? from a pc dummy. If one creates a web based email account from

[henslee]

a public wi-fi connection, can the email ever be traced to them via an ISP number or any other way, so long as they do not provide accurate sign up info? (I hope this quesiton makes sense)

[benito]

1. well...

never underestimate the reach of Ashcroft.

[henslee]

2. Come on, that's no answer. I thought that all pc's have a coded

chip in them or something like that. Do they?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. Well, yes.

The Blue Meanies would have to supoena the webmail company's server logs(and they do exist...) and compare connection activities with posting activities, by IP address)(00.00.00.00...you know.). Then, they would have to find the ISP or phone company and get THEIR server records to see who was logged onto that particular IP at that time, and see if there are other connection records in the ISP logs.

And yes, The Blue Meanies do this all the time. It ain't rocket science. In fact, with some logs and a few simple IP tools, you or I could do this too.

On edit: From a public WiFi? Missed that. Almost impossible. They might have your NICs MAC address at the WiFi hotspot, but that would be a needle in a haystack.

[henslee]

9. Cool.

[deadmessengers]

3. Not likely.

From a public wi-fi connection, you're probably untraceable, as long as you've never used that connection before, don't go to any other websites, and never go back and use that wi-fi connection again.

Of course, each individual email you send will be tagged with the IP address (a unique identifier assigned to each computer connected to the Internet) that your computer had at the time, which could possibly be traced back to you - again, if you didn't pay for the connection using traceable funds (credit card or check), you've never used that connection before, you weren't videotaped in the process, and you don't plan on using it again, you're *probably* OK.

[henslee]

6. If one were using their own PC on an unguarded public connection, y'know,

floating in the air -- not at a stationary terminal. One would set up an email account on a public/unguarded wifi and then use it... from more ungaurded wifi connections -- and not the same one all the time.

And if that person were to send emails to other accounts, would the fact that they emailed others leave a traceable footprint?

[benito]

4. "We've climbed the mighty mountain....."

The public WIFI is a router with a static IP address connected to the internetS. If you bring your laptop into a WAP, your online activity should carry the same IP as the router.

[henslee]

7. WAP = Wireless ________ _________ ???

[benito]

8. sorry-

wireless access point -

[sendero]

10. You could always...

...drive around affluent neighborhoods with your wireless card listening. You'd eventually find some dork with a wireless setup who didn't set up an encryption key and access password. Use his internet connection to send anything you like :)

(this is intended to be flippant advice. I do not recommend actually trying this, it might work and it might not)