tankman1989
Gawd
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2009
- Messages
- 588
I really don't know how to explain the technical "name" for where the customer name is used, I believe it is the "hostname" of the IP address - so I appologize for the title.
Here is an example of \wWhat they are doing, without telling customers. Let's say the customer has a static IP address of 267.123.234.221 The hostname from a simple internet search shows the following: Lfe-static-JoeEPublic.dmts.ISPname.net (replace the part in red with the customers name).
I found this out while administering a website and when I was looking at a post I had made it showed my actual name under the "user details" aspect of the software where it had information about the user such as IP and hostname as well.
I was totally appauled when I saw this and didn't know what to think so I dug in and looked a little closer. I did a search for IP hostnames on a seperate ISP 3000 miles away and it gave the same results, showing my name in the publicly available hostname! I was outraged because I had no idea that this was being done. It is like going to sites with a name badge on. Luckily I don't go to sites that I would have been embarassed about but I'm sure there are some that might.
This is SUPER IMPORTANT for the customer to know because they could be posting on sites about personal medical conditions or whatever. Whether or not it is legal or ethical for the ISP to do this isn't really as important as whether or not they tell the customer it is happening. I feel it shouldnt be legal for them to do this and definitely not ethical and definately not ethical not to inform the customer.
I don't want to use the service any more but I have little options. The company says that it isn't really an issue, not a big deal, and they can't change it because the "system" (computer) generates the names and they don't do it on purpose. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!? They say it isn't their fault because it is done by an automated system that THEY operate and program!?
What do you guys think about this?
Here is an example of \wWhat they are doing, without telling customers. Let's say the customer has a static IP address of 267.123.234.221 The hostname from a simple internet search shows the following: Lfe-static-JoeEPublic.dmts.ISPname.net (replace the part in red with the customers name).
I found this out while administering a website and when I was looking at a post I had made it showed my actual name under the "user details" aspect of the software where it had information about the user such as IP and hostname as well.
I was totally appauled when I saw this and didn't know what to think so I dug in and looked a little closer. I did a search for IP hostnames on a seperate ISP 3000 miles away and it gave the same results, showing my name in the publicly available hostname! I was outraged because I had no idea that this was being done. It is like going to sites with a name badge on. Luckily I don't go to sites that I would have been embarassed about but I'm sure there are some that might.
This is SUPER IMPORTANT for the customer to know because they could be posting on sites about personal medical conditions or whatever. Whether or not it is legal or ethical for the ISP to do this isn't really as important as whether or not they tell the customer it is happening. I feel it shouldnt be legal for them to do this and definitely not ethical and definately not ethical not to inform the customer.
I don't want to use the service any more but I have little options. The company says that it isn't really an issue, not a big deal, and they can't change it because the "system" (computer) generates the names and they don't do it on purpose. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!? They say it isn't their fault because it is done by an automated system that THEY operate and program!?
What do you guys think about this?