Yes, I know what VPN stands for, but a VPN is just a point to point connection, meaning it has to end in another computer, and it's not necessary. VPN is meant for keeping data private as it travels from one point to another on the internet.
On the other hand, VPS = Virtual Private Server, and that's what they could get for $5.- a month.
OK, that's the most valid objection I've seen so far in this thread, but I'd say that it would only apply to very few people, (frequent travellers), and if those people don't want their wives to find out that they're visiting their mistress in Argentina then they shouldn't log into the site while they are away from home.
How do you know that it was a hacker and not simply a virus? How do you know that your IP address had anything to do with it, and that it didn't get into your machine when you opened a fishy mail attachment?
Yes, but that would still be within the UK and a lot closer than California to Boston, so you'd look credible. On the other hand, if you create a profile claiming to be in France, with the IP of a UK carrier, that would give you away.
As for spoofing, as mentioend earlier, it is only for the fewest most tech savvy ones.
And in any case, I also said that it is not foolproof.
Of course, one should always talk on cam/phone before meeting, but before you get to that point you might have already wasted a lot of time. If you could see from the start that the other person is in Nigeria you'd save a lot of time.
The IP is read by the server automatically, and in my OP I described how to resolve if to an approximate location.
As for what I see on previous threads, I see both sides. Many users can spot scammers from miles away, but there are also some very sad stories about people who took the bait.
No, I don't. But if a Nigerian/Russian creates a profile claiming to be in California and his IP resolves to some proxy server in Boston that would be an indication that there's something wrong. For the most part I think it would help people who are not technical to spot scammers.
You mean legally or with users? Legally, I don't believe they'd have any trouble. With users, judging by the result of this thread, I can see they might.
If you know so much about networks and the http protocol why do you work in construction? If you profile is true, then I was programming computers when you were 5 years old. I don't know everything there is to know, but if you claim I am posting falsehoods then prove it.
Those who limit themselves to sending you an email saying "Hi gorgeous, I am an Army general and I love you, contact me at my Yahoo email", are technical?
No, they wouldn't. But Boban was talking about programs you can download to do this, and I said it was probably spyware. It would be the victims stuff getting logged if you use those open proxies.
I completely agree that Social Engineering is in many ways more dangerous that simple direct hacking, and that is largely what scammers use, but I do not believe that knowing a geographical location would help scammers much. What are they going to do with that information? Ask you for donations to your local hospital?
On the other hand, it would help the good guys to see when a profile that claims to be from the US is actually being operated from Nigeria. Most scammers are nowhere near as technical as you and me.
Anyway, as I said earlier, I'm only trying to be constructive here.
You cannot choose any IP you want. You are limited to those assigned to you by your ISP, unless you are your own ISP, in which case you are limited to the IP addresses assigned to you by ICANN.
And there cannot be two computers with the same IP at the same time, so no worries about getting an IP that was earlier used by another CS user.
marc62 Forum Posts (274)
Tell me your IP address and I'll tell you who you are.
Yes, I know what VPN stands for, but a VPN is just a point to point connection, meaning it has to end in another computer, and it's not necessary.VPN is meant for keeping data private as it travels from one point to another on the internet.
On the other hand, VPS = Virtual Private Server, and that's what they could get for $5.- a month.