iTnews
  • Home
  • News
  • Technology
  • Security

Advertisers could locate IP addresses to within 100m

By Stewart Mitchell on Apr 11, 2011 8:55AM
Advertisers could locate IP addresses to within 100m

Computer scientist touts method that drastically improves geolocation without user consent.

Advertisers and authorities could be able to locate a computer down to the postcode, without asking users for any data, according to a computer scientist.

Accurate tracking via IP addresses has been a holy grail for advertisers and publishers who want to deliver targeted content depending on location, but it has until now been woefully inaccurate.

Whereas current network analysts can track down an IP address to within a 25-50 mile radius, computer scientist Yong Wang has developed a method that he claims gets to within 690 metres on average - and as close as 100m.

“Our system can geolocate IP addresses 50 times more accurately than the best previous system, and achieves a median error distance of 690m,” Wang said in a report - Towards Street-Level Client-Independent IP Geolocation - drawn up with colleagues at Northwestern University in the US.

In the report, Wang explained that the method took three steps to uncover a user's location. Initially, Wang would ping a data packet to the address and convert transit time into a distance, which he said would give an accuracy of within 200km.

To fine tune the system, Wang repeated the process on a more local scale using servers within that footprint. Using “landmark servers” in the same area as a target computer, the researchers refined the search by examining the differences in delivery times between known addresses and the target computer.

The process was then repeated again, to deliver location to within 100m, the report said.

“Many entities businesses, universities and institutions host their web services locally and provide their actual geographical location on their websites,” Wang said. "The information provided in this way, when combined with network measurements, represents a precious geolocation resource."

No user permission

Wang said his method did not rely on any input from users, which means advertisers would not need to ask consent first. Most accurate location systems are currently opt-in.

“Many applications - such as location-based access restrictions, context-aware security and online advertising - can't rely on clients’ support for geolocation," Wang said.

“A highly accurate client-independent geolocation system stands to be an important goal for the internet.”

This article originally appeared at pcpro.co.uk

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Copyright © Alphr, Dennis Publishing
Tags:
100maddressesadvertiserscouldiplocatesecuritytowithin

Partner Content

Security "mindset shift" needed to protect organisations
Promoted Content Security "mindset shift" needed to protect organisations
Winning strategies for complaints and disputes management in financial services
Promoted Content Winning strategies for complaints and disputes management in financial services
Accenture and Google Cloud team up to create a loveable, Australian-first, renewable energy product
Promoted Content Accenture and Google Cloud team up to create a loveable, Australian-first, renewable energy product
Digital signatures propel Australian Unity with rapid time to value
Digital signatures propel Australian Unity with rapid time to value

Sponsored Whitepapers

Free eBook: Digital Transformation 101 – for banks
Free eBook: Digital Transformation 101 – for banks
Why financial services need to tackle their Middle Office
Why financial services need to tackle their Middle Office
Learn: The latest way to transfer files between customers
Learn: The latest way to transfer files between customers
Extracting the value of data using Unified Observability
Extracting the value of data using Unified Observability
Planning before the breach: You can’t protect what you can’t see
Planning before the breach: You can’t protect what you can’t see

Events

  • Forrester Technology & Innovation Asia Pacific 2022
By Stewart Mitchell
Apr 11 2011
8:55AM
0 Comments

Related Articles

  • Oh Deere: Aussie researcher roots tractor control system
  • Twilio phish sees Signal users' numbers at risk of re-registering
  • Digital signatures propel Australian Unity with rapid time to value
  • Realtek SDK exposes systems to SIP bug
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Whatsapp Email A Friend

Most Read Articles

Services Australia sets changeover date for myGov

Services Australia sets changeover date for myGov

NSW Police dumps Bezos-backed Mark43 from core systems overhaul

NSW Police dumps Bezos-backed Mark43 from core systems overhaul

Australian court finds insurer not liable for ransomware clean-up costs

Australian court finds insurer not liable for ransomware clean-up costs

NBN Co proposes to axe CVC across all plans by mid-2026

NBN Co proposes to axe CVC across all plans by mid-2026

Digital Nation

Criteo to fork out $94.7m for consent breaches
Criteo to fork out $94.7m for consent breaches
Domino’s invests in observability for zero contact delivery
Domino’s invests in observability for zero contact delivery
COVER STORY: How KPMG, Mirvac and ASX use blockchain to build trust in the property sector
COVER STORY: How KPMG, Mirvac and ASX use blockchain to build trust in the property sector
Australia will lose 11 percent of jobs to automation by 2040: Forrester
Australia will lose 11 percent of jobs to automation by 2040: Forrester
Metaverses on the agenda for Dominello, Husic ministerial meeting
Metaverses on the agenda for Dominello, Husic ministerial meeting
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorisation.
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of nextmedia's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.