Is there a way to upload/download photos anonymously?

Is there a way to anonymously upload/download photos to the web without any sort of identification?


For example, if I'm using something like TOR to browse, and I find an icon on a site or Google Images that I want to use as my avatar for a social networking site, can I "Save As" from my TOR browser and download that image anonymously to my computer's desktop? Or does my information leak when I save to my computer?


...and then, in turn and perhaps more importantly, how do I upload that photo as my social network photo/avatar without any sort of identifying source tag or whatever from my computer?


When I attempt to upload a photo to the site, it keeps showing something like /Users/[iMacUserName]/Desktop


Is there any way to do this anonymously?

Would having something like a VPN be more useful than TOR in this situation?


I'm new to all this, so I'd really appreciate any information possible. If it makes more sense to send an IM or private email, please feel free to contact me that way as well.


Any recommendations for a great VPN to use with mac would be great too.


Thanks so much in advance for your time.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Jan 24, 2013 8:29 AM

Reply
6 replies

Jan 24, 2013 9:53 AM in response to AnnieMouse

The image isn't anything dirty, nor is it necessarily copyrighted... I mean, it's a photo still from a movie I like that I wanted to use as my avatar photo. So I suppose technically it's copyrighted, but I'm not trying to pass it off as really being me, or mine. I see people using that kind of thing for avs all the time.


I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not worried about the image I'm using, I'm worried about other users on the site being able to somehow find out that the image was uploaded from my computer (IP address, location, etc)


Like, could the admins at a social networking site see that the image was uploaded from my computer?


When I prompt the "upload" it only gives me the option to directly upload it from my computer, and as I said in my OP, it comes up with my iMac computer ID or whatever as the source of the file. (In the upload bar). Once I upload it, I think this information disappears, as I've tried to inspect other users avatars and it says owner info is private... but can the admins see WHERE the photo was uploaded from?


Does something like TOR block this? Or do I need something else? I tried to do some research on it and found another user asking a similar question and someone responded saying they needed to tunnel it or something?


Again, I'm not asking this b/c I'm trying to upload some inapropriate photo, but because this site is very strict about multiple accounts, and I have another account there that I'm not ready to delete yet. I just want to have a second, 100% anonymous account. (and feel I should also put it out there that it's not to do anything illegal or harmful to anyone either) just for me.


Thanks again for any more answers on this.

Jan 24, 2013 10:33 AM in response to AnnieMouse

I wasn't referring to it being inappropriate - the content really has no bearing on whether you can use someone else's property. A movie is always copyrighted, so any content associated with it would also be. If I post a pic online, it is my property - and, because I know most everyone downloads most everything, I've chosen not to post anything of mine online. If there was something sinister going on, with today's tracking and hacking capabilities, yes, an entity like the FBI or similar could probably determine where it came from. A website probably could not, but I don't know for certain.

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Is there a way to upload/download photos anonymously?

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