Internet Privacy Myths and Practices

[Zzz]

In light of recent events, I figured I'd write a short guide to maintaining your privacy on the internet, and dispel a few myths. I am not condoning posting illegal activities or proof of FAR violations. This guide does have some relevance though to protecting your identity or property from theft. Anyone with additional authoritative knowledge, feel free to add to this.

It is not through any kind of technology that identities are revealed in today's version of the internet. It is through good old fashioned detective work, utilizing the technique of cross-referencing. There is no mystical technology that allows them to trace your posts, or track you. Without a search warrant or subpoena from a court, they only have access to limited information, and it's all provided voluntarily by you.

What you cannot prevent

Given the seemingly anonymous nature of website access, there are a few items of data that it is very hard to conceal: Your computer's IP address. This number is logged by the host web server with each page request you make. The logged data, however, is only accessible to the administrator of that web server, NOT necessarily the administrator of the website. It is data that is certainly only available to a select few who maintain the web server, and not available to any other outside party unless ascertained though a court-ordered search warrant. What this means is that the one piece of identifying information that you can't conceal is nearly impossible for anyone who doesn't have administrator access to the web server to get. Even then, the logs have to be corroborated by the forum post to get a match, which can be difficult. That's good news.


How a web surfer can determine your identity

Beyond logged IP addresses, how can someone determine your real-life identity? Here are a few scenarios:

1. You list your N-number in your profile or signature, or as your username. That number can simply be plugged into the FAA Aircraft registry query, and the full name of the registered owner is revealed, with physical address.

2. You have photos of your plane in your photo gallery with N# easily discernable. See #1 above.

3. You use the same username on BCP as you do on Supercub.org, Cessna170.org, illegalstuffIdid.org, etc. You may have eliminated all your N# references from BCP, but you left many on the other websites. A simple Google search on your username will reveal that you also post on those other sites. The searcher simply begins mining your data from those sites and repeats #1 or similar.

4. You list the URL of your personal or business website in your profile. In AKtahoe1's case, he listed his other business web address, a very nice website which included a personal profile about him, giving his full name. Even the most rudimentary detective skill is all it takes to pull that off.

The list goes on and on, and while the detective skills of the investigating bodies may only extend so far, we don't know how persistent they are, or if they'll give up long before they force the web host to reveal the identity tied to the posting IP address.


What you can do to prevent your identity from being revealed

Some people live squeaky clean lives with nothing to hide and are comfortable sharing aspects of those lives on the internet. Others may choose to be a little more discrete. The absolute best way to never be caught for a violation of any regulation is to not have any witnesses, and never to share the story with anyone. If you just can't contain yourself though, and want to share with us, follow these steps:

1. Don't include photos of your N#, or list your N# in your profile or signature.

2. Don't list a personal or business website that can be used to crossmatch information and determine your identity.

3. Photos of your face are fine, as unless you're on the FBI's Most Wanted list, they're a difficult way to determine identity without questioning people who know you, and how would they find those people without already knowing you?

4. Keep in mind that your username, if you use the same one on various websites, can be considered all one account from the standpoint of Google. The keyword '1SeventyZ' will turn up multiple forum accounts, as well as Vimeo.com and Cessna170guide.org. You have to keep all your houses in order.

5. It's next to impossible for me, personally, to hide now. I was blessed/cursed with one of the more rare first names in the book, and the type of aircraft I fly is easily discernable from my photo gallery. I volunteer that I'm in Oregon. Simple search on the FAA aircraft registry for Cessna 170's in Oregon returns quite a few, but only 1 with an owner named Zane.



Conclusion
As you can see, there's nothing mystical about the technology used to determine identity, it's simple cross matching using a powerful search engine which crawls websites and indexes keywords. Even the most bumbling detective can determine your identity with just 1 or 2 clues.

1) If your username is your actual name or N#, PM me to change it to something else.

2) If you have your N# or name in your signature, change it by editing your Profile.

[Zzz]

Did anyone bother to read this? I still see a lot of N#'s in signatures, and haven't had many requests for username changes.

We're apparently under a great deal of scrutiny lately. It's not my job to protect your identity from internet investigators. Your passwords, credit card information, whatever-- that is safe. I cannot protect your identity though if you provide your name, N#, and any other identifying information in your profile, signature, or posts.

If you're squeaky clean and appear so on the site, you've probably nothing to worry about. I'm just offering some good tips. I'm sick of people acting like it's my responsibility to protect them.

[Quail]

Zane:

Yep, I read and believe your words to be truth!

Even before the recent unpleasantness I was concerned. While really having nothing to hide, I decided to go with my old ROTC nick name. However, I would suppose that if someone wrote about a felony, it would not be too hard for an investigator to track down the poster

BTW: On the topic of unpleasantness; I am very glad to see the end of this forum being used as a political soap box. While I love to discuss those things, I signed on to learn and share about things having to do with flying airplanes to the less traveled places.

[58Skylane]

Just read it. Thanks for the heads up!! I'll go through and change what I should later when I get some time.

[Flat Country Pilot]

I haven't tried to be anonymous and I don't have any thing good to hide.

But I read your tips and will re think about my little space in the world.

Thanks Zane

[a64pilot]

Out of ignorance I have left enough "bread crumbs" in my posts that you can tell exactly who I am, but I don't think anyone is actually looking. I think 99% of us don't have anything to hide, and there will always be the 1% in any group, it's just the way life is.

[Skystrider]

Come and git me copper!

[westernpilot]

I'm sick of people acting like it's my responsibility to protect them.

Point well taken !

It isn't your responsibility and users need to realize there are those lurkers out there that like nothing more than to cause people grief. Pretty sad existence when you get your jollies by causing problems for others.

Protect yourself or don't whine to 1SeventyZ when you get bit !

[Scolopax]

I'm sick of people acting like it's my responsibility to protect them.

Pretty sad existence when you get your jollies by causing problems for others.

I absolutely agree Westernpilot. It's unfortunate that those who go out of their way to mind the business of others who are doing no harm don't realize how pathetic they are. Hopefully somewhere in time they all get the Bitchsmack that they deserve.

[Zzz]

If somebody (like a federal, state, or other legitimate agency) really wants to find you then you really shouldn't be posting stuff on the internet, it's really not as anonymous as people tend to think.

It is as anonymous as your internet provider is willing to cooperate with investigators. Most ISP's won't stick their neck out for you by holding out for the search warrant simply out of principle. In our case though, unless major felonies are committed, law enforcement will not escalate their investigation that far.

In general, if you have something to hide, don't post about it.

[patrol guy]

Zane, thanks to you and Mr Nose wheel repairman (and I loved that repair job), I got scared and deleted a lot of pictures, posts on both this site and super cub.org, and my Myspace page, which had the "wilder" stories and questionable pictures. I changed signatures, my location, etc. Hopefully I went under cover soon enough.
... find me now!

ps: by the way, spell check asks me if Zane should be changed to "sane" ???

[westernpilot]

ps: by the way, spell check asks me if Zane should be changed to "sane" ???

Maybe a couple of years ago,,, now it is too late...

[Zzz]

Regarding deleting photos:

I'm not sure a blanket sweep of deleting all your photos is necessary. I think simply making sure you haven't posted photos of your N-number is sufficient. If you have the capability, mask out your N# in your photos prior to uploading. The Clone tool in many image editors does a great job of this.

My N# is on my vertical stabilizer, but in many of my photos you'll notice it's not there

If we stop uploading photos, they've won. Just be smart about it.

[Zzz]

I'm bumping this thread for some new faces that have joined up since summer 2008.

[n2485q]

hey "Sane"
LOL...just saw the thread..thanks for bumping it...I have no idea of how I missed it before...guess my ass in hung out pretty bad....I always seem to do EVERYTHING wrong..thanks for pointing that out....Ex wives did the same.....remember when "Brave New World "and "1984" were fiction....oh, that was befoe your time..grin

[WWhunter]

Zane,
I read it before and reread it again. Great info. I have always tried to keep most info off-line. Even when taking pictures of planes that are for sale I try and avoid posting them. As one of my good friends says,"Damn you are a paranoid SOB." LOL...
I think it goes back to my days in the military and OpSec. guess some things just seem to stay with us.
I am sure I have let a few things 'slip' occasionally but we all have days when our heads aren't up and fully locked!
WW

[58Skylane]

The N number on my plane goes back to a Post Office box, not my home address. Is that not a big deal? (unless I'm doing something illegal)