untangling_the_web

DID: 4046925
UNCLASSIFIEDlIFOR OFFlOIjlcL USE OHL't
traffic does not travel the same way in both directions. Although traceroute can tell
you whether two networks communicate directly or indirectly, it cannot tell you
anything with certainty about the nature of their relationship, such as who is the
provider and who is the customer. For a good explanation of how traceroute works
(and the some of the drawbacks of using traceroute), look at these traceroute
articles and tutorials:
Mapping Where the Data Flows
Traceroute Tutorial
Russ Haynal's Traceroute Overview
http://www.isoc.org/oti/articles/0200/dodge.html
http://www.exit109.com/-jeremy/news/providers/traceroute.html
http://navigators.com/traceroute.html
Geolocating Internet Addresses
Geolocating Internet addresses using IP addresses has become big business and
has applications for individuals as well. Why is knowing where someone is (actually,
where the host computer is that he is using to connect to the Internet is physically
located) important or useful? Some of the many uses of IP address geolocation
include, but are not limited to:
~ Tailored search results: some search engines will put local sites higher in the
results' list, so if you search for "orthodontists" and you are in Boise, Idaho,
local orthodontists may come up first.
~ Online companies may use geolocation to tailor currency, sales tax, shipping
rates, and even in some cases, prices by locality
~ Automatic localization of configuration profiles (no need to reset a browser or
chat software, it automatically detects where you are).
~ Reducing network congestion by routing users to the closest servers that
mirror the original content.
~ Targeting advertising to a specific city, state, or country.
~ Complying with local laws; this especially applies to online gambling, which is
legal in some places and not in others.
~ Controlling access; France uses geolocation to prohibit French Internet users
from accessing pro-Nazi websites; China has a long, effective, and disturbing
history of using geolocation to prevent access to many sites the Chinese
government deems "unacceptable."
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