Posted by BoneHead on January 15, 1997 at 08:21:33:
In Reply to: Read this if you're concerned about security!! posted by big canuk on January 15, 1997 at 02:46:18:
: Allright dudes: (and dudettes as I've noticed we seem to have some ladies in
: our midst as of late.) We've had some very interesting points about security
: brought up recently and rightly so with the associations bodybuilding has with
: underground activity. Since many people are concerned with security and remaining
: anonymous I felt compelled to share some privelidged information to let you all
: know that big brother is indeed watching!
: Firstly, every time anyone posts, a number which is unique to whichever computer
: sent it accompanies that post. It's the same number every time. It's much like
: a fingerprint as no two are alike. Therefore, you can tell if someone is posting
: under a number of aliases, etc.
: You can find what I'm telling you by going to the top of the browser under
: "View" then hit "Document Source" and you'll get a lot of info. that doesn't
: make sense but near the top usually about the second line down reside the set
: of numbers I mentioned that are unique to everyone's computer/posts.
: Secondly, some places on the net use "cookies". These cookies are like little
: spies that will reside inside your computer for years actually sending back
: information to the site in regards to anything about your computer and perhaps
: anything on your computer!! This is scary! A real hot cookie could result in
: whatever info. you acquire secretly or otherwise to be spied out and looked
: at by whoever knows their shit about computers. (Gov't. come to mind?)
: Not many people know about this. Good news though. You can tell your computer
: to warn you if/when a place wants to install a cookie on your system and you
: can reject it. Go to "Options" then go to "Network Preferences" then go to
: "Protocols" and make sure you check the box where it asks about accepting a
: cookie. Done deal.
: If all this sounds like it's too far fetched and like science fiction, think
: again....this is just some small shit that I know about. I can guarantee you
: there's a whole lot more we have no idea about that they're doing to keep tabs
: on us.
: I just want to add one more thing. I personally thank each and everyone on
: this board who took the stance to never reveal any sources and I ask you all
: to please abide by this!
: I think we should post the address to the F.B.I. building or something similar
: each and every time some dumbass asks for info. on a source.
: What do you think? Is it a plan?
:
Sorry for the screwup on the last post.
Dispite my handle, I am a computer security analyst. There is a little bit of miss leading information in the previous post. The unique number mentioned is true but if you use an Internet Service provider that has Dynamic (changing) numbers, the last 3 numbers will be different. That number is called an IP number with IP standing for Internet Protocol. Also the info about cookies. The only information it can obtain is information about your browser (netscape). It is also good only for the server you are on. So if this server posted a cookie, that infomation that it obtains can only be seen on this server. Hope this clears up a little bit of the paranoia.