Big Brother

7 replies • Last post

yellowboots

Card Shark

Joined: 2 Sep 2011

Posts: 180

Thanks given: 26

Thanks received: 29

19 July 2012 - 1:58pm

Something has been foxing me for the past few days. .. but maybe someone here can put some light on the matter!

When chatting to a help desk 'operative' at an online casino the other day he was able to tell me not only what browser I was using but also the 'model', (ie Firefox 1.2.3.4.5.6 etc etc) although I never even gave him a clue.

On the one hand this was good as he was able to tell me what to do but on another its a little scarey that he knew this stuff (unbidden) because what else could he also know?

So was it just a good guess on his behalf or can these people see more than we realise?

barbadosslim93

Fortune Hunter

Joined: 28 Jan 2011

Posts: 2250

Thanks given: 315

Thanks received: 208

19 July 2012 - 3:45pm (#1)

They have these trackers that can tell you all sorts of information. I have seen them on forums before where people have an HTML plug in that tells you "You are in Midland, Michigan. Your IP address is xxx.xx.xxxx and you are using a computer running Max OS X and FireFox".

So its not rare, and they probably read this info to help diagnose why people are having crappy experiences or technical issues on their casino/site.

Check out my Casino Listings user blog!

yellowboots

Card Shark

Joined: 2 Sep 2011

Posts: 180

Thanks given: 26

Thanks received: 29

19 July 2012 - 6:03pm (#2)

Thanks Slim but now I am even more worried because the very reason for this essential CL website is that there are a bundle of bandits in this industry so taking that into account how deep does their knowledge go or can we be 100% certain that they can just get the basics and no more? I ask this on the day Grum (mega botnet) has been taken out to remind us all of the need for vigilance from in all things online including casinos...

LuckyMe

Forum Angel

Joined: 10 Dec 2011

Posts: 6383

Thanks given: 112

Thanks received: 171

19 July 2012 - 7:40pm (#3)

Kind of in the same line of questioning, I've often wondered about what all the casinos know if we use the rewards cards. Do they know that if I play six times without a win, I will move to another machine? I wonder if it's better to use the cards or not. Any opinions? I don't think my casino gives very good rewards. I'm not sure I will be using their card the next time I go to the casino. I know on Mondays, they give those over 55 a $5 bonus. Maybe I can use it on just Mondays.

CL-Ed

Staff

Joined: 7 Sep 2007

Posts: 3596

Thanks given: 562

Thanks received: 647

21 July 2012 - 10:15pm (#4)

Every time you request a web page, your web browser sends a list of text called "headers" that provide information to the website. One of these headers is called your browser "user-agent" identifier. This tells the web server what browser and version you are running. For example you might be sending something like this:

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:12.0) Gecko/20120403211507 Firefox/12.0

That tells the web server that you are running Firefox on Windows 7 (the windows NT 6.1 part). It can be used by the website to work out what percentage of their visitors use a certain browser or operating system for example. It could also be used by websites to enable features that only work on specific browsers, although more proficient web masters rarely use them, instead concentrating on "cross-browser" features that follow standards.

So all in all it is nothing to worry about, but if you truly are paranoid about it you can download something like this that lets you change it to something else:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/user-agent-switcher/

1 member gave thanks for this useful post: yellowboots

Always play it safe! Consult our list of rogue casinos and warnings before depositing.
Every comment you make in our forum earns you CLchips which can be used to buy real prizes in our CLchips shop!

Ubetcha

True Player

Joined: 28 Dec 2011

Posts: 877

Thanks given: 222

Thanks received: 83

23 July 2012 - 9:07pm (#5)

It should be SSL encrypted for your personal data protection. Businesses online are using a cookie tracker..

Also be aware of keyloggers they are out there to get you!

Y'all take care.. =^. .^=

yellowboots

Card Shark

Joined: 2 Sep 2011

Posts: 180

Thanks given: 26

Thanks received: 29

23 July 2012 - 10:42pm (#6)

Gulp, SSL ? Encrypted ? Keyloggers I'm toast as I don;t have a clue what you are saying although I can still appreciate the result of the work...

In fact i am so confused he following joke sums up my present state of mind succinctly as altho I am not female I was once blond..

A dizzy blonde is flying in a two-seater airplane with just the pilot.

But suddenly he has a heart attack and dies. She, frantic, sends out a May Day.

"May Day! May Day! Help me! Help me! The pilot is dead and I don't know how to fly! Help me! Please help me!"

Immediately she hears a calm voice over the radio saying:

"This is Air Traffic Control and I have you loud and clear. I will talk you through this and get you back on the ground. Don't worry as I've had a lot of experience with this kind of problem before.

'Just take a deep breath! Everything is going to be fine! Now quickly give me your height and position."

The blonde thinks for a second and then replies, "Right, well I'm 5'4" and I'm in the front seat."

(There is a long pause on the radio...)

"O.K." squawks the air traffic controller over the radio.... "Repeat after me: Our Father. . Who art in Heaven. . . ...."

Thanks guys