What does website know when I browse?

[old volunteer]

When I go to a site, for example, WebMD, what does the site know about me by
my logging on to the site? It's a question of privacy for example if I'm
asking a medical question. In general when I log onto a website what do they
know about me what can they determine from the logon?

 

[R. McCarty]

It depends on what personal information you provided when you
setup the account. Everything today is stored in a Database. Just
about every website tracks data.

One thing that people need to do more of is read site agreements.
Most sites provide a Privacy statement that details what can and
cannot be done by the site with your information. Medical info is
controlled by legislation called Hipaa
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/

 

[Lem]

When I go to a site, for example, WebMD, what does the site know about me by
my logging on to the site? It's a question of privacy for example if I'm
asking a medical question. In general when I log onto a website what do they
know about me what can they determine from the logon?

They see you when you're sleeping,
They know when you're awake.
They know when you've been bad or good ...

If all you do is surf to a website (i.e., you don't manually enter any
data), code at the website can determine a number of things: your IP
address (which is assigned to you by your ISP and without which you
could not use the Internet at all); a geographic location related to
that IP address (which may or may not be anywhere near where you
actually live, again depending on your how your ISP does things); the
operating system being used by your computer (e.g., Windows XP); the web
browser you are using (e.g., Firefox); perhaps the name of the website
where you clicked on a link to get to the current website; various
details about your last visit to this website; and perhaps some
additional info I've forgotten.

Of course, if you actually *log in* to a web site, then "they" know
everything you entered when you created your UserID.

So...You better watch out,
You better not cry
You better not pout ...

And if you want to hide any or all of that info, Google "anonymous surfing"


--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[HeyBub]

They see you when you're sleeping,
They know when you're awake.
They know when you've been bad or good ...

If all you do is surf to a website (i.e., you don't manually enter any
data), code at the website can determine a number of things: your IP
address (which is assigned to you by your ISP and without which you
could not use the Internet at all); a geographic location related to
that IP address (which may or may not be anywhere near where you
actually live, again depending on your how your ISP does things); the
operating system being used by your computer (e.g., Windows XP); the
web browser you are using (e.g., Firefox); perhaps the name of the
website where you clicked on a link to get to the current website;
various details about your last visit to this website; and perhaps some
additional info I've forgotten.

The web site COULD access cookies on your computer put down by other sites
and, from those, discover or deduce a lot more.

But there's good If you don't have anything to worry about, you don't
have anything to worry about. If you're a terrorist, we're gonna get you.
And your little dog too.

 

[Dave Cohen]

The web site COULD access cookies on your computer put down by other sites
and, from those, discover or deduce a lot more.

But there's good If you don't have anything to worry about, you don't
have anything to worry about. If you're a terrorist, we're gonna get you.
And your little dog too.

Plus zap your nuts so all those virgins won't do you any good.
Dave Cohen

 

[Plato]

When I go to a site, for example, WebMD, what does the site know about me by
my logging on to the site? It's a question of privacy for example if I'm

They know nothing about you. All the site sees is a pc. Not a person.

 

[Twayne]

They know nothing about you. All the site sees is a pc. Not a person.

Well, sort of. IF your machine is setup properly and working properly,
they can't find any identifying or personal information about you.
There is however certain data you can not prevent from being seen. For
a demo from a reliable source, go here:
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Or, in case that link won't work, go to just grc.com and follow the
links in to Shields Up if you want to start from the beginning.
They will ONLY show you what other sites can see about you; you're in
control all the time. They will also peruse your machine for open ports
on another test page, always a bad thing on the internet, and offer
advice on what to do. They're good tests; not perfect, but the best
I've found, and they do NOT probe for personal information; I've watched
them at work. Free, of course.

--
--
Regards,

Twayne

Open Office isn't just for wimps anymore;
OOo is a GREAT MS Office replacement
www.openoffice.org