mcauble
join:2009-07-01
Elm Grove, WI
| Uverse only offers Static external address
I was surprized that Uverse only offers what is functionally a static address. I confirmed with their rep that their routers authendicate using the static address (rather than using Mac number for example). You get a static address whether you pay for it or not. I was also told by the AT&T rep that the ip address could not be changed even at a customer's request.
Check your own ip address using any of a number of sites like »whatismyipaddress.com and turn your gateway off and on -- the ip address stays the same.
It is good new for someone who wants a static address for free. However, there is a loss of privacy. Every site you visit will be able to identify your ip addreess reliably which allow permanent blocking and allows all types of use tracking. If you ever sign on to a sight once with your real name you set up the potential linkage between your street identity and the fixed ip address.
Does anyone else share my concerns? |
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MyDogHsFleas
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T Southwest
| You don't really have privacy anyway, even with an IP address that changes, you can still be found via court order, and your location can certainly be determined.
So I think there's little value in having a varying IP address.
I would not call it a "static" IP address -- that has a connotation that it will *never* change no matter what -- it's part of a premium service. The U-verse IP address will change if your RG (router) is swapped out, or if you move to a different line pair to the VRAD, or if the card in your VRAD is swapped. But those things don't happen very often. |
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gdm
Premium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
clubs: | reply to mcauble
Nope not a big deal and this has been known. The only way the IP changes is with a port or RG swap. |
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mcauble
join:2009-07-01
Elm Grove, WI
1 edit | reply to MyDogHsFleas
Does AT&T have the ability to change the ip address without changing the RG, swapping the VRAD or the VRAD line pair? Is the ip address assignment essentially "calculated" from the specific hardware? Would all ip addresses within say the
99.17.249.xxx block be served by the same VRAD? |
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MyDogHsFleas
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Southwest
| said by mcauble  :Does AT&T have the ability to change the ip address without changing the RG, swapping the VRAD or the VRAD line pair? Is the ip address assignment essentially "calculated" from the specific hardware? Would all ip addresses within say the 99.17.249.xxx block be served by the same VRAD? No. I believe so. I don't know. |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to mcauble
There is a number tacked to the front of my house. This number never changes. OMG! I have no privacy!!! 
No, I do not share your concerns. Even with dynamic IP addresses, the use of cookies allows for user tracking. Add to that marketers using "e-pending", and they can find out more than you'd really like, just from a dynamically assigned IP address. If you are really that concerned, steal a proxy from some spammer's 'botnet; better yet, unplug the connection between your RG and the NID.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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mcauble
join:2009-07-01
Elm Grove, WI
1 edit | When I surf the internet I do not give my street address to every site I visit.
I also assume anything "they" can find out from a dynamic address could also be discovered for a static address and used perpetually. |
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apeface
join:2000-09-16
Mckinney, TX
·AT&T U-Verse
1 edit | reply to mcauble
said by mcauble :Does AT&T have the ability to change the ip address without changing the RG, swapping the VRAD or the VRAD line pair? Is the ip address assignment essentially "calculated" from the specific hardware? Would all ip addresses within say the 99.17.249.xxx block be served by the same VRAD? Yes, it can be changed without swapping the port or rg, but I can tell you this right now, it wont happen unless you have something seriously wrong with your service.
How do I know this? Because I would be one of the people that can change it.
Also, specific DHCP subnets are allocated to each switch that serves groups of VRADS or FTTP nodes. |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA | reply to mcauble
But you can't stop somebody from following to your doorstep from the shopping mall.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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