INTERNET Routing/isp Satellites.....and other questions

[Sourdough]

Please educate me, in simple language that a old fool can understand. For "Example" if WildWoman is sending posts to this forum, what is known for sure.....? Would the isp be her general area along the Yukon River, or if it is sent by satellites to America, and their server was in Ohio, would her location show up as Ohio. And roughly how does this goofy routing work. If my isp is located in Anchorage, AK. is that what an IT person would see, or would the IT person see the switching station I live near that is 85 miles from Anchorage,AK.???

[Rick]

What shows up is the registration of the ISP. In the U.S. the governing body is called the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). They assign and keep track of all IP Addresses in Canada, United States, a bunch of Caribbean islands and some North Atlantic islands.

If the ISP is a national or international company then the corporate headquarters is generally listed. For example, I live in Indiana and use Comcast to access the internet. If you looked up my IP you'd see...

OrgName: Comcast Cable Communications Holdings, Inc
OrgID: CCCH-3
Address: 1800 Bishops Gate Blvd
City: Mt Laurel
StateProv: NJ
PostalCode: 08054
Country: US

And a bunch of other info on their servers. But you won't know where I'm from. You'll have to do a bit more digging for that.

However, if you use a local ISP, Joe's Internet Service, based in Indianapolis then it will display as Indy and be a lot closer to where I really live.

That's how the registration part works. You can also trace IP addresses. If you do that with my IP then you'll see the regional office, which is about
30 miles +/- from where I live. That's where my server is housed.

It can be more complicated than that if I choose to use an anonymous IP or
some other ninja stuff but for most of us on here that's how it works.

Here's a wiki on the internet you may or may not find helpful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet

[Rick]

I guess the bottom line is if I really wanted to track someone down I could...probably...if they aren't trying to be all stealthy. I wouldn't rely on just their IP Address. We all put enough stuff in our posts that I could probably show you your house via satellite. I don't mean from 7 miles up but sitting in the street in front of your house. For most places today, that's a real possibility unless you live in a very remote location.

For example. Does this building look familiar? Some will know where it is and even the name of it. I just ran out and grabbed it. Yep, traveled a thousand miles or so but that's the only hint I'll give. And see those cameras in the picture? I can hop from camera to camera and view life from that angle. 360°.

[Sourdough]

Captain Cook Hotel, I worked there for Wally Hickel, back when there was only one tower, in the super early 70's I managed the Captain Cook Athletic Club, ain't that right sjj.......?

[Rick]

Right you are, sir. The point being, you can achieve that very level of detail in most places today. I happen to know where you live and can tell you the technology hasn't arrived at your place....yet. But there are many many on here that I could have posted their house. In fact, I've warned a number that they had divulged too much information to be safe, in my opinion. What they do with their info after that is up to them but I sort of see it as my duty to at least inform them.

By the way, my wife and I stayed there when we were in Anchorage. Nice digs.

[Sourdough]

Rick, Thanks for the education.

[Rick]

That's pretty high level but it will give you some idea of what you can achieve. There are some folks on here that work in the business everyday and, I'm sure, can give you a much more thorough education than I can but, in a nutshell, that's how it works.

[klkak]

I found my house on Google earth. The pic had really good detail to be taken from a satellite.

[DOGMAN]

But there are many many on here that I could have posted their house. In fact, I've warned a number that they had divulged too much information to be safe, in my opinion.

Too much info to be safe? From the government or from stalker types? I have always been straight forward on here about where I live, and who I am etc... Is this dangerous? Why haven't you warned me?

I kind of feel like fate is like the gas station scene in "The JERK" ("HE HATES THESE CANS")...in other words, you never know when someone is going to pick you out, or pull your number, so why live in fear and paranoia? You can do the best to protect your identity from the whacko's on here, but you never know about the nut who is behind you in the line at the Post Office. I don't like feeling like a prey animal, and living in fear of people on the other end of the computer. What is the proper way or etiquette to conduct yourself on forums in this regard?

[Rick]

Jason, if anyone wants to take you out they'd have to pack a lunch just to get there. It's not like you live on Elm street in LA. But some folks do and it gets a bit scary when you can actually pinpoint their house and they are 12. Actual case.

[klkak]

Jason your post kinda reminds me of a story about a Texas big game hunter who came to Alaska to hunt bear.

[DOGMAN]

Jason your post kinda reminds me of a story about a Texas big game hunter who came to Alaska to hunt bear.

oh no...please elaborate

[Rick]

Ya hadda ask.

[DOGMAN]

Jason, if anyone wants to take you out they'd have to pack a lunch just to get there. It's not like you live on Elm street in LA. But some folks do and it gets a bit scary when you can actually pinpoint their house and they are 12. Actual case.

I guess thats a good point, I forget about kids, urban areas, and close driving distances. Those are all reasons to remain anononmous....

[DOGMAN]

So, which is weirder....being honest with about who you are on forums like this... or being illusive and perhaps fabricating an existence that is not who you really are?

I am beginning to think, maybe most participants on message boards lead completly different lives than the cyber life they discuss...

[crashdive123]

For me, what you see (read) is what you get.

[DOGMAN]

Well, let me rephrase my last question. How about this...

Is it considered normal, and ok to post on message boards and completly make-up your identity...basically lead an "on-line identity" that is different than your real life? It seems that there are alot of seemingly normal folks that do this...

[Rick]

I think it depends on the person. It's one thing to fabricate to some extent where you live, for example. Perhaps even who you are for security sake. It's another thing to fabricate abilities, skills, experience or knowledge.

[DOGMAN]

last dumb question...where does it say I am posting from? is there a way i can hide that?

[crashdive123]

Probably more like bored folks. Or maybe not so normal in that they need to have some sort of feeling of _______fill in the blank____________ to justify their existence.