Comments for What can a website I visit tell about me?

Comment from Bill Chubb on 2008-10-07

2008-10-07T16:58:10Z

If you've nothing to hide, don;t worry!

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A comment on: What can a website I visit tell about me?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Rondi Phillips on 2008-10-04

2008-10-05T02:34:19Z

In a previous newsletter, you challenged your readers to google themselves and see what they find. Well, I did, and I was shocked! There was even a reference to a response I made to one of your newsletters! The problem is I have an unusual name, and when I want to post a comment on your website, it asks for my name (required). I take it I can't use a fake name, so what should I do?

It depends on what you want to accomplish.

I too have a unique name - unique enough that all the results of searching on it are related to me somehow. Things like commenting on websites like this one don't bother me, and I use my real name. Doesn't matter to me if that shows up in a search result.

If it's some place I do care, I do use a fake name. Even here, while it asks for your name you can still make one up if you want. Just means that if I contact you I'll call you by that fake name.

So in general, use a fake name, or no name at all, when you think it might matter. The most important point of all is to be aware that what's posted online stays online for a long, long time.

- Leo
05-Oct-2008

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A comment on: What can a website I visit tell about me?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Kenneth Crook on 2008-09-28

2008-09-29T04:57:09Z

Leo, are you using pop-up ads on you web pages?
On opening this article a blue pop-up ad appeared on the page, asking if I wanted to sign-up for Ask-Leo newsletter. Was this generated by your site, or is it generated by some kind of malware that I am infected with?

That's me. Malware wouldn't be about something as benign as a newsletter, or as on-topic as something relating to the site you're on.

- Leo
29-Sep-2008

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A comment on: What can a website I visit tell about me?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Andrea Schumann on 2008-09-25

2008-09-25T13:33:29Z

If you'd like to "hide" your IP address, you can go to http://www.guardster.com and use their service.

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A comment on: What can a website I visit tell about me?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Richard Broberg on 2008-09-23

2008-09-24T00:56:06Z

Leo,

Every time I log off of my computer and just prior to turning it off and unplugging it, I do the following:
1. I go to start, settings, control panel (I actually have an icon for the control panel on my desktop), Internet Options, settings, view files. This shows everything I downloaded from the Internet; hopefully that was all I downloaded.
2. I then do a CNTL + A. This keyboard shortcut highlights everything.
3. I then press the DEL key.
4. It asks me if I really want to do this. And I say yes.
5. All cookies and everything else are deleted.
6. I then repair Internet Explorer.
7. “No”, I don’t want to reboot.
8. I then press the Windows key, the up arrow, press Enter and then shut the PC down.

Of course I have to always log onto all the websites I go to, but at least nobody, theoretically, knows my Internet habits.

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A comment on: What can a website I visit tell about me?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Bruce on 2008-09-23

2008-09-23T20:05:59Z

Good info. Thx.
Can a website tell where I have come (what website I was at previously) and what website I go to next?
For example, if I am at store alpha and go to store beta, can alpha see that I left them to go to beta, and can beta see that I came from alpha? Thx.

If site A links to site B and you click on that link, then site B will get information that says you came from site A. But without that cooperation, there's no way for an arbitrary site to know where you came from or where you are going.

Cookies, on the other hand, are another matter and open a series of related issues. I'll be discussing that in future articles.

- Leo
23-Sep-2008

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A comment on: What can a website I visit tell about me?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Sergio on 2008-09-23

2008-09-23T17:31:14Z

Great info, thanks!

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A comment on: What can a website I visit tell about me?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from David McCabe on 2008-09-23

2008-09-23T16:31:41Z

being Canadian we are not allowed to see videos on the major tv networks web pages and i guess they know who we are by our ip address. if you miss an episode and want to watch it later you can't unless you hide your ip address.not too fair

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A comment on: What can a website I visit tell about me?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from John on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:59:42Z

Here's a great website that will tell you basically everything that any website can find out about you from your web browser:

http://gemal.dk/browserspy/

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A comment on: What can a website I visit tell about me?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.