Ip Address

A WHOIS lookup on my IP address reveals (amongst other things) a netname which is actually my first and surnames.

Is it possible to change this to something more anonymous?

You're lucky, some sites have managed to associate my IP with a location to within a square mile of my house. I still have no idea how they've done it.

I think you can create a new netname record and use it to replace your old one from the Handle link in the RIPE section of the main control panel.

Edited by deleted (Fri 04-Mar-11 17:21:44)

hmmm.... same for me. I do wonder how this has been done. Anyone know.

The only thing I can think is that a company who as my shipping address is selling my personal data. AAisp have said they are not responsible for it. I've gotten through most of my IPs now, with each one eventually switching from aaisp's location to my village.

Suppose the other thing could be if you have a phone thats passing info on like Android passing on info

In reply to a post by 12eason:

You're lucky, some sites have managed to associate my IP with a location to within a square mile of my house. I still have no idea how they've done it.

I think you can create a new netname record and use it to replace your old one from the Handle link in the RIPE section of the main control panel.

the info(Geo location) which is also used by google, for offering local business searches, is sometimes supplied by the isp, easynet (ukonline)used to provide the location if you had a static ip but with Be* mine seems to be here there just about everywhere,(static ip) lol, i think virgin media do it too (cable)

Edited by tommy45 (Fri 04-Mar-11 20:46:00)

How do they know

ISP: SuperNews
Organization: SuperNews
Connection:
Proxy: Suspected Network Sharing Device
City: Amsterdam
Region: Noord-Holland
Country: Netherlands netherlands flag

In reply to a post by tommy45:

The info(Geo location) which is also used by google, for offering local business searches, is sometimes supplied by the isp, easynet (ukonline)used to provide the location if you had a static ip but with Be* mine seems to be here there just about everywhere,(static ip) lol, i think virgin media do it too (cable)

I don't believe that's how Googe's GEO Location works.

The relationship between IP address and location/address is different.
Here's my GEO Location Demo page where you can test your GEO location according to Google and I've attempted to explain how I see things working.

That's interesting (and worrying!), normally a WHOIS on an IP address shows the provider's details. i.e. I'm with Freeola/Entanet so see a Telford address etc. when I WHOIS my IP.

I'm aware some providers (Plus/Demon) often 'give away' too much info for people that have detailed website visitor statistics. It looks like when people first setup their ADSL they are asked for username details unaware that this will be available to any website owner that has details statistics on their site.

I hadn't noticed that AAISP do this, but let me know if you want me to help you test this

That points to the middle of london, and asks first. Clearly not the same method.

I'm not sure I understand your post...

My demo page is for Google GEO Location in reply to a GEO Location post; and as I said IP/Location is different...?

If your name is [removed by tbb] then it looks like there could be an issue.

Unless he works for AAISP but even that looks strange as "The registrant is a non-trading individual..." which isn't right.

Edited by seb (Sat 05-Mar-11 19:12:47)

Yes, I was just confirming that it is clearly not the method used by whatismyip, as you said.

I updated it the other day when this thread started, will probably take a few days to propagate.

(wait, did you just use your server records for that? lol, nice phishing)

Edited by deleted (Sat 05-Mar-11 18:44:18)

I guess it was, sorry

I see seb has edited my post - for anyone reading this, I only posted the first initial of the surname that a WHOIS reports, so I wasn't being too daft

Back in 2008 I wrote a few words about "Surfing DNA and the trail you leave" - over on my provider's (Freeola) Chat forum.

I think it's worth people realising what details they are leaving/displaying when they visit a website. Depending on your provider and setup sometimes these can be quite revealing unless you've thought things through.

In reply to a post by 12eason:

You're lucky, some sites have managed to associate my IP with a location to within a square mile of my house. I still have no idea how they've done it.

They're pretty wrong about the location of my IPs, I tried a few from my public A&A allocated range and it claims they're in Bath and Bradford for the ones I tested which is wrong in just about every way.

That same site puts my location in Ayr which considering I live in Wales, is rather a bit out!

Was your location determined from your IP address? I've noticed recently that when I Google some results already know that I am in Hawarden, Flintshire - which would by definition be within one mile of my location.

Guess similar technology which recently kept bringing up adverts for some technical kit that I had previously Googled - that became a real right pain once I had purchased the kit........... Spybot sorted that one out.

Cheers!

This was one of the first things I checked when they allocated both my IPv4 and IPv6/48. I asked them to change it to something less personally identifiable, and also put them as a c/o contact on the RIPE record, which they did before my line even got made live.

Not sure whether they actually tell customers this is going to happen, but being the techy ISP they are, it immediately crossed my mind to check this - and I'm glad I did.

I also wish aaisp made it more obvious, or made it an option on the signup page (it wasn't when I last signed someone up). I just warn people when I recommend to them, and recommend they ask support to fix it on their account.