Safety while browsing/legality concerns in CA, USA

[barkeby]

Hello all,

I joined not long ago but just want to create this thread to see if anyone knows of the legality of browsing/downloading non self created zoo porn in California. I read Ca penal code section 286.5, but I could only find from 2019 and wouldn't be suprised if it has been updated since then. Also, I'm currently using mozilla firefox with a duckduckgo extension and NordVPN enabled, is that safe enough to avoid any tracking from my ISP? Last thing, as for downloading material, where would be the best place to store it? This might be a really stupid question but could I use my icloud drive?

Thanks all, super glad to be a part of this community.

 

[Porky]

Last thing, as for downloading material, where would be the best place to store it? This might be a really stupid question but could I use my icloud drive?

The question itself is not stupid, nor is asking it, but if you're worried about potentially being prosecuted, now or in the future after the laws may change, for possession of data, then it would be really stupid to store that data in a place outside of your direct control owned by a third party which can and will grant access to prosecutors upon presentation of a warrant.

Or for an even more extreme example, look at MegaUpload, which the US DOJ, in cooperation with international law enforcement in NZ and perhaps elsewhere, shut down because after Mega complied with a DMCA request to take down specific uploads, the DOJ insisted that Mega had a legal obligation to *search their entire mass of uploaded files* for similar uploads and purge those as well. Not quite to the point of requiring cloud storage services to police their users, but getting closer.

Personally I like TrueCrypt. The "hidden volume" feature is particularly nice since you can store your tax returns on the normal volume and your dog-cocks-in-every-hole stuff on the hidden volume that, currently, no one can prove exists without your cooperation (as long as you use a strong password). It's even cross-platform for those who insist on using Microsoft operating systems for some inexplicable reason.

 

[barkeby]

The question itself is not stupid, nor is asking it, but if you're worried about potentially being prosecuted, now or in the future after the laws may change, for possession of data, then it would be really stupid to store that data in a place outside of your direct control owned by a third party which can and will grant access to prosecutors upon presentation of a warrant.

Or for an even more extreme example, look at MegaUpload, which the US DOJ, in cooperation with international law enforcement in NZ and perhaps elsewhere, shut down because after Mega complied with a DMCA request to take down specific uploads, the DOJ insisted that Mega had a legal obligation to *search their entire mass of uploaded files* for similar uploads and purge those as well. Not quite to the point of requiring cloud storage services to police their users, but getting closer.

Personally I like TrueCrypt. The "hidden volume" feature is particularly nice since you can store your tax returns on the normal volume and your dog-cocks-in-every-hole stuff on the hidden volume that, currently, no one can prove exists without your cooperation (as long as you use a strong password). It's even cross-platform for those who insist on using Microsoft operating systems for some inexplicable reason.

Thanks a lot, I'll definitely check out TrueCrypt and keep what you said in mind as laws change.

 

[ryirkil]

Also, I'm currently using mozilla firefox with a duckduckgo extension and NordVPN enabled, is that safe enough to avoid any tracking from my ISP?

From yoour ISP, yes, it should be. I don't know if NordVPN is properly encrypting their connection. If yes, it will be enough. As long as you trust NordVPN of course, it essentially shifts your ISP problems onto them.

Last thing, as for downloading material, where would be the best place to store it? This might be a really stupid question but could I use my icloud drive?

Some encrypted partition, so that you can't by accident write it in plaintext. If you can access it without typing in the password, it's useless. People were recommending veracrypt, ubuntu has an option to encrypt the whole system partition during installation, I haven't tried that yet though.

For outside storage, encrypt everything well before uploading anywhere.

 

[barkeby]

From yoour ISP, yes, it should be. I don't know if NordVPN is properly encrypting their connection. If yes, it will be enough. As long as you trust NordVPN of course, it essentially shifts your ISP problems onto them.


Some encrypted partition, so that you can't by accident write it in plaintext. If you can access it without typing in the password, it's useless. People were recommending veracrypt, ubuntu has an option to encrypt the whole system partition during installation, I haven't tried that yet though.

Oh okay, I've heard good things about linux too... I cheaped out and got a mac with only 256gb, so I think I'll be buying an external drive.