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When I visit a web site, can the server identify me?

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Summary: A server can easily identify any users that visit their web sites. However, there are services that will allow you to surf anonymously.

When I visit a web site, are they able to identify my IP address? If so, how can I block them from being able to identify me?

Yes they can, and it's very easy. In fact I was able to tell what IP address you posted your question from, and from there, what school you're attending.

IP addresses are a fundamental part internet communication, and there's no way to remove that information. When two computers talk on the internet, they know each other's IP addresses. That's the way it works.

One way to surf anonymously is to use an service that routes your requests through its servers. http://www.anonymizer.com/ is one example, though there are others that will do the job. Your IP is still known to the service, but the web site you then visit using the service doesn't see it.

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Recent Comments

If I connect to a wireless router, can the server that I am using see what websites I have visited? If so, do servers such as roadrunner keep these things on file?

Posted by: Jim at February 6, 2008 04:05 PM

Help, I have a lot of hours invested in qualifying. . .
I entered a free online poker tournament where you qualify for different levels. Now that I have qualified for the Final Tournament, I see it says it's for "Canadians Only". Not sure if it was an oversight on my part or if it's an added thing in the fine print. My Account address says US, but if it was changed and I used the anonimyzer, would they be able to tell if I was playing in the U.S. ?

Thanks in advance Leo !
If your advice leads to me winning $, I will definitely return to buy you many Lattes !

Posted by: Doug Smith at February 24, 2008 05:51 PM

I was banned from a site how do they know when I try to sign in again?

Posted by: Judith Johnstone at March 13, 2008 03:48 AM

Leo,
I need your advise. I travel a lot out of the U.S. and I'm a big fan of March Maddness (college basketball), but when I try to watch it live on the internet It tells me it can only be viewed in the U.S. This happens often on television network web sites. The web site and the server have identifed me as being out of the country. How can I go around it ? Please Help!!!

Posted by: juan casteneda at April 1, 2008 07:09 PM

Hi, does this quote have relevence if you have a dynamic IP?

Summary: A server can easily identify any users that visit their web sites. However, there are services that will allow you to surf anonymously.

I use aol, i am not allowed to use certain bookmakers sites, i have been looking at ip masking software but ive been told that as i have a dynamic ip, they cannot identify me this way as it is constantly changing and my ISP will never disclose any info about me, i also delete cookies regularly and im pretty sure they cant get my MAC address.

Is there something i should know or i do i have it pretty much covered? Basically am i relatively untraceable?

i look forward to hearing from you


thanks

Posted by: paul at April 5, 2008 02:29 PM

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Hash: SHA1

Static or Dynamic, the ISPs help is required to find you. If they keep records
of which dynamic IP address you were assigned to when, then it's possible that
** again, WITH THE ISPS HELP ** you could be located. That help typically
requires law enforcement to get invovled.

Leo


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Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at April 6, 2008 12:30 PM

But can this scenerio happen? Post a comment to a site like "jobvent". Company upset over
bad comments, "hacks" or finds out your IP address somehow from your posting, then traces the address to your location?

Posted by: Otis at April 14, 2008 09:10 PM

Can this scenerio occur? Post a negative comment on a site like jobvent, your company reads and is upset. Hacks the jobvent site to find your IP address from the post, and traces it to your location?

Posted by: otis at April 14, 2008 09:13 PM

i have a question. please email me back . Can the hacker find out all my conversations in msn or yahoo mesneger?, emails passowrds, or sited ive visted. through my IP adres?? thank you. i really need to know

Posted by: kevin at May 12, 2008 11:37 AM

Can a server consistently deletes the IP addresses, thus wiping out any trace of IP addresses that were on the site?

Posted by: kendra at June 14, 2008 06:20 AM

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