IP Address Confusion 1

[MrQuestion2]

As far as I understand, a laptop is assigned a different IP address for each different location it connects to (each different wireless

network would assign a different IP address to the SAME laptop). A computer DOES NOT have a unique IP address unless it always connects

to the same network.

If I connect to an open wireless network, say, at a hotel, is it possible for my download/upload activity to be tracked to my individual

computer, or to me? Or can it only be tracked as far as having taken place at the hotel, and no further than that? Similarly, if there

are multiple laptops at a single house with one wireless router, is it possible to tell which laptop did the downloading/uploading?

The RIAA typically busts people who download/upload at their own home, thus they might always have the same IP and are easily tracked.

But if people do the deed from a wireless hotel internet connection, can they POSSIBLY get caught? If so, HOW do they track you? I'm not

talking about plugging in to a cable in your hotel room, I am talking about open wireless networks at hotels, that may or may not require

a password.

Please, constructive comments only (and only if you know some answers). I've Googled myself to death trying to find an answer with no

luck. Thanks!

 

[jimbopalmer]

NAT routing offers some degree of IP Address anonymity, and some MAC Address anonymity, neither is absolute.

(The simplest way to find your activity is to monitor it inside the motel, before their router you are still uniquely identified. This could be an additional revenue source for motels and solve some bandwidth hog issues)

Motel connectivity will not lend itself to large downloads, and all the other guest will suffer when you try, but if you are willing to steal, I am betting you are willing to be a bandwidth hog at a motel.

I fail to see how this question belongs in "intelligent work forums for computer professionals", but perhaps that goes with the stealing and rudeness vibe you have going.

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[MrQuestion2]

Thanks for the quick reply. Could you please clarify on your second sentence? How is it monitored, and how am I uniquely identified?

Apologies if this is not posted in the proper forum... but I am not likely to get an intelligent (or correct) response in a proper forum.

 

[jimbopalmer]

Before the router, each computer is unique both via IP Address (mine is 192.168.123.104) and MAC address. (a 48 bit code burned into your NIC, mine is 00:22:15:F$:82:C4) After the router (the IP changes via NAT) and the MAC is local to your subnet, it is never passed through routers.

I did not say the motel DID monitor you, only that they can, (it is their network) it is easy, and it can be profitable. (but it would be bad PR for the motel)

If you have a local network, (router and at least two PCs) try Angry IP scanner version 2.21

http://www.angryip.org/w/Download

go to Options Columns and click the double right arrow to get all columns, then
go to Options Options and choose only alive and save.

now choose IP up arrow then class C and Start.

see how easy to get details?


I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[burtsbees]

IP addressing is too big of a subject for this forum. Once you understand layers2-4 of the OSI model, you can answer your own questions. I would start with routing vs. switching, and public vs. private IP addressing.

Look up RFC1918

/

tim@tim-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get install windows
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package windows...Thank Goodness!

 

[dberg35]

If your worried about being monitored for file downloading then maybe you shouldn't do it. Basically if your on someone else network then anything you do isn't considered private. I have employees on mine that use their own laptops and they sign a waiver stating we reserve the right to check their laptop for what they are doing.

 

[MrQuestion2]

Thanks again jimbopalmer. I *think* I get the picture now. I doubt many hotels monitor (maybe only the larger ones?), but you never know.

So, for people who want to download/upload ANYTHING for various reasons, it seems the only way to avoid detection completely would be to buy a cheap laptop and ONLY use it to connect to the internet when using a network that cannot be traced to you (hotel/airport/etc). Never... I repeat NEVER use that laptop to connect to the internet at your house/office/etc. Please correct me if I am wrong???

Sorry again for "bad vibes" but I think it's an important discussion regarding internet privacy (whether legal or illegal is completely up to the user).

 

[MrQuestion2]

dberg35, my concern isn't "is this private?" or "can anyone see what I am doing?" since I am not sending or receiving any personal information, rather, my concern is "is this ultimately traceable back to me?".

In other words, I don't care if someone knows that I have downloaded a song, just so long as they can't determine who I am. Hope that makes sense.

 

[VinceWhirlwind]

If the hotel knows what it's doing, it should be keeping a log of internet connections by room together with details of the room's occupant.
Allowing anonymous internet access would encourage crime and that would be careless and stupid.
The hotels I stay in would certainly make sure what you did was traceable back to you, but then again we know that the only country that produces as much internet crime as China is the USA, so maybe encouraging crime is common over there?

 

[MrQuestion2]

Internet crime? Is that a constructive comment? Really? Why don't you Google stationripper so you can fully understand why it is not a crime to record songs as mp3s from internet radio stations.

It's the same exact concept as recording a movie that was playing on your TV. Remember how we used to fast forward through the commercials? Do you feel it was illegal to record movies or TV shows like that? Stationripper is 100% legal, so I personally do not see why it is illegal to download mp3s directly from peers, but legal to download them from internet radio stations. That's just my opinion.

Back to the topic... don't focus so much on the hotel! Some airports have totally open access to their wireless network. No password or payment or anything to log in! Have you never been to an airport? Does it encourage crime? Who knows, that's not my question. Many hotels also have open network accessible in the lobby... not your room! Why don't you go travel the world a bit before you post comments.

I wouldn't have such a bad attitude towards you if your comment at least attempted to be positive.

 

[jimbopalmer]

You are allowed to delude yourself into thinking that not paying the artists is not theft. We are allowed to feel that 'Thou shall not steal' is just as relevant today as when written.

I merely pointed out that out you can be caught.

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[MrQuestion2]

Please Google stationripper before you comment on it and briefly read about the (lack of) surrounding legal concerns. It has proven to be a legal way to download songs from internet radio stations. If it was stealing, those agencies would be all over it just like the peer-to-peer networks. Do any of you have thoughts about stationripper?

Did you never record a movie back when we used VCR's? Wasn't that half the point of the VCR? Recording a TV show or movie is exactly the same as recording a radio station from the law's point of view.

About the earlier comment regarding internet crime, it is simply because more people have and regularly use the internet in USA compared to any other country. Russia and Japan, the 2nd and 3rd largest non-3rd world countries, are less than half the size of USA. Germany, France, and UK are also much smaller; it's like comparing apples to peas. And in China, "The number of Chinese with access to the Internet exceeds 100 million". Not very many countries can claim that. If you do have a reference to your claim that US and China are the worst regarding internet crime, please post it as I am curious.

 

[Trevoke]

If you are looking for full anonymity, look at Thor, or Freenet, or Gnunet.

The internet was not designed with security in mind, and so it is not secure. You can be found out by anyone who has a proper brain.
Of course, there are situations in which you may not be found out, but your question - can I be anonymous - has a negative answer.

Tao Te Ching Discussions : Chapter 9 (includes links to previous chapters)
What is the nature of conflict?

 

[VinceWhirlwind]

This question seems entirely geared around the facilitation of criminal activity.

I don't feel any urge to apologise for "my attitude" that promoting crime is reprehensible.

 

[jimbopalmer]

I always regret helping folks rationalize why they steal.

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[MrQuestion2]

Stationripper is legal. I'll leave it at that, for those of you who refuse to do 1 minute's worth of reading. That's one option.

The other option, peer-to-peer, is definitely illegal and I'm surprised all peer-to-peer has not been totally shut down by now. I'm not arguing with you about that one.

None of you ever answered my question about recording movies with VCR's? We've all done it. And... it's also legal.

 

[burtsbees]

Peer to peer bit torrent comes stock with some Linux distros...

/

tim@tim-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get install windows
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package windows...Thank Goodness!

 

[Trevoke]

Peer-to-peer is not illegal, there are people who conduct really interesting research on how to optimize those networks and keep them more or less anonymous.

Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs, which is MIT's introduction to programming class (or, at least, it was in 1986), is available as a torrent. So is Ubuntu. It is in fact the preferred method of distribution as it keeps the load on their servers to a minimum.

Tao Te Ching Discussions : Chapter 9 (includes links to previous chapters)
What is the nature of conflict?

 

[VinceWhirlwind]

Right, and people staying in hotels are desperate to get untraceable, anonymous access so they can download the latest version of Ubuntu to their laptop...

 

[burtsbees]

lol

/

tim@tim-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get install windows
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package windows...Thank Goodness!