Search the Community

This post is a bit long but I think it's an important read, if you use the internet. Sometime last year I learned that our location and online activities are being tracked by our internet service providers. When I did I believed it didn't involved me, since I don't visit any unsavory sites. I was enlightened later however when I learned these sites keep our data to be given to government agencies, and can even be sold to whoever's interested. When I saw what happened on the 20th of this month to our Russian brothers, it impelled me to share this with you today. Our religious freedom may one day be at stake, even if we think we live in a “free” country. The government can locate witnesses by their IP address, and block sites like jw.org (or even this site) from being accessed. They not only see what websites you visit, but how long you stay on a website, what you download and what you type in your search engine. To quote, here is an example an internet user mentioned: “It’s scary but maybe in the future you can’t get a job because the recruiter knows you searched on ‘how to deal with depression’ or anythings else that’s supposed to be private... Or you get a $100k fine because you pirated a movie or downloaded free music 15 years ago. ...You could be arrested for “liking” the wrong facebook page.” Obviously, as witnesses we have bigger issues to worry us, but even these points are still valid. If you aren't using one already, I highly recommend installing a Virtual Private Network, or VPN. A VPN protects your data & internet activities from being veiwed or sold. It also protects you when you are using someone else’s Wi-Fi (maybe during a field service break at a coffee shop) from stealing your information. It sets your location as a completely separate country. If you already have a VPN, make sure it's location is not based in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States. These claim to be VPNs, but even they are under law to share information with the government. I use a site based in Seychelles, where they are under no law to share it. I'll recommend the sites recommended to me if the Administrators will allow it, I just thought that I should share. I haven't been on here long, but I can't imagine not having access to sites like this. Especially to the WOL and jw.org itself. Ultimately Jehovah will make a way for us to be fed spiritually, but doing this may help us to stay in contact.