03-03-2010, 05:32 PM
Yes, a little legal pressure on Twitter or the ISP and they'll give up the IP address, and whoever's account it's linked to. Google, ISPs, etc have a history of cooperating with law enforcement. Or rather, ratting someone else out to cover their own a$$.
Without legal pressure, I would think it would be difficult for anyone to be able to figure out who/where someone is tweeting from.
If you choose to pursue my public wifi idea, there are a couple of other things you may consider. First, go to the thrift store or a pawn shop and buy the cheapest usable PC. Pay cash. Wipe and reinstall Windows. Use an external usb wifi adapter if possible. When you go to a coffee shop or other public place, put a rubber band around your wallet so you don't mistakenly use your credit card. Leave your cell phone at home. Don't buy anything except with cash. Fire up your web browser and tweet. Do not check any other sites. Do not check personal email. YOU WERE NEVER THERE. Alternatively drive around the suburbs looking for open wifi access points and tweet from there.
It's overly paranoid and STILL there's no guarantees, but doing these things will realistically eliminate the chance of them being able to find you. Follow all those steps and it will make it almost impossible to find you. I mean they'd have to get a court order to get a tape pull of the coffee shop security cam footage to see who was in there at the time... not terribly likely.
Without legal pressure, I would think it would be difficult for anyone to be able to figure out who/where someone is tweeting from.
If you choose to pursue my public wifi idea, there are a couple of other things you may consider. First, go to the thrift store or a pawn shop and buy the cheapest usable PC. Pay cash. Wipe and reinstall Windows. Use an external usb wifi adapter if possible. When you go to a coffee shop or other public place, put a rubber band around your wallet so you don't mistakenly use your credit card. Leave your cell phone at home. Don't buy anything except with cash. Fire up your web browser and tweet. Do not check any other sites. Do not check personal email. YOU WERE NEVER THERE. Alternatively drive around the suburbs looking for open wifi access points and tweet from there.
It's overly paranoid and STILL there's no guarantees, but doing these things will realistically eliminate the chance of them being able to find you. Follow all those steps and it will make it almost impossible to find you. I mean they'd have to get a court order to get a tape pull of the coffee shop security cam footage to see who was in there at the time... not terribly likely.