TBN's recent survey

brin · Aug 26, 2010

MossRoad said:
It showed you dead on as to where you live? Right down to the street address? And had a list of all your programs on your computer?

All it showed me was a google map of the next town over (where my ISP is located) my networking information (they need to know this to tell the information where to go), my browser version and plugins (they need to know this so they can display the page correctly in your browser) and the whois lookup, which shows my ISP (and the wrong company name).

I don't know how I can prove it to you Moss...Believe what you want..the link, when I clicked on it brought up a map and you would be within walking distance of my house..( 5 minute walk ) that is too close for the world to see...for me and I stress for me, you may be more liberal than I ..it also listed most of the software programs on my computer...that is not good, that is no one's business and again, if you disagree, that is fine..

beppington · Aug 26, 2010

When I clicked Moss' link, the map showed an overview on my city*, but nothing about any programs on my computer. It did know I was directed to it from this TBN thread, though.

* Not surprising, as many sites I visit know the city I'm in.

/pine · Aug 26, 2010

brin...just curious...what browser are you using?

did you try the link with Firefox? same results?

have you checked the security settings in the browser properties?
also...do you have "active x" controls enabled on your system?

brin · Aug 26, 2010

/pine said:
brin...just curious...what browser are you using?

did you try the link with Firefox? same results?

have you checked the security settings in the browser properties?
also...do you have "active x" controls enabled on your system?

I use firefox - the latest version...and if you use the scroll feature on the mouse - if you have that feature you can see right where you live.

brin · Aug 26, 2010

beppington said:
When I clicked Moss' link, the map showed an overview on my city*, but nothing about any programs on my computer. It did know I was directed to it from this TBN thread, though.

* Not surprising, as many sites I visit know the city I'm in.

Did you page down or scroll down on the page ? Don't just look at the first screen scroll on down and you will see ...Somebody help me here it just can't be me...I have the latest and greatest virus and and anti spyware and spam software...

/pine · Aug 26, 2010

...also listed most of the software programs on my computer...

there are other ways to run a script on a remote computer but the the most common way for a remote server to access hardware (like a hard drive etc.) on the client system is via Active X controls....

beppington · Aug 26, 2010

brin said:
Did you page down or scroll down on the page ? Don't just look at the first screen scroll on down and you will see ...Somebody help me here it just can't be me...I have the latest and greatest virus and and anti spyware and spam software...

I did. I scanned the whole page. It does say "Browser Plugins: This doesn't work in MSIE, you should use Firefox anyway", but no other programs are listed.

MossRoad · Aug 26, 2010

brin said:
I don't know how I can prove it to you Moss...Believe what you want..the link, when I clicked on it brought up a map and you would be within walking distance of my house..( 5 minute walk ) that is too close for the world to see...for me and I stress for me, you may be more liberal than I ..it also listed most of the software programs on my computer...that is not good, that is no one's business and again, if you disagree, that is fine..

If I lived in the same town as my ISP, the google map would have shown a hit closer to my home. So what? There are 10,000 houses in my town. Even if it put a big old X on top of my house it just means that I live near the center of a very large area that is covered by one town name. It does not identify your location to any more resolution than the name of the town your ISP is located in (unless you own your IP address).

I have well over a hundred software titles on my computer. The only ones it lists are the ones associated with interactions of the web browser. Website designers need that information to make web pages display and interact properly with your computer. It did not list any of my Office programs, video/graphic editing software, diagnostic software, communications software, etc... only the plugins for the web browser.

How would you expect a website to display on your computer if it does not know what browser you are using, or what IP address to send the requested information too? It can't be done.

Tig · Aug 26, 2010

Moss, everything you say is true only if one assumes basic legal resources in the public domain are used to track an IP.
Now if one could cross refence that IP to other websites and start to process the info, your world starts to unfold. Think google as the "big brother" bad guy.
Using only basic legal means I located your residence in under three minutes.