All Things Microsoft > Microsoft as a Company

About Those Hidden Microsoft Files.......

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BillWP:

--- Quote from: davidnix71 ---Even if you have a static IP, only your ISP would know WHO you are, unless you have a registered domain name under that IP.

But, even with a dialup account and non static IP, it's possible to know almost exactly WHERE you live. Blocks of IP's can be tied to geographical locations, depending on the ISP.



If I use anonymouse's German http proxy and visit certain web sites, the dating ads will have German cities and German women. And, no they don't look any better over there. [Set phasers to shave, Mister Sulu].

If Google is forced to surrender search record logs, and those logs have IP's with them (they probably do) and your ISP keeps logs that far back and the gov't demands that log, then you've been made. If you use AOL, then probably not, because AOL intentionally mucks up IP's internally, for members privacy and to limit hacking of members computers. If you use anonymouse for your Google searches, then definitely not,either.




--- End quote ---

(snipped a bit)

I definately know what you mean about target advertising. I can go to certain news websites and all the ads are for "women in my area". LOL! And these are news sites. I've never been to a website looking for women anywhere. But I would not think anyone would put up with having their searches made public. For example - how many people use the internet for looking up medical answers for a problem they might have? Who would want something like that to be public record, and what rights would they have? I just wondered if it was really true that millions of people could be tracked for what they are searching for. And why would a search engine company, or an ISP make it public anyway? But I guess anything is possible. They're probably reading this right now! :D

H_TeXMeX_H:
Uhhhh ... I'd think they have better things to read ... more dangerous and offensive and illegal things that is ...

BillWP:

--- Quote from: H_TeXMeX_H ---On the topic of German women ... I prefer Russian and Dutch women ... they really do look a lot better over there :D

Now ... getting back on topic ... if they know your IP they know who you are, but if Google continues to refuse giving the gov. your IP address along with what you searched for you are safe. I believe you can contact your ISP and they can retrieve their server logs of your activity as long as they kept them. I think they do erase them periodically. In general, I doubt the ISP really cares what sites you visit.
--- End quote ---

Yeah, you'd think their logs would be so voluminous (that's probably the first time I ever typed that word so it's probably misspelled :)), that they would erase them after a while.

WMD:

--- Quote from: davidnix71 ---I use Bell South, and my log-in cookie has a term "gloc=xyz" where xyz is the city I live in. I get (unwanted) targeted 'dating' ads because of that, and because of the Bell South practice of assigning IP's based on where the account is. Bell South is selling that info to people who target ads based on geography. I can delete my cookies, but the only way to truly hide my IP is through a proxy server.
--- End quote ---

That's interesting...we have the same ISP and live in the same area, but I've never heard of a "log-in cookie" for my service.  I also don't really get any regionally-targeted advertising.  Although, BellSouth doesn't really need to sell the info - it's pretty easy to figure out where an IP is being used from, and the cookies would then be set per site.

Personally, I'm a cookie masochist.  My browser is forced to ask me about every damn cookie every site I visit requests.  Only a few are allowed on.

Refalm:

--- Quote from: BillWP ---So a person follows the directions, and deletes the "Hidden Microsoft Files". But if what we are reading in the news is true - that Google and Yahoo know exactly what any individual person has ever searched for, and can name that person - how will deleting hidden files protect your privacy, when at any moment, Yahoo or Google may be forced to make that information public? I thought that an IP address was static, which means it couldn't be traced. I also find it hard to believe that the search engine companies are able to keep track of millions of searches, and can tell where any certain person surfed 10 years ago. Will you soon be able to call up your ISP and request this information? LOL! I'm sure my kids will LOVE that! Any thoughts?
--- End quote ---

Do you know the difference between static and dynamic? If you have a dynamic IP address, it could change whenever the DHCP server feels it's needed (except if it's locked on your MAC address, but ISP's don't usutally do that).

If you don't want your searches on Google or Yahoo! being saved on your IP address, I suggest an outside proxy server (or wardriving, but this has become illegal in the US).

I don't know how it is in your country, but here only the government is allowed to request the name and address belonging to an IP address.

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