Open wifi tracking

[Guest]

Can an invividual pc be tracked thru an open wifi spot?

[guns1inger]

Physically tracked as in triangulate a position, or simply track the traffic ?

If you have an IP address, you can be traced back through to the WiFi access point you are connected through.

[Guest]

If I login at an open access point, will my pc have a unique id(can MACs be id)?

[computeguy]

if you are visting a friend or happen across someone's open WIFI connection.. NO, YOU CAN'T BE PERSONALLY TRACKED OR FOUND(back to you).. Just your friends Internet connection or the persons WIFI connection you used.

[SLK001]

Well, actually, you can be tracked. Since you are TRANSMITTING while you are logged on, a dedicated entity (person, police dept, anti-terrorist hit squad, government, phone company) can EASILY locate your transmitting computer. With the equipment in place, you can be located two seconds after you begin trying to access the open connection. In fact, they will have your location BEFORE you even get on the internet.

[Guest]

I'm speaking of after the fact. If you go to Starbuck's and leave after logging out, will they have a record of your login?

[SLK001]

I'm speaking of after the fact. If you go to Starbuck's and leave after logging out, will they have a record of your login?

Assuming that you are not required to LOGIN, then you would be truly anonymous. A PC didn't used to have a unique ID/serial number of the electronics (some of the newer processors DO have a hardcoded unique identifier - IIRC, thanks to M$). I don't know MACs, but I thought that they DID have a unique identifier.

If you do login, then you have left a trace.

[Guest]

Then why doesnt the RIAA go after these deep pockets(Starbuck's) where a ton of illegal downloads are surely occuring?

[TooLFooL]

give it time....

[Guest]

Yeah,and what about cities with open WIFI?