strange visitors at blog

[abburdlen]

Yesterday I posted a comment over at AMERICAblog on the discussion about Bush's poll numbers and the terror alerts. Now call me naive, call me dumb but I link back to my personal, mostly family oriented blog in my signature line.
I happen to be looking at the visitor logs and saw the following:

HostName: n005.dhs.gov
IP : 63.162.143.5
Last Visit :New
ISP: DEPTHOMELANDSECURITY
Referring URL: http://www.haloscan.com/comments.php?user=katsiva&comment=112919163181292012

Now I'm not normally a paranoid person but does anyone else who watches over their logs notice the DHS snooping around?

[Neil Lisst]

1. They're watching us. Homeland Security to them means ...

Homeland Security for them means whatever Bush needs.

If I were you, I would record all the information, then get it to a friendly Democratic staffer in Congress. Give them everything, time, date, IP, browser, etc. any info you have. Let them pursue it.

It might be a misuse of government resources by a Republican political operative whose salary is being paid by DHS. Anyone else who observes such monitoring by Bush's government should do likewise.

[MADem]

2. Oh yeah

This is not....AMERICA

Be leary of providing personal info anywhere on the net. Sure, "they" can get it if they want it, but make the assholes work for it.

You are not paranoid, you are intelligent. I would counsel you to be more circumspect in future, at least until freedom exists in this nation once again.

As we all know, freedom, like beer and the rent, are not free!

[skids]

3. Not only that...

...but a lot of government agencies have Microsoft contracts, and as part of some of the site license contracts their URL Agent strings are altered to contain their agency name. So check those too. IIRC I got a browse from the Florida DOT once (and we all know what happened there) but it seemed innocent enough as to how they got to the page and the particular page they requested.

Weird stuff always on my website (I don't blog, I post permanant URLs. I'm old fashioned I guess.) One was some sort of evangelist weirdo going around hitting the root URL with the Referrer string "Jesus Is Lord" or something to that effect. So I returned the favor.

But anyway, never post detailed personal information on the web, is the safest approach to protecting yourself from either criminals or overbearing mccarthyist government.

[abburdlen]

5. One reason I haven't put the tin foil on

is that it flat out says it's from DHS, rather than trying to obscure where it's from. So I can believe it's just some joe working at DHS surfing during his lunch break.

As far as posting personal info- I'm of two minds. Having been in teh intellegence field when I was in the service, I doubt there is much privacy left whether you try and cover your tracks or not. But then there are some sick folks out there.
But that's why I never discuss where I keep the shotgun located in the house :)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

10. You just did.... sorta..... nt.

[progressivebydesign]

4. Wow. That's just scary! I checked the IP # on a WHOIS...

.. and it's indeed DHS. I thought perhaps someone scammed you somehow by somehow entering in the DHS info to scare you. I am totally naive, as well. I had no idea they're really spend their time looking at blogs, etc. Maybe it's just a robot type search that led them there, I'm certain they must have some sort of search robot looking for certain phrases? I'm always amazed at that type of attention for liberal blogs and sites like DU, as we're like the absolutely least violent people I know. I'd think the scary people wouldn't be posting things to blogs...

[_dynamicdems]

6. This smacks of intimidation.

They made no attempt to hide their identity. Why? It seems they want liberal bloggers to know they are out there listening. The fear factor. Isn't this how our government operates now?
:yoiks:

[melody]

7. Our own homegrown Gestapo

Then again, back in the 80s when I'd go to protest or even "New Age" events, we always had our license numbers taken down by black suited men standing around the parking lot. The people at the top are paranoid as hell, in all situations.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. Their God is so great that they are forced to live in fear that he

may allow them to "lose". Lose something in this world? So what. Lose power? Lose respect? Living in fear must be some sort of trip for them. Pity.

[johnaries]

8. Have you seen this thread?

Washington- The American-based internet giant, AOL, wholly-owned by Time-Warner, has formed a working partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to permit unlimited surveillance of the millions of AOL online members, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=5063992

Now THAT'S scary! Another reason I would never use AOL.

[RebelOne]

9. I have AOL and that doesn't worry me.

Because I have nothing to hide.

[johnaries]

14. You're visiting DU, aren't you?

Be afraid, be very afraid....

[radwriter0555]

12. Well considering AOL is located next door, LITERALLY to CIA hq

this really shouldn't be a shock....

*tinfoil hat firmly wedged onto cranium*

[abburdlen]

13. kick

don't know if it's rude to kick your own thread but I am curious if anyone out here has notice the same thing.