[extropy-chat] NSA Patents method to locate internet users.

[Adrian Tymes]

--- Mike Lorrey <mlorrey at yahoo.com> wrote:
> http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46501  

> While most users are unaware of it, their computers are able to
> "ping"
> website addresses to trace the route their connection took and how
> much
> time was required to complete the operation. Likewise other computer
> users – hackers, for example – can ping their computer as well when
> connected to the Internet. It is this feature that the NSA's patent
> seeks to exploit. 

This can give approximate geographic location - say, "within 10 km of
this node" - but not street address.  Enough to alert a city's police
department to be on the lookout for someone, if they have other clues
as to who the person is (e.g., they're fairly certain they know who's
hacking them but don't know where, as opposed to the stereotypical -
for good reason - anonymous hacker who has to be traced down by
traditional means, requiring the close cooperation of ISPs).