Re: Tracing computers via AOL?

From: Don Kelloway (dkelloway_at_commodon.com)
Date: 11/29/03 

Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 18:32:49 GMT

"Leythos" <void@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a30eb3a9957d20a989e96@news-server.columbus.rr.com...
> In article <Q0Axb.27198$Wy4.24778@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
> dkelloway@commodon.com says...
> >
> > "Leythos" <void@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> > news:MPG.1a2fcec970f83a3c989e8f@news-server.columbus.rr.com...
> > >
> > > The MAC address of the network card is unique - if he connected to
the
> > > IPS they would know the MAC address.
> > >
> > > There are also other apps that could be running and alert the
owner
> > and
> > > then the owner could contact the ISP. Even a simple PING from the
> > laptop
> > > to the owners monitoring system would give the IP.
> > >
> >
> > Thanks for replying,
> >
> > re: MAC
> > Sure it's unique, but it's not passed because of routers in between.
>
> If you monitor traffic in the switch or via DHCP requests you can see
> the MAC.
>

Only if you conduct the sniff within the same subnet will you be able to
ascertain the MAC. Though I do concur that it could be possible for AOL
to have configured their servers (which assign IP's in the 172.x.y.z
range over their tunnel) to sound off if a particular MAC were logged.

Hmmm, I suppose they could have done that. IOW with knowing the MAC in
advance, configure their servers to alarm when it's seen and allocated
an IP (for their tunnel) to. Of course the gamble is that the
individual involved would have to attempt to logon to AOL with the
laptop.

Best regards,
Don Kelloway

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