On the same token, some of the information presented here is entirely accurate and worth reading if you're concerned about privacy or your right to free speech . Furthermore, the ACLU does a lot to protect civil liberties from government intrusion. Be warned that there are lots of urban legends out there, and that you shouldn't believe everything you read. If you check out the home page of the Center for Democracy and Technology you'll learn a lot about the internet and privacy and what can be found out about you while you surf the net. The Electronic Privacy Information Center amd Electronic Frontier Foundation sites will provide you with similar information.
Switchboard is a site which compiles phone numbers from across the country.
The internet simply is not that secure. I know that does sound genuinely paranoid, but it also happens to be very sage advice. However, there are also ways to protect yourself via the internet. If you like, you can obtain an anonymous id from anon.penet.fi. From all indications, as long as you're doing nothing illegal, this is entirely secure.