How does someone find you on the internet and know of your internet activity? I mean most of us here dont use our real names when we post, for various reasons. I dont have my gender in my profile or a location other than UK. So how is someone able to come in here and prove that you are the person they know to be able to go elsewhere and tell folk of your involvement in this (or any other) forum ?
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How does someone find you ?
- Thread starter ticklemad
- Start date
I'm no computer whiz, but I think there are signature/number type of addresses which each household or subscriber has, then the server who has originally connected online for you, has all your personal information, since you had to provide that information when you joined a particular server. That is a very interesting question, and I will be waiting to read the replies, because I really don't know. I have wireless, so does that mean that the neighbors can see what I'm writing? lol 
IP sigs are not seen by the general membership.....
Careful reading of posts by a person can lead to clues of identity.....
Posting on several forums under the same screen name can also lead to personal info that provides clues......
Talking with others who may know intimate details about a person can also give away ID's....
Anyone who really wants to work at finding out who someone is, usually can if willing to put forth the effort.....
Ray
Careful reading of posts by a person can lead to clues of identity.....
Posting on several forums under the same screen name can also lead to personal info that provides clues......
Talking with others who may know intimate details about a person can also give away ID's....
Anyone who really wants to work at finding out who someone is, usually can if willing to put forth the effort.....
Ray
Tracking someone down
First off, I'm just a computer geek/computer science major, so nothing I say here should be interpreted to be in any way creepy.
Ok, there are several ways someone can track you down, I'll start with the not-so legal because that's what I'm paranoid about. Your IP address is a little more accessible then you may think, any computer that can for lack of a better term, "see" yours can see your ip address. If you want to know what your ip address is, try http://www.whatismyipaddress.com/ . I have seen sigs on other sites that tell you your comps IP address, and if it can tell you, it can certainly log it and store it for later. If the server logs that information, anyone who hacks the server can see it, and then track it down to your IP. Once there they can lie, fake and hack their way to your personal info. Once they have both ends of the puzzle, they can probably even then find the one or two legal connectors laying around and use those so they don't get in trouble.
Once anyone has your IP address, they can now find your computer online, and attempt to hack your computer directly. Most security on home PCs is minimal, mine certainly is. Most hackers will be stopped by a basic firewall, and the ones that won't probably aren't targeting individuals. The other 2% can and will just waltz in and get anything off your computer they want, but they usually get caught sooner or later. I accidently left my firewall down after transfering files a couple years ago, and someone uploaded nearly 40 GB from my hard drive. Fortunatly, I don't have anything of great importance on my computer. There's a reason individuals aren't targeted very often.
If they can't get into your computer directly, they can always send a trojan to someone you know, and then send a fake message from that computer, with the trojan attached.
Ok, slightly more legal ways now. There are still perfectly legal ways to get someone's IP address without hacking. If you have ever chatted with someone, or been in any kind of direct comp to comp contact with them, they can get your IP address that way, and nothing illegal about that. Then, with a payphone and a good story, they can probably get your personal information.
As for entirely legal ways, those involve detective work. If you use the same screen name on a different site, it can be tracked down, probably with google. From there they can link to any personal data you may have on the site. I'm sure there are other ways, but this is the point where I usually stop worrying about it. If someone REALLY wants to find out who I am, they probably can with relative ease. I rest comfortably in the fact that nobody really cares about me 🙂. Even if someone ever tracks me down, I figure I'll just have to deal with it, no one who's opinion I really care about would be affected, my family tends to take a your business is your business attitude.
Hope this satasfies your curiosity a little, if you want more detailed stuff I'm sure someone else here can help you, I don't have a lot of experience with networks myself, just the theory.
First off, I'm just a computer geek/computer science major, so nothing I say here should be interpreted to be in any way creepy.
Ok, there are several ways someone can track you down, I'll start with the not-so legal because that's what I'm paranoid about. Your IP address is a little more accessible then you may think, any computer that can for lack of a better term, "see" yours can see your ip address. If you want to know what your ip address is, try http://www.whatismyipaddress.com/ . I have seen sigs on other sites that tell you your comps IP address, and if it can tell you, it can certainly log it and store it for later. If the server logs that information, anyone who hacks the server can see it, and then track it down to your IP. Once there they can lie, fake and hack their way to your personal info. Once they have both ends of the puzzle, they can probably even then find the one or two legal connectors laying around and use those so they don't get in trouble.
Once anyone has your IP address, they can now find your computer online, and attempt to hack your computer directly. Most security on home PCs is minimal, mine certainly is. Most hackers will be stopped by a basic firewall, and the ones that won't probably aren't targeting individuals. The other 2% can and will just waltz in and get anything off your computer they want, but they usually get caught sooner or later. I accidently left my firewall down after transfering files a couple years ago, and someone uploaded nearly 40 GB from my hard drive. Fortunatly, I don't have anything of great importance on my computer. There's a reason individuals aren't targeted very often.
If they can't get into your computer directly, they can always send a trojan to someone you know, and then send a fake message from that computer, with the trojan attached.
Ok, slightly more legal ways now. There are still perfectly legal ways to get someone's IP address without hacking. If you have ever chatted with someone, or been in any kind of direct comp to comp contact with them, they can get your IP address that way, and nothing illegal about that. Then, with a payphone and a good story, they can probably get your personal information.
As for entirely legal ways, those involve detective work. If you use the same screen name on a different site, it can be tracked down, probably with google. From there they can link to any personal data you may have on the site. I'm sure there are other ways, but this is the point where I usually stop worrying about it. If someone REALLY wants to find out who I am, they probably can with relative ease. I rest comfortably in the fact that nobody really cares about me 🙂. Even if someone ever tracks me down, I figure I'll just have to deal with it, no one who's opinion I really care about would be affected, my family tends to take a your business is your business attitude.
Hope this satasfies your curiosity a little, if you want more detailed stuff I'm sure someone else here can help you, I don't have a lot of experience with networks myself, just the theory.
I have spoken to one TMFer who's a good friend on the phone, (A Guy) so he knows Iam who I say Iam. I also talk to several other TMF'ers via Yahoo.
I know there is this TMF thing of who is a real person, and who isnt, especially for females. For myself personally, I have nothing to hide. Iam who I say Iam, 35 yr old SWM antiques dealer, Lancaster, PA, and my pic in the forum is what I really look like, save for being 20 lbs lighter than last year. I figure, why lie about myself? If I ever want to persue friendships or relationships with women from TMF off of TMF, I figure from my standpoint it is best to be honest. This way, if people meet me at a gathering, or a woman from TMF wants to meet me, or date me, she knows who she's dealing with is legit. Maybe I'm too straightforward, but this is just me. I feel honesty is the best policy. For those who like and appreciate me for it, great, those who dont, dont have to talk to me, but my conscience is clear. My name is Mitchell in real life, and Iam who I say. I would hope it serves me better in the long run to be honest. Only my view.
Mitch
I know there is this TMF thing of who is a real person, and who isnt, especially for females. For myself personally, I have nothing to hide. Iam who I say Iam, 35 yr old SWM antiques dealer, Lancaster, PA, and my pic in the forum is what I really look like, save for being 20 lbs lighter than last year. I figure, why lie about myself? If I ever want to persue friendships or relationships with women from TMF off of TMF, I figure from my standpoint it is best to be honest. This way, if people meet me at a gathering, or a woman from TMF wants to meet me, or date me, she knows who she's dealing with is legit. Maybe I'm too straightforward, but this is just me. I feel honesty is the best policy. For those who like and appreciate me for it, great, those who dont, dont have to talk to me, but my conscience is clear. My name is Mitchell in real life, and Iam who I say. I would hope it serves me better in the long run to be honest. Only my view.
Mitch
asutickler
Verified
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What? There are sigs that display people's IP addresses? 
😛
😛
I see they're here too asu ticklkitten
2nd Level Violet Feather
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For the most part I don't worry too much about what people know about me, if they want to know it bad enough, they'll learn...
BUT, I have learned my lesson about sending emails from my work addy etc... there are some STRANGE people out there!
BUT, I have learned my lesson about sending emails from my work addy etc... there are some STRANGE people out there!
I have a RL colleague who lurks after me and phones, leaves messages. Nothing dirty, but I know he's lies in wait of some kind of relationship. I don't answer and am politely civil. Even if someone does find the real live you, there are ways to avoid 'em. They'll eventually lose interest. I carry a little thing of pepper spray. But from the internet, yes the privacy issues really get on my nerves. I mean if someone is suspect for engaging in criminal activity, maybe there should be some kind of warrant required in order to search their online activities. I hate the idea of living in an internet police state.
Something I probably should have posted in my first post, but I'll post it instead of editing so more people will see it. There is help available out there for anyone who is being stalked online, etc. http://www.cyberangels.org/ is one such organization, and probably the most prominent one. I believe they started primarily as an organization to help protect children, but im sure they'd be willing to help anyone who needs it.
Loud Laughter
Registered User
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Mitchell said:
Very well put
Mephistopheles
1st Level Yellow Feather
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Well, if you really don't want to be 'discovered' by people in your direct enviroment the last thing you should do is post your picture here.
