Clan x86

General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: iago on September 22, 2005, 12:00:40 PM

Title: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: iago on September 22, 2005, 12:00:40 PM
http://news.com.com/NSA+granted+Net+location-tracking+patent/2100-7348_3-5875953.html?tag=cd.top
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: RoMi on September 22, 2005, 04:08:16 PM
Haven't you ever watched the X-files?  The NAS is a sneaky agency.
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: Blaze on September 22, 2005, 04:13:16 PM
Seems pointless to me, and as stated in the article, Dialup and proxies beat the system.
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: rabbit on September 22, 2005, 07:18:48 PM
Quoteflag a password that "could be noted or disabled if not used from or near the appropriate location."
Which means a business person would be locked out of their e-mail server on a business trip?  The NSA is retarded.

Too bad the entire thing is completely raped by Tor (http://tor.eff.org).
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: Newby on September 22, 2005, 08:26:27 PM
That reminds me of ssh tunneling.
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: Joe on September 22, 2005, 08:34:35 PM
*waits for them to get their sorryness sued to death over privacy*
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: deadly7 on September 22, 2005, 09:31:53 PM
Haha, this reminds me of the book "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown.. except it's not about location tracking, it's more about invaidng people's privacy via email and monitoring chat conversations and stuff. iago, YOU should read this book of all people, it's security based, computer based, and cryptography based.
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: Quik on September 22, 2005, 09:39:45 PM
Wouldn't this be easy to falsify? There are programs such as HopFake (http://www.x86labs.org/forum/index.php/topic,1488.msg15938.html#msg15938) which throw a screw in the traditional traceroute procedures.
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: Newby on September 22, 2005, 10:55:08 PM
Quote from: Quik on September 22, 2005, 09:39:45 PM
Wouldn't this be easy to falsify? There are programs such as HopFake (http://www.x86labs.org/forum/index.php/topic,1488.msg15938.html#msg15938) which throw a screw in the traditional traceroute procedures.

This doesn't revolve around traceroute. My guess is they can contact your ISP, ask for your IP, and get your location.

But I could be wrong.
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: Quik on September 22, 2005, 11:36:39 PM
Quote from: Newby on September 22, 2005, 10:55:08 PM
Quote from: Quik on September 22, 2005, 09:39:45 PM
Wouldn't this be easy to falsify? There are programs such as HopFake (http://www.x86labs.org/forum/index.php/topic,1488.msg15938.html#msg15938) which throw a screw in the traditional traceroute procedures.

This doesn't revolve around traceroute. My guess is they can contact your ISP, ask for your IP, and get your location.

But I could be wrong.

What would they do with your IP that would identify your location, not using traceroute?
Title: Re: NSA Patents Internet Location-Tracking
Post by: Newby on September 22, 2005, 11:43:23 PM
QuoteThe NSA's patent relies on measuring the latency, meaning the time lag between computers exchanging data, of "numerous" locations on the Internet and building a "network latency topology map." Then, at least in theory, the Internet address to be identified can be looked up on the map by measuring how long it takes known computers to connect to the unknown one.

The technique isn't foolproof. People using a dial-up connection can't be traced beyond their Internet service provider--which could be in an different area of the country--and it doesn't account for proxy services like Anonymizer.