20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Yes, you CAN be tracked...

by LB
17 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
People are often mystified when they try to fool Google or other services to get around an IP block or ban and still get caught.

The reality is that your web browser and computer configuration is there for the world to see and is incredibly unique.

I found that only 1 in over 1 million people have the same plugin config that I do. Same goes for system fonts.

This is just one way that websites can track what you do online.

Go here to check it out: http://panopticlick.eff.org/
#tracked
  • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
    Use a public library and private browsing with unique passwords.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396485].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author netkid
      You can surf the internet using proxie servers. There is a site called anonymizer.com that, for a yearly fee, you can sign up for and browse with no one knowing who you are and where are from. There are many other services like this on the net.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396496].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
        Originally Posted by netkid View Post

        You can surf the internet using proxie servers.
        I'm beginning to wonder...

        Last week I was doing some keyword research using Google and then I thought they were starting to give me personalized results that skewed my research.

        So I went to HMA to use Google and typed the same keyword in and Google flagged me for a bot and made me fill out the captcha.

        Coinkydinky?

        I thought it was spooky...

        Now I'm having my doubts that those sites are truly allowing you to be anonymous. (And no, the keyphrases I was searching for are for a very obscure niche, not something Google would see a lot of. )

        ~Bill
        Signature
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396528].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author zerobloq
          hmm, now one has to wonder

          Does that mean Google can prevent you from making money online or is it an individual working there that could have a beef with you, without you knowing?
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396559].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author netkid
            @Bill Farnham, you know you could be right. Years ago I used a service called freedom.net and it was the bomb. But now I would not be surprised if any proxie server site could truly be secure.

            I am intrigued by your experience and probably will not have much credence in these services as well.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396602].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author zerobloq
    and your point for posting this subject is?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396487].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hlatky
    Are you sure it wasn't unique? This is what mine said:

    Your browser fingerprint appears to be unique among the 1,100,121 tested so far.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396616].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    There are still ways to surf anonymously -- if you think you need to do that.
    Signature
    Read this SURPRISING REPORT Before You Buy ANY WSO! Click Here
    FREE REPORT: Split Test Your Landing Pages the Easy Way
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396642].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396653].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      Ummm... Neighbors WiFi down the street?
      Keep in mind that what Panopticlick is checking is your browser and system configuration.

      If you're sitting on the same installation of Windows and using the same browser, it knows that's you.
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2396956].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author PaulV
        Another reason to love Outsourcing!
        Signature
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2397531].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
          Interesting how the geek patrol always latches onto the most tech explanation for, well, anything.

          Browser fingerprinting is an evolving technology, they are even developing software that analyzes your typing patterns and mouse patterns so they can identify you no matter what computer you use.

          The thing is, this tech is still being developed and is not widely deployed at all. Not even at Google.

          The thing is, they don't have to. And the glaring omission in the above posts proves it. The omission? Cookies. How many of you thought to clear your cookies and cache before jumping behind a proxy? If you didn't, you walked back inside Google's door wearing a name badge.

          Not to mention flash cookies. Also called LSO/super cookies. LSO = Local Shared Object. This Adobe invention is a form of cookie that is stored outside of browser space and cannot be deleted by the browser (without help). These cookies last indefinitely and hardly any enduser even knows about them.

          When I first learned about them I looked at the folder and was amazed. Even my bank was using them. This is what could be called successful "security by obscurity" or actually successfully hidden tracking. The flash cookies are set by web pages loading a one pixel flash image.

          There is no secret about this, it simply isn't talked about. Just deploy it and STFU.

          To deal with this in Firefox use the Better Privacy plugin.

          https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6623/

          Play with it a little. It adds an item to the tools menu so you can delete at will or set it to clear LSO's when you exit Firefox.

          BTW, Google and all of it's subsidiaries use flash cookies.

          Anyways, always look at your current vulnerabilities first and don't worry so much about future tech.

          What is obvious is usually the most overlooked.
          Signature

          “Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare.” – Old Japanese proverb -

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2397867].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
    Wild coincidence, a couple of hours after my post about flash cookies I visited Ars Technica and see that a class action lawsuit has been filed in opposition to flash cookies covert tracking. Very interesting. Finally this practice is getting publicity.

    Privacy lawsuit targets 'Net giants over "zombie" cookies
    Signature

    “Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare.” – Old Japanese proverb -

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2398220].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MichaelRay
    Originally Posted by LB View Post

    People are often mystified when they try to fool Google or other services to get around an IP block or ban and still get caught.

    The reality is that your web browser and computer configuration is there for the world to see and is incredibly unique.

    I found that only 1 in over 1 million people have the same plugin config that I do. Same goes for system fonts.

    This is just one way that websites can track what you do online.

    Go here to check it out: Panopticlick
    When I clicked the link and the test me button my browser just crashed. What's up with that? I am using an updated Mozilla FireFox.
    Signature
    VoIP and Tech Blog
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2398923].message }}

Trending Topics