Forum Moderators: DixonJones
Tracert (trace route, in DOS) is one of the most handy tools for finding domain locations and when needed to know the source of some visitors or bots and for other needs. It's probably most often used related to spam issues rather than actual web site visitors.
Regarding the possibility of tracing directly to a person's door step. That is potentially a reality and a possibility.
Access to any web site keeps a log of the originating IP number, most commonly a dialup. (Email likewise has at least one valid source of originating IP, others might be forged).
In the case of the US, most telephone companies use digital switching equipment. Some of the early ones were SP1, EAX1, EAX2, GTD5. Now there are probably more brands and models.
A fact that is little known (but I learned from having worked 7 years for a Canadian telco) is that (especially) with electronic switching equipment that Every Single Call, including local ones, are recorded onto central office data tapes (or other media) for archival (and probably legal) purposes.
Technically speaking, when a person has used a particular dialup (often shared at different times and days) that their phone number has been documented by their TelCo as having placed that local (or toll) call to that dialup. Likewise when you call from home to your neighbor or whomever. This has been occuring for years, but the fact is kept quiet and is little known, but technically by court order a telco could research data tapes to find every call to or from your number. A time consuming process and very expensive.
Not any company can get records on local calls, and as I said it would probably take a court order or have to be requested by a fed government agency, but the fact of the matter is that a local call to a dialup "could" be traced. Thus you find out the dialup used and password for access, probably by court order through an ISP. Then a court order through the telco for that dialup could show the originating phone number. Combine the two items together and that's some good hard evidence. Once usually those two have been researched, next step would be to confirm the computer used for the activity. This is all stuff that would be done through law agencies and court order and can be used as evidence.
People who do any illegal activities should really consider the true facts. They may not be able to truly hide their identities as they may think they can.
As for privacy. Well, there are privacy statements and TOS statements through hosting services, ISP's, and even the TelCo's. Add in standard statewide or national laws and regs on privacy. Combine those facts and protections and most can see that their own protections are pretty well in place and are secure. Not just any company or john doe can find out who accessed a site, or sent an email, but the government, courts, and law agencies are most able when it is necessary.
Yes, IP's can be traced which would not reveal necessarily anything about an individual using a dialup, but when it comes to telephone service, if there's illegal activity associated then whomever commits an illegal activity should think again.
Hope this has been helpful and informative.
I've had some strang happenings occur with privacy issues so I'm glad you were so willing to share, thanks.
I just couldn't help myself by contributing that bit of info especially when I had seen the previous forum writings with parnoia, and mention of a company who "claimed" they could go that far, as for tracing to one's home.
I'd been a telco worker in 1980's in Canada, hired off streets. Told I did excellent on my tests. Work for them for 7 years as a testdeskman (repair department, line/trouble tester). Was taught on-the-job, and had a little cross-training down in the old C.O. (in the step-by-step office, we did have EAX1 & EAX2 then but no x-train in those). We also had SP1 anc Cross Bar, but no training in those either.
Self taught for extra things. Later we got the new GTD5 switching. Learned how to program all the switches, if need be for when those staff would be gone for day, later we got FMS facility management computer system for assigning cable pairs, line equipment, cable pairs etc, learned how to do that too.
As for line tracing. Yup! I just had to provide that info. If spammers and people doing illegal stuff only knew that their dialup account gets an IP numbe when they use it, it has their username/pwd associated (but their name may not be true), yet they need a phone to reach the dialup. Thus with IP's being traceable, emails have date & time, websites have server and account logs, just matching times the dialup could point to an actual tel number that was dialed. If an illegal activity had occurred, then that info from ISP, and a search by a telco of their daily CO data tape could reveal what number called that dialup's tel number.
The fact about local calls being technically possible to trace and that ALL CALLS are recorded onto that data tape is known by very very few. Even for staff "within" telco's... not many know that. But it's been possible for over 15-20 or more years. But the time is considerable and expense is very high to search for a needle in that hay-stack. Thus that is why it's such a hush hush secret and has been for many years.
Consider: You get nuisance or threatening calls. You call the police (maybe). And you call the telco who transfers you to telco security. With electronic switching the just type into the "switch" (computer) for your line "ACT" (annoyance call terminator) or "ACO" (annoyance call originator). From that point on calls in or out, as set, are each printed out (amongst others so set). It shows date, time, source & destination tel numbers and length of time. Then "you" keep a log of each nuisance call, report your list daily, and they compare their hard copy which becomes evidence. The setting of those two status flags has just made their life "easier" and elimated a lot of search time and much cost. But the potential has been and is always there that Every call gets onto the data tapes. Every call in or out of every number is recorded and documented onto the CO tapes.
As for privacy, as you can see and understand, that's all preserved and only courts and law agencies can get telco's to work with the CO tapes. Think of a town of 50K, in a day maybe 250K or more calls, local and long distance.
Now for my other expertise... now at age 53 and I don't look or act it. Self taught in most everything else. Plumbing and electrical work done to code as an unlicensed handyman.
Back in the 80's, Osborne computer, CP/M, 8080 8-bit cpu;
Morrow MD11, CP/M+, z80 8-bit cpu; CompuPro S100, Concurrent CCP/M with 80286 16-bit and z80 cpu's. Learned assembly language programming for each by seat of my own pants.
Always keep learning though.
But basically was just going to put out the tracing info to ensure honest people they are secure, but for the illegal ones who spam and hack (in the negative term) that they CAN BE found. All it takes is laws to be broken and governments to take action.
Time to go and probably too wordy. But it's an into.
bye.
