Google Mail Tracks Your IP Address

[Tony Aroma]

I use a Gmail account, because of its anonymity, when I register for sites such as this. I have been using this account for some time now, but I just noticed at the bottom of the page in the fine print that it lists the IP address I am connecting from. And if you click on that, it gives you a list of the the IP addresses you connected from on your last 5 visits. I could not find out how far back they keep this information, but my guess is probably forever.

So I just wanted to warn people that Gmail is not as anonymous as you might think. If you want to leave no trail when using Gmail, be sure to only connect via a proxy.

 

[Chomp]

What about yahoo or hotmail? Do they log IP addy's? I really doubt anything is totally anonymous even with a proxy.

 

[sweetsmell]

I mean I am just saying, but don't damn near every where track your ip? Example lets take this site. Do you log in every time you come here? If you don't, they have your ip stored in the system with a cookie so you don't have to log in each time. I mean that is how I take it how things right? Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Chomp]

Just uncheck the "remember me" box when you log in and it shouldn't store anything....but I could be wrong

 

[sweetsmell]

What about yahoo or hotmail? Do they log IP addy's? I really doubt anything is totally anonymous even with a proxy.

The way I understand things is that if you use a proxy they cant track you(well they can but it is difficult). Because your ip changes all of the time. Like go to pagewash.com and then come here. They will ask you to log in and when you do might keep you logged in for a matter of seconds and then it will log you out automatically because your ip will change.

P.S this 5 min you cant post rule of if you don't have 50 post is bugging the shit out of me! But I will thank the admin's later for it( when I get to 50 )

As for the clicking the remember me box: you have to go into your computer and delete your cookies(or the ones you don't want)

 

[VirginHarvester]

I just want to make sure I understand what it means for google to track your IP. This doesn't mean someone I email can tell what my IP is, right? This doesn't mean someone I exchange PMs with can trace my IP, either, right? It just means that if LEO asked for info about my user account and Google complied and had records they could see where I have been... is that right?

 

[heimelg]

So what? Every email and pretty much every site does. Google just shows the last five IP address to you as a security measure so you can see if someone else hijacked your account. That is a good thing.

 

[Phillthy]

Every web server has the client's (you) IP address in their logs. If you come through a proxy then it is the proxy's IP address. Each and ever email message has the originating IP address appearing in it's headers (usually hidden in webmail). If you connect to gmail from your home without using a proxy or tor then you are connecting from the IP address that is assigned to you from your ISP and is tied to your account.

Also, every picture you post has info hidden inside it. It is called exif data. It lists the camera, date, lens, exposure, etc... it is good to strip this data using a program called jstrip. There are others but this is a real simple program and does the job.

 

[Tony Aroma]

I just want to make sure I understand what it means for google to track your IP. This doesn't mean someone I email can tell what my IP is, right? This doesn't mean someone I exchange PMs with can trace my IP, either, right? It just means that if LEO asked for info about my user account and Google complied and had records they could see where I have been... is that right?

Correct.

I just wanted to point this out to people who might think that a Gmail account is anonymous. Google may not have your real name, but they can tell where you are logging in from. Doesn't hurt to be aware of this fact if you are sending/receiving emails that might contain information about less-than-legal activities.

 

[moses224]

I highly recomend hushmail

www.hushmail.com

Its free and of course you can pay for upgrades. I then usen us
http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm
and IC as Home Pages

Also use a Proxy server which I will not name but its a pay service and cost 50 a year.

Hope this helps

 

[GrassRoots]

there have been posts about security issues with hushmail.

Here is one: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=73276&highlight=hushmail

 

[darkhollo]

Try mailinator.com

It's a one use email account. I signed up for seedbay, icmag and others using this.

Great for spammy sites too.

--dh

 

[B420]

I thought my gmail was completely anonymous guess i was wrong thanks. Going to have to check into hushmail.

 

[Fuzz420]

Google would be the last place i would go to for anonymity now days.Good info though never new they logged your ip's

 

[darkhollo]

Take a serious look @ hushmail. there is alot of info on them working with LEO. Best not do anything in email you wouldn't post on a bulletin board in a public place.

--dh

 

[ChaosCatalunya]

Take a serious look @ hushmail. there is alot of info on them working with LEO. Best not do anything in email you wouldn't post on a bulletin board in a public place.

--dh

Too right, likewise, do not do anything whatsoever online you do not want to happily explain to a Judge and Jury.

Hushmail do cooperate with LEO when forced to do so. Someone I know thinks swapping draft mesages there is safer as no email is ever sent, but I prefer to stick to my previous point. If you have to say something naughty, say it to someones face, phones and emails are there to arrange meetings, not replace them.

 

[boroboro]

I would pick a regular free email service in another country that doesn't require any real personal info to sign up. http://freemail.aussiemail.com.au/email/scripts/loginuser.pl, for example. As a plus, this email service is free, lightweight (works fast enough through tor/privoxy or similar proxy), and they don't delete your account after a few months of inactivity.

They do delete old emails, but you delete your own emails, right?

... If you have to say something naughty, say it to someones face ...

Well said, ChaosCatalunya!

 

[antman012]

I use a Gmail account, because of its anonymity, when I register for sites such as this. I have been using this account for some time now, but I just noticed at the bottom of the page in the fine print that it lists the IP address I am connecting from. And if you click on that, it gives you a list of the the IP addresses you connected from on your last 5 visits. I could not find out how far back they keep this information, but my guess is probably forever.

So I just wanted to warn people that Gmail is not as anonymous as you might think. If you want to leave no trail when using Gmail, be sure to only connect via a proxy.

Use a proxy if you can but at least with Google you can be assured that they don't give up users info with out a fight and they will fight. They have done it before when the gov was trying to get search info from them...

 

[KMK0420]

the govt can see whatever it wants. can it legally prosecute without using legal methods to obtain info against you? no.

 

[SouthernGuerila]

Be sure to wear your gold foiled hats!