I read today on Marilyns that somehow they had IP addresses of Jeopcon1's posting.  How is that possible?  Not being a IP guru I am slightly concerned about my IP address being known by anyone who knows how to get it from here.

Anyone else feel this way?

The vast majority of websites log IP addresses.

Or is it information that is available to anyone who knows where to look?

If TER has to give it, WHY would they?

-- Modified on 9/8/2005 7:16:59 AM

Anyone who hosts a site or pays for hosting can track the IP addresses. As for TER, it is unlikely they would share this information without cause. It would not be in there best interest to do this freely.

As for Marilyns, she can track IP's and is able to do this on an individual basis from posting information. She can also track the lurker IP's that do not post.

IP's are much like a phone number. In some cases they are static or fixed to the users account. For someone to request further details about the user of IP's, the ISP would probably require a legal action to give it up.

There are also Dynamic IP's. These are the most common and change everytime you log off the ISP services. However, the ISP's who this method are given a block which one can see and assume in most cases that the tracked IP is from the same person.

There are services and utilities anyone can use to identify the ISP of a block of IP's. This will not provide your specific account information or user name, but will show the name of the ISP and the location they are being served from.

Hosting a site require in most cases a fixed IP. Once you have registered, your hosting services information will be open to the public and may contain personal information that you would have allowed or provided to them.

In most cases, this information is masked or blocked from access to the public.

There is a work around for those who think they are at risk from tracking IP's and users. One is to purchase software that masks the incoming IP address or spoofs them. Another is to use more then one ISP and computer.

Another (and my favorite) is to use a laptop with WiFi ability. You will find many places in a populated area that give you access to an un-secured Access Point and thus allows you free use of their ISP and access to the internet. This has a lot of possible uses which I will not discuss here.. There is even free software that will allow you to see if there is an active AP and if it is open or secure. This software is also able to identify specific information such as hardware and other details the user has provided at the time of install. It can even be used with a GPS system and will log the location which can be brought into and overlaid on a map – but I digress…

As for the accuracy of what I've stated, I am not a techie, so I stand corrected if I was wrong with any information I've just provided.

If you are interested in knowing more about the masking software - just use google and search for IP masking or IP spoof. If you are interested in the software that tracks AP’s, it’s called Netstubler.

One point to make about the WiFi’s, if your OS is WinXP, it is very likey going to give up your hardware MAC address and possibly the name you have your laptop and user name when you access someone elses WiFi. And if you have an AP at home, please take the time to secure it so people like me can’t download the thousands of copy right protected songs and files – or don’t be surprised when they come knocking on your door to ask what interests you have in the sites such as TER, Marilyns, EROS, or escorts sites…

Would love to hear your.02 cents..lol Please do.