OsamaKilla
join:2005-02-18
Canada
| Anonymity
I know that websites store IP information. I recently downloaded a program called "hotspot shield" so I could watch videos on hulu, basically my ip shows in the US somewhere. Does using this software give me complete anonymity while I am online on my own wireless network, or when at a hot spot? |
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nwrickert
sand groper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
 ·AT&T Midwest
| I'm not sure what kind of anonymity you are looking for.
If you are on WiFi, then anybody nearby can detect your signal. Depending on the WiFi security they might also be able to see the content of some of your packets.
If you do something to raise the suspicions of the police, and they check your computer, then they can find your browsing history and cache unless you set your browser to auto-delete that on close.
If you plan on using a proxy to hide your IP, be aware that the people who run the proxy have access to your IP information.
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AT&T dsl; Westell 327w modem/router; SuSE 10.1; firefox 2.0.0.13 |
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docrice
join:2008-03-31
Fremont, CA
| reply to OsamaKilla
I'm assuming you're referring to the VPN client. All that does is create a tunnel to another endpoint on the Internet somewhere. So that said, assuming ALL of your normal IP traffic is sent through the tunnel (DNS requests, multicasts, etc.), you can be somewhat anonymous at the hotspot location itself. However, after you associate to the hotspot, there's still a short time frame window where you have to launch the VPN client. Until that happens, you have potential data leakage via all your background applications and OS services that naturally like to create traffic to external sites.
After your tunnel is up, general IP layer and link layer information is still present to hotspot stalkers - 802.11 association information (management frames, etc.), your client IP, the destination IP of the VPN gateway, local ARP requests, etc..
Also keep in mind that an access point can log all connection information. Within that log could be your interface's hardware address (assuming you don't change it). If there's authentication involved to connect to the access point (or get to the Internet), you may run into a credentials exposure if SSL isn't used to encapsulate the data to the captive portal. Etc..
So yes, it depends on what you consider "anonymous." |
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