Intel snoop?

[sgw75]

I have just heard a rumor about the Intel P3 chips sending info about you through the net straight back to Intel. Is it just that...a rumor, or is there really a concern over the P3's?

[OuTpaTienT]

The concern is over the P3's id number thing. Each PIII is capable of suppling it's indivual id# to Intel or whoever might request it over the net. And since each individual PIII chip can be identified people worry that maybe their privacy is comprimised.

You can find utilities that will disable the PIII's id#. But the truth is, you HAVE NO PRIVACY on the net anyways. And the chip is not "just sending info to Intel", you'd have to visit a site that requested the id# for anyone to get it. And even then, so what? I doubt very seriously Intel (or anyone) has a huge database of exactly which PIII chip is owned by which individuals.

If you're worried about it, disable it. I really think it's all a big nothing.

[Andy_L]

If someone really wanted to trace you on the internet, they can just use your Modem's MAC address.

[wee96]

For us cable modem users (and DSL users), the network card MAC is the killer. Though these numbers don't really mean anything. Something you need to remember about the intel p3 id is, if the number can be turned off by software, it can be turned ON by software. I wouldnt worry about it though, it's just a number. This number can't tell anyone anything about your system itself, other than your using that one chip. It can in theory be used to track your net usage, but this would require every server you ever use to have this request, which isn't likely at all.

[sgw75]

Okay, then it really isn't a big deal. It just sounded intense when I heard it. Thank you for the info.

[CMonster]

Nah, Kieth, but I'll ping you.

Okidoki - you should have noted 4 attempted break-ins in the last 15minutes.



[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 12-28-1999).]

[sgw75]

lol...you guys...

[OuTpaTienT]

Hey, if someone just pings your IP does that affect you in anyway? If you don't have a firewall or any security software would you have any way of knowing that you are being pinged?

[narayan]

Big Brother is coming, one step at a time!!!!

[KeithV]

Well pinging just does this, it send packets of data to the ip and waits for the ip to send them back, then sends more. Some of the more crude attempts at bringing down a system consist of simply pining an ip 50000000000 billion times. Sure, it could work, but most people will notice it and do something about it. It's funny, Microsoft refuses ping requests.. lol

[Dominus]

One note: MAC addresses can be changed at will. They are not set in stone.

And a non-transparent proxy will get rid of the worries of having your IP tracked.

And buying an Athlon will get rid of your worries over the dreadded PSN!


Well, looks like I'm covered....

[CMonster]

oui Dominus - I am right behind you\\\!!! down the Athlon road/...

Kieth - You never answered the ping hehehe...

or telnet..

or ftp..

or http..

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif :0 http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif :0 http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[KeithV]

Yea, having dsl or cable is a killer. My IP is always 157.22.205.176 (try and crash me, I dare you *snickers*) and with just an IP anybody with half a brain can find out where somebody lives. In fact, even with a dynamic ip (from dial up and such) it's still possible, but thats requires a lot more help from their isp.

[KeithV]

my system was down for a bit, working on overclocking it. I have an ftp server on port 21, but thats it.

[Andy_L]

I think you are getting the IP address and the MAC address confused when you talk about changing, the MAC address is hardwired on your card/modem.

[OuTpaTienT]

That was my understanding too. The MAC address cannot be changed no matter what you do (except for getting new hardware).

[socalgal]

My understanding is each MAC addy is unique.

If anyone has knowledge of a MAC address being duplicated, faked, changed, I would really like to hear about it.

[wee96]

A network cards MAC address is its own unique serial(basically), just like on the p3 chips. To change it youd have to change the chip (or whereever its located exactly) itself, software can't change it.

[alpha]

The word MAC just scares me. Too many bad memeries of Mac SE's. Also, check out www.bigbrotherinside.com (http://www.bigbrotherinside.com)