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What Is Trackback, And How Does It Affect Me? Information for Teens and Pre-Teens
Even though the Internet is considered to be anonymous, it really isn’t quite as anonymous as you may think it is. Oh sure, people often pretend to be someone other than who they really are. Kids may pretend to be adults, adults may pretend to be kids – people are often untruthful about what they look like, where they live, or even what they do. But with Trackbacks, people are not really as anonymous as they think they are.
Every time you use the Internet you leave a trail of breadcrumbs that can lead right back to you. These are called digital footprints, or Trackbacks. These Trackbacks can be used to see what you’ve been doing online, what websites you’ve been visiting, who you are chatting with, and where you are located.
Trackbacks start with an Internet Protocol number, or IP address. Every time a computer connects to the Internet, it is assigned an IP address, which is how it is identified by other computers. When you visit a website or chat room, or connect to another computer in any way, it is done with your IP address, and that IP address may be recorded.
With that IP address, people can find out what you’ve been up to. Every website you visit keeps track of IP addresses for statistical reasons. Every time you send an email, it passes through a multitude of computers between your computer and the computer of the person you are sending the email to – every computer it passes through records that IP address.
Many people try to cover their tracks, but doing so takes a lot of work and technical skill, and even then, they may not be successful. If you behave badly, or you break the law, you can – and probably will – be found. But the IP address isn’t the only thing that can get you caught.
There is a lot of software out there that can be installed on your computer – without your knowledge – that can track everything that you are doing it, and when you are doing it. Parents and schools use this software often to see what the kids are up to.
You will not be aware that the program is there, and even if you are, it will be password protected with an administrators pass code. You won’t be able to turn it off, or uninstall it. The logs of your computer and Internet use will be automatically emailed to the administrator – the parent or teacher – every time that computer is connected to the Internet.
Sometimes spyware is installed on your computer from unknown sources without your knowledge. This happens a lot when programs are downloaded from the Internet and installed – especially free programs. This spyware monitors what you are doing, and can even record what you type! This information is used by hackers to get personal information, and it is also used by commercial companies to send you spam.
So, the next time you use the Internet, remember that you aren’t as anonymous as you thought you were, and think carefully before visiting sites that you shouldn’t be visiting, chatting with people you shouldn’t be chatting with, or misbehaving or breaking the law in any way! More Articles
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