Cloaking YOUR Computer: Why and How

We often come across cloaked websites when we're surfing the Internet, often when we're doing a Google search for something. Cloaking is a technique in which the content that is presented to the surf engine spider is different to that presented to the user's browser. The whole point of clocking is to deceive search engines so they show the page when it wouldn't otherwise be displayed. Cloaking doesn't just appear in websites URL, now many people are cloaking their personal "profile information" by cloaking their computer's ISP number. A website called www.the-cloak.com will show anyone interested exactly how to accomplish this.
You may ask yourself, why cloak..whats the point?

Well, while cloaked websites can be super annoying and inconvenient, cloaking your computer's ISP number is not inconveniencing anyone, it's only protecting you from future annoyances. The leading Web advertising company (doubleclick.com) is planning to build a database of consumer profiles that will contain each user's name, address,retail, cataloger and online purchase histories and various demographic data. "This new database will rely on the help of cookies, which the company places on Net users' computers to record surfing habits and offer pertinent advertising." This could be very annoying.

Now you may be thinking hmm well what exactly does the cloak do?

The cloak sits in between your computer and any website that you go to. It will prevent these websites from finding out who you are. Using the standard SSL protocol it can encrypt all types of communication from your browser. This way no one knows where you are surfing. With the cloak you are directly connected to the machines of the sites you visit, and if they track you with cookies, which they probably will, they can assemble a total picture perfect idea of your surfing habits.

How do you do it? I'll tell you exactly how...(taken from the-cloak.com)

"1. Turn on Javascript. The Cloak will automatically filter out Javascript from any documents you download, unless you tell it otherwise. However, the-Cloak needs Javascript for its control panel.

* In Netscape Navigator, you can turn on Javascript using the menu sequence Edit -> Preferences... -> Advanced -> Enable Javascript. The Enable Javascript button should be activated.
* In Microsoft Internet Explorer, use View -> Internet Options -> Security -> Custom -> Active Scripting -> Enable
* NOTE: You already have Javascript enabled

2. You should turn on warnings when leaving an encrypted site, so that your browser warns you when you are no longer surfing using the-Cloak.

* In Netscape, use the menus Security -> Navigator and make sure that you are warned (1) when you leave an encrypted site and (2) when a page contains a mix of encrypted and unencrypted material.
* In Microsoft Internet Explorer, use View -> Internet Options -> Advanced -> Security -> "Warn if changing between secure and insecure mode"

3. You must enable cookies so that the-Cloak can give you a login cookie:

* In Netscape, use the menus Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced and choose any option that allows cookies.
* In Microsoft Internet Explorer, use View -> Internet Options -> Advanced -> Security -> Cookies and choose any option that allows cookies.
* NOTE: You already have cookies enabled

4. Also, if you are using Netscape, turn off What's Related in Edit -> Preferences... -> Navigator -> Smart Browsing. This feature connects directly to Netscape, and can tell them where you are surfing "

Cloaking your computer might not sound appealing to everyone, but rather like more of a hassle than anything else. I haven't done it, and if I wasn't so lazy maybe I would. Is it unnecessary? Maybe. For more information go to www.the-cloak.com