OK I downloaded Peer Guardian, and I chose Spyware, P2P and Ads.

What does that mean exactly? I assume it doesn't allow these groups monitoring the groups identifed as the above from finding my computer.

Though honestly I'm not looking to share/download any files. I just want to keep my privacy.

But on another larger question, how does Limewire/Gnutella (or any software really) identifies its users? Somewhere the traffic using the IP is logged yes? So where does take place, in the nodes or in the P2P software? I'm confused and (perhaps is obvious) don't have a strong grasp on the jargon, so I could be writing gibberish.

Another wrinkle, I'm logging on through a wireless network, so it seems to me my computer isn't providing any information about my computer, other than the computer has to be close to the where the network is. Yes?

OK I read the Movedeer guardian post but could someone answer my much broader questions?

Thank you in advance.

Thanks for the quick reply Peerless, but uh.. could you (or anyone) explain how my identity could be ascertained through a wireless network. I've named my computer other than my name. It appears as a layman I could log on to a network in Dallas or Toronto. I suppose the wireless provider could bust though my firewall and than pretty easily ascertain my identity, but others could not do that yes (legally anyway)?

Please humor me with an answer.

Thanks again.

Thanks

questions

I think you are under the illusion that your PC is anonymous, in a way it is but, as far as the authorities are concerned, your identity can be discovered if they wanted it. Let me explain how:

When you switch on your office PC it is given an IP address by your DHCP server, your (new) IP address is then associated with your mac address (the unique and permanent hardware address on your network card), these two addresses plus your logon ID and the time and date you actually logged onto your network is all recorded by your main office application server.

So, the number of things that identify you in the office are:

1) Your username and password.
2) The IP Address allocated by your DHCP server.
3) The MAC address indelibly fixed in your network card.
4) The time and date all of the above came together
and, if you access the internet,
5) Your firewall log will record all four of the above.

Therefore, wherever you log on in your office network, i.e. London, New York or Paris, your office servers will record the information. If the authorities want to find out who you are then they can because your IP address contains enough detail to identify your organisation, and from there identify you.

If you have any doubt about what I have just explained then strike up a casual conversation with your IT Security People, I am sure you will be sufficiently enlightened.




UK Bob