Hi Doug:

Besides IP address and User Agent info, is there any other information sent by your computer when browsing that can be used to identify your computer? (And no, in case you're wondering, I am not doing anything crazy, just trying to generate more hits on a searched name on a site, thats all).

Thanks.

Good question, regardless of why you asked it!

There are several ways in which you can be identified when visiting a website.


1. email
This is pushing or luring people to visit a website, by sending unique tagged emails.
If the addressee clicks on a link in the email, the tagging allows retrieve the identity of the visitor from the list of send emails, when s/he arrives on your website.

1. IP address
People find a website in the natural way, due to all efforts of marketing communications.
In order to identify these visitors, data from the browser and IP Geo-location (based upon IP address) needs used, at the same time applying logical tests and algorithms for revealing company name and other visitor data (language, time zone, …).

3. Cookies
"Cookies are pieces of information generated by a Web server and stored in the user's computer, ready for future access. Cookies are embedded in the HTML information flowing back and forth between the user's computer and the servers. Cookies were implemented to allow user-side customization of Web information."

"...the cookie is clandestinely and automatically transferred from the user's machine to a Web server. Whenever a user directs her Web browser to display a certain Web page from the server, the browser will, without the user's knowledge, transmit the cookie containing personal information to the Web server."

For some good information on cookies, click these links:
http://www.cookiecentral.com/c_concept.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/cookie.htm

4. Web Bugs or 1-Pixel gifs (these are nasty!)
"A Web bug "is like a beacon, so that every time you hit a Web page it sends a ping or call-back to the server saying 'Hi, this is who I am and this is where I am,'"

"Web bugs can also be used in email. For example, companies can send a bulk HTML email newsletter that has Web bugs, which will determine how many people read the letter, how often they read it, and whether they forward it to anyone. The email "would include your email address in the URL or include a coded ID or encrypted email address to track when you opened it,"

More information on Web Bugs at this link: http://news.cnet.com/2100-1017-243077.html

Is there any method of removing Web Bugs from HTML pages?
Not really. The technical problem is that there is no method of distinguishing Web Bugs from spacer GIFs which are used on Web pages for aligment purposes. Your best defense against Web Bugs is to turn off cookies.

Thank you Doug for such a terrific and detailed response.

So in conclusion...am I right in saying: if I have cookies turned off in Firefox (the setting which allows NO cookies to be stored), have my IP address hidden and changing every minute through "hide-my-ip" premium service, and have User Agent info hidden (through HMIP also), that is about the max i can do as a surfer to avoid being identified? Is there anything else a user can do to avoid being detected as a "repeat visitor", and instead look like a unique visitor more often?

Thanks

It is the "max" for a regular Internet user or web site visitor, yes. Unless, of course you have access to the same kinds of nifty stuff Jack Bauer has in "24"

Aah yes......if only!

Jo Doug!

I have a simple question, although I am not sure if it is so simple...

I am using premium service;When I log in to a POP server and retreive my messages with outlook express, I leave a copy of the message in the server for a few days; If I log in again from the same computer, I do not get the same messages again although they are still in the server. Because of this, I believe those servers use some kind of method to ID my machine, or my OE identity,... The question is : Besides hiding my IP addr, Is there a way to prevent the POP servers from ID'ng my computer?

Furthermore, Do you know what info is stored in the server? like computer name, installed software etc..

Your advise will be highly appreciated..
Thank You

Base.

I must be getting "old". I wrote this answer for you last night and realized I never posted it. Oh well

An email server can collect a variety of information from you. Including
* your email address
* your computer's IP address
* the date & time you sent/received email
* the email program you are using
* the route your email took to get to the server in question
* the very contents of your email

I would suggest you carefully read this article and see what information can be collected. After reading it, you may never send another email!

"The Case for Email Security"
http://luxsci.com/blog/the-case-for-email-security.html