program sounds good, if limited to monitoring critical infrastructure (as I hate it when the lights flicker or the water shuts off), but I really wonder how well this effort will be contained since GW Bush opened up Pandora's box and Obama has yet to close it on the NSA.

Submitted Link #1: http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=18969...

Does the post office share box owner's names with government agencies? Is serving on Jury Duty or giving them contact information public record? Thanks.

... A friend who works for the USPS is going to check this out. Watch this space.

Yup. But then again the key to anonymity is not piquing the interest of the government in the first place. It's one thing to encrypt your computer or use an IronKey USB stick to maintain your privacy and security should your computer be compromised or stolen, and that's a perfectly legitimate argument to use when Customs inquires about encrypted files, it's quite another to use it for criminal purposes. (oh, be careful in exporting encryption technology, which is classified as a "munition" under ITAR rules)

In a pinch, there should be no reason NOT to decrypt your files for an official government inquiry like Customs...unless you have something to hide, like the subject of the story did. I note, however, that the article did not say that refusal to unencrypt caused him any additional problems, and from the way the article was written I assume they had other evidence that convicted him.

The point is that if you are traveling, you should sterilize your computer BEFORE YOU GO! And by "sterilize" I mean removing any files you have created or downloaded that are not both essential to your trip and not contraband in ANY of the places you might be going. Then you need to DOD wipe the empty parts of your disk to remove any traces of files you might not want a government somewhere (not necessarily the US government keep in mind) to have, because most governments, if they have any question about the contents of your computing devices, will simply seize it and keep it as long as they think necessary, whether they can unencrypt it or not.

Here's a tip for you single guys (or girls): If you've downloaded sexy desktop pictures or you have other salacious images of women (or even pictures of your kids without clothes on), even something that here in the US or most of Europe you might see walking down the street (including bikini shots of famous starlets), BE SURE TO ERASE THEM (and DOD wipe) and put some innocuous photo as your desktop and screensaver, particularly if you travel to any Islamic country, where a photo of, for example, Charlize Theron in a swimsuit (of which I have many) would be "pornography" that will get you arrested and your computer seized. This ALSO applies to smart phone photos. Leave the sexy stuff at home.

In other words,give every appearance of being a harmless American dweeb and leave the spy stuff to the spies, unless you're a spy, in which case you don't need our advice.

The other interesting thing about the story is that the governments involved were able to detect that TruCrypt was being used, which gives lie to TruCrypt's claim that a TruCrypt partition is "invisible." Clearly governments have figured out how to detect if TruCrypt is being used, and therefore using it will instantly raise suspicion, so I can't recommend using it if you're traveling internationally, because other countries may be far less respectful of your constitutional rights than U.S. Customs is. Better to openly (?) encrypt your files and then open them to inspection if the demand is made by a government agent to do so.

Bottom line: Don't cross international borders with anything you don't want customs agents to look at. And, email copies of important files home before you travel, then wipe them from your disk before you get to any border crossing.

... For international travel, especially to any Islamic country (as Seth says), I suggest you leave your normal laptop at home. Pick up a cheapie netbook such as HP or Asus. Skip any encrytion software and head out with your new netbook squeaky-clean. You can e-mail any files or pictures home, or mail them home on a small storage device. Then sell the netbook overseas for at least as much as you paid, and return home computer-free.

I have a response to the dilemma posed to Harold in post 7764/7763. I studied this issue before and identified some of the issues and a possible solution. Basically some of the issues with registering an entity are or can be the following:

1. Office address in California must be disclosed

2. Resident agent name and address must be disclosed.

. Names of officers/people incorporating the business need to be disclosed.

I found what seems to be a good way to get around all of these issues. The strategy could involve using 2 or more New Mexico LLC's or other private entities.

Basically you would form a limited partnership/LLP, with 2 or more private entities, either out of state or in the state of California.

Registering the limited partnership/LLP out of California (in the state of your choice) is preferred because when registering a foreign limited partnership in California, one does not have to disclose the actual officers/owners as the NM LLC's or other similar entity would be the actual partners, and therefore would sign the docs in their name. Also, you are not required to provide a California address and can use an out of state one as the principal place of business. All you need to do is hire a registered agent (do not use yourself at your business location address). Also, a general partnership should work using this same method. In the case of a general partnership it can actually be created in California and does not require a California address at creation. A foreign one is perfectly acceptable. Now if only there was a way to magically get around that $800 fee!

Turns out this was a motel that is evidently frequented by truck drivers. Decent enough, and clean. When I travel, I bring a one-cup coffee-maker, water, food, etc.

I was asked only to give the license plate of my vehicle ("In case someone hits it and we have to call the cops"). No ID required, and I was given a slip on which I scribbled something that might have been my name ;)

I went there again a short while ago. I again called--they remembered me, and even asked if I wanted the same room. Again: Cash, no ID, and my name had been spelled in yet another (incorrect) way.

I'm wondering if the smaller mom-and-pops (or trucker-type) motels might be less intrusive than the "big name" places. And, too, I guess it depends on what you want. I will happily forego a few luxuries if it means not having to show ID or asked for a credit card in advance....

I understand that a nominee would be the ideal solution, however, I am not trying to make myself/my company judgment proof but rather keep my name/ssn/address/legal standing out of numerous databases, which may be accessed either by the general public or unscrupulous employees. I didn't know if I could wrap myself in a different type of entity.

Also, I have not had very much luck with the whole approaching someone and asking them to sign over power of attorney; I know I certainly would never sign such a thing. I have tried approaching some different types that seem to fit the bill, but people are always very suspicious of the whole idea and I am not a very good salesman. Of course this part is my problem, but the point is I am looking for an alternative in business licensing, consumer affairs registration. I certainly do not want something to happen and be in bad standing with the Dept. Consumer Affairs and not be able to get any type of license in the future. Is it possible to wrap myself in a different type of entity?

Lastly, am I able to operate a NM LLC in CA, or any other state for that matter? Also, you mention somewhere on the website that a CA LLC is $800, however, I am only aware of a $10 name reservation fee and $70 for filing the Articles of Organization, totaling $80. I am wondering if I am looking at a different type of LLC?

My apologies for the length, so thank you very much for reading.

... A NM LLC might work, or a CA LLC owned by a NM LLC. I believe there is an $800 per year franchise fee on CA corporations and that may also apply to LLCs. (I'm sure that some CA reader has the answer and may prove me wrong.)

Obviously I am aware of using ghost addresses and such, but it doesn't seem I can list all of these things accurately and maintain my privacy. Are there any ways you can think of in which I can maintain my privacy and be in compliance, or must I bite the bullet?

... The key phrase is "and be in compliance." I suspect that many would just advertise on craigslist (etc) and not register anywhere.

I found "Scroogle" through this forum, a "scraper" of google...and now it looks like it's going away (www.scroogle.ORG (.com is adult!))

Anyone know if there's any other scraper or search engine that's private out there?

Thanks!

Submitted Link #1: http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm...