Locating a web user

[Tig]

A recent TBN discussion on internet anonymity got me thinking about the tools available to locate someone. I always knew that google tracks everything, but it's not always easy to get comprehensive details. Before I got a chance to do much research I happened to set up an IPAD. (cool toy by the way) Just a basic IPAD, no GPS or 3G/cell connectivity, wi-fi only.
When I brought up google maps it prompted "use current location?" A curious prompt since my IP address resolves far away. The radius of that distance would encompass about 10 million people. I replied yes and it put a pin on the map 100yds from my place. ????
A quick google search found this information:
Not exactly sure when I "agreed" but It's probably in the EULA
I'm going to leave it enabled and see just how good it is.
I PM'd Brin and he confirmed that he uses G' earth, so that may explain why his IP seemed to resolve way too close to his home.

Edit: Please move this thread to a more appropriate forum. It does not belong here. Thank you.

 

[MikeInEburg]

I suspect that your iPad includes a GPS function like my iPhone. They didn't find you via IP address...

Mike

 

[texasjohn]

OK... for the heck of it, try the following in your favorite search engine. I use Copernic Basic. You may be surprised by what you find. Use various forms of name, with and without first or middle initial

your email address
Your name, state
Name of wife/relative, state
facebook your name
your phone number
social security number (you hope there are no hits!!)
pseudonames such as you might use on TBN or elsewhere. Kudos to TBN that my name does not show up.
your personal company/business name
your name and high school

If you get no positive hits using these entries, you are well hidden. Almost everyone will get some kind of unanticipated hit revealing further info, address, phone number, etc..

Personally, I have used the net to sleuth out people who were not paying bills, determine background on people, find photos of people... amazing what is out there in the clear for everyone to see. No wonder there are so many scams/emails, etc...it's so EASY! And, just imagine how much easier it is if you pay for some of the locating services that are available.

 

[Tig]

I suspect that your iPad includes a GPS function like my iPhone. They didn't find you via IP address...
Mike

Apple did not hide a GPS in my IPAD, I assure you. If they did, it would be a big part of jailbreak exploits.
I did a bit of research on Google and Apple geolocation techniques. They recently parted ways on this technology and now they keep separate databases. The Apple database would benefit from info provided by Iphones. That may explain why it is so much more accurate than google earth locations.
My Ipad resolves to a neighbour's address. I would speculate that they have provided their address to the Apple database and perhaps my Ipad has sensed their wi-fi. I am within the radius that indicates margin of error. I doubt that we have the same ISP but we would most certainly share infrastructure.
The thing that most people do not understand is that there is much more to this than IP address traces. The internet is an intelligent network, you always leave a trail. It's just a matter of who has access to the trail.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Apple did not hide a GPS in my IPAD, I assure you. If they did, it would be a big part of jailbreak exploits.

Curiosity got the better of me... according to Apple's spec sheet for iPad, there IS a GPS in your unit.

 

[Tig]

Curiosity got the better of me... according to Apple's spec sheet for iPad, there IS a GPS in your unit.

Point me to that spec sheet please or we will just go round and round on this. There are many models of IPAD, Mine is a "wi-fi model" not the "Wi-Fi + 3G model"

 

[MikePA]

Curiosity got the better of me... according to Apple's spec sheet for iPad, there IS a GPS in your unit.

Sorry, but not true. The WiFi + 3G is the only iPad listed as having GPS hardware. The WiFi only model can locate you, but not as accurately as the model with GPS.

iPad Tech Specs ---> Click Here

Location

* Wi-Fi
* Digital compass
* Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
* Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model)

 

[/pine]

The WiFi only model can locate you, but not as accurately as the model with GPS.

FWIW...
the GPS chips in computers, cell phones, navigation devices etc... are not able to transmit anything...they can only recieve data from the satellites...

however, once a user sets a "home" position the (mapping) software can relate that information through either a wi-fi or cellular network...

 

[txdon]

FYI There was a person using a cell phone (years ago) making false alarms. We were able to find out each place (within about 15 ft) he made the calls by triangulation data from the phone, which dispatch recorded, and a friends GPS.

 

[MikePA]

FWIW...
the GPS chips in computers, cell phones, navigation devices etc... are not able to transmit anything...they can only recieve data from the satellites...

It'd be quite the powerful little iPhone, iPad or GPS device that could transmit to an orbiting satellite.