Do ISP's log phone numbers?

[seeto]

In order to log onto your dial up ISP (assuming you have given false info to protect your ID) does anyone know if they would log the phone number that is dialing in. This would enable them to get your address of course?

I suppose putting the correct number blocking prefix in front of the dial up number would not send your number and hence you would in effect be totally anonymous?

Or am I barking mad?

Seeto

[Star Guitar]

I believe that regardless of the number you use to dial, that machine still has an IP address that can be traced to the owner. Nice thought, but no dice.

[rebirth]

exactly what he said

[seeto]

I believe that regardless of the number you use to dial, that machine still has an IP address that can be traced to the owner. Nice thought, but no dice.

Yes, sure every machine has an IP number but so what? I don't understand your logic? Unless your machine's IP number is lodged on some huge worldwide database and is matched with your name & address, surely they can never know where you are?

The scenario might be: Your IP is tracked to your ISP, your ISP has "John Smith, 1 Nowhere St, Nowhere" as your address, so that is what the applicant is given. This makes perfect sense to me or am I missing something?

Seeto

[Ne007]

Yes, sure every machine has an IP number but so what? I don't understand your logic? Unless your machine's IP number is lodged on some huge worldwide database and is matched with your name & address, surely they can never know where you are?

The scenario might be: Your IP is tracked to your ISP, your ISP has "John Smith, 1 Nowhere St, Nowhere" as your address, so that is what the applicant is given. This makes perfect sense to me or am I missing something?

Seeto

To purchase an IP address you must be a person with identification. The IP address therefore is as good as showing someone your license.

[Whistler]

Yes, sure every machine has an IP number but so what? I don't understand your logic? Unless your machine's IP number is lodged on some huge worldwide database and is matched with your name & address, surely they can never know where you are?


um yea this is pricisely the case, each isp does have such a database.

[seeto]

To purchase an IP address you must be a person with identification. The IP address therefore is as good as showing someone your license.

That might be the case where you live but where I am (Australia) I can buy an over the counter account with no ID, register it through an Internet cafe and then log in from home, blocking my number while I'm at it.

Therefore, what I am trying to say is:

I can buy wthout ID
I can register the account from an Internet cafe anonymously
I can dial up, blocking the sending of my number
I can therefore be totaly anonymous (notwithstanding the fact that this may be illegal)

um yea this is pricisely the case, each isp does have such a database.

I don't think you understand. If you were to buy a computer, that computer's IP address is not logged on some mega database with your personal name and address and even if it were, what if you had bought it second hand? Each ISP might well have a list of who it thinks it has as a customer but by using the methodology above, I believe that you are indeed anonymous. The only reservation I have is about the number blocking and its effectiveness.

Seeto

[matt merch]

I can dial up, blocking the sending of my number


very simple for them to obtain that phone number that you blocked

[nasrules]

The point is, when you connect using your account, your dial-up ISP will allocate you an IP address and then store in a database when you used that address and how long for.

With-holding your number does not make it untraceable.

[eivioolla]

Well, what you describe might make it harder to trace you, but surely the phone companies log the phone calls (dialup) even if that information is not forwarded to the receiver if you block it? Blocking your number doesn't make it nonexistent it just doesn't show it to the receiver, but surely the authorities could dig it up from the phone company's records.

[nasrules]

Yes, they could, evivioolla.

[Disaster Man]

You can bet if you used a stolen credit card that the police would investigate and you'd be caught. It may be OK in a shop without camera but not on the net where they can find out your phone number, and catch you at the address the phone is at.

ISPs, phone companies and the police are formidable powers. And the police do have power to snoop when you commit an offence.