GhostSurf Platinum

Review by Michael E. Callahan aka Dr. File Finder

GhostSurf Platinum 2005, by Tenebril, Inc. is a really powerful suite of programs that work together to make your Internet experience better. And safer. I use this myself and have it on all my computers. The "Privacy Control Center" lets you surf the Internet anonymously. Your interaction with the Internet goes through GhostSurf and it removes any personal information. You can even encrypt your connection to the Internet and the program uses Department of Defense standards for removing all traces of you and your activity on the Internet. There are actually two versions of the program - both versions have the Privacy Control Center, but the Platinum version also has the ability to stop ads, popups, eliminate spyware, and lots more. It even provides you with a place to keep your important information safe. Really a total package.

For surfing the Internet GhostSurf 2005 Platinum lets you decide just how private you want your surfing experience to be. You can adjust your privacy as you go along. The program lets you mask your IP address, hide your personal information, and essentially block all information that you normally dump out onto the Internet. Slick! It even lets you do anonymous Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and instant messaging. And the program works with all Web browsers - I tested it with Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, and NetCaptor. And there's real power under the hood. Heck, you can even lookup the data on every site you visit - like contact information, registrant, and so on. And the program is flexible and gives you lots of options. For example, there are some sites you may visit that need personal information like credit card accounts or on-line banking. In those cases you can exclude such sites so your information is available.

What I've talked about so far is available in both versions, but what I'll tell you about from here on out is only available in GhostSurf 2005 Platinum! The SpyCatcher module give you access to the companies database of spyware programs. And better yet, you get free updates. Launch this portion and it scans many areas of your computer, including the Registry and files and folders, and seeks out spyware. When it's done you can disable each piece of spyware and the program won't let those programs on your computer again. So, in a sense, you remove something once and it stays removed. And another really cool feature of this portion is the "Protector" that you can set-up to constantly monitor your computer so when spyware appears, you know! Very cool!

Another really neat feature of GhostSurf 2005 Platinum is the Personal Data Vault. The program creates an area on your computer that's safe and encrypted with a password. Then, say you have some confidential documents you don't want others to see? Just drop them in your vault and they're encrypted. You can put in files, folders, graphics, even passwords. And the program also makes it easy to backup this special data in your vault. Backup to floppy disks, ZIP disks, hard disk, network drives, or even CD or DVD. I even backed up my vault to my USB "keychain" drive. Pretty slick. Oh, and when you move a file into your vault the original is deleted and not just deleted but it's deleted to DOD standards so it can't be recovered.

The AdArmor segment of GhostSurf 2005 Platinum lets you eliminate all kinds of ads from your surfing experience. That includes things like paid ads on search engines, pop-up ads, even stuff like flashing text that you see on Web pages. And the program comes with a list of known advertisers and that list is automatically updated. And, just as with surfing anonymously, you can designate special sites where you may want, or need pop-up windows to appear. And lastly, there is the TracksCleaner portion of the program. This segment removes every kind of "track" you can think of, from the Internet sites you've visited to the documents you've opened. I like the fact that you decide IF you want to wipe something and exactly what is wiped. You can customize what is erased, determine things that are protected from accidentally being removed, and lots more. And, if all this weren't enough, the program also gives you different levels of wiping power, from a quick wipe to a D.O.D. 13 pass wipe. Impressive.

GhostSurf 2005 Platinum is a powerful, full-featured program that is designed from the ground up to protect you in a variety of ways. From giving you a safe area to store confidential information to letting you surf the Internet and not reveal any personal information, the program is a real powerhouse. I like the fact that in all of its modules it has so many configurable options. The program works the way you want it work. It deletes what you want, blocks what you want, erases what you want, and much more. It removes spyware and stops it from coming back while at the same time blocking annoying advertising. It does it all and in one, neat package. Why buy four or five products when you can just buy one? I've been using GhostSurf 2005 Platinum for months and I'm impressed. So, I'm not only making it a Pick, but also a Dr. File Finder Favorite, and those are few and far between. If you're concerned about security and if you'd like to have more control over time and your entire Internet experience, this is a program you need to try. I recommend it highly for users with all levels of experience.

(Reviews provided by Tucows)