h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm dead against it now, until (if?) these issues are addressed, and I doubt many of them will be because the big internet companies rely on them for their data collection.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/06/10/320347267/project-eavesdrop-an-experiment-at-monitoring-my-home-office
http://www.npr.org/2014/06/11/320882348/project-eavesdrop-what-passive-surveillance-collects
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/06/12/320997037/how-well-do-tech-companies-protect-your-data-from-snooping
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/06/13/321389989/heres-one-big-way-your-mobile-phone-could-be-open-to-hackers

By no means am I an internet security expert but I do what I can to stop my browsers and PC from pulling those kind of stunts, although I'm sure there's plenty I don't know about. I don't allow any websites to connect with my Twitter account, I don't do FaceAche, I don't use anything that let's me tell people specifically where I am, like FourSquare.

With a smartphone, much of this sort of thing comes as standard. You can turn off certain things that will make you more anonymous, but from what I understand that pretty much shuts down a good deal of the phone's functionality.

So I'll stick with my little ole flip phone and a laptop for now, ta.

Ah, but you see, that type of behaviour makes you look suspicious to No Such Agency. Resistance is useless!

I'm less worried about the information that might be given via my mobile/smartphone, than waht they find out from us, by reading our brain waves... A tin foil hat is really the only way to go

Mythbuster Adam Savage crafted a nice fedora from duct tape while "stranded" on an island. They make metallic tape similar to duct tape. I was meaning to make a similar hat but if I can make one that shields me from brainwave scanning, all the better.

OH! I'm so having to go to the DIY shop round the cornre, Monday!

I'll suggest a hint. Savage reinforced the brim with vines. A wire coat hanger will work better.

I was just going to stick the tape all over my head!

No you weren't. I've seen your glorious, long locks.

true... that might be... more painful than I'd like... or at least the wrong sort of pain and... it'd take hours to get off again afterwards!