Unknown visitor tracking method.

[MOONCRICKET]

So here's the deal... There is a site I go to that is NOT ebay, but they have some sort of tracking that I cannot figure out.

I have done all of the following at once before returning to the site:
-cleared cookies/history/offline website data
-cleared flash cookies
-changed IP address

...yet when I get onto the site, they still know who I am. wtf?

I thought that all of this is a fluke until I tried this all multiple times. Same result every time. What disturbs me is that ebay might someday figure out how to do this...

Anyone know how they could possibly be tracking me?

The MAC address of your modem, your router, or your adapter (ethernet or wireless).

[MadSam]

What's the site?

[MOONCRICKET]

From what I understand, they cannot directly see your MAC address... they can only do so via flash.

I don't think it is the MAC address and here is why:

I went to that site with my iphone... after changing ip address and clearing cookies, they were still able to tell who i was on the iphone! This is very strange. The iphone DOES NOT use flash... they would have no way of checking the MAC address.
I was on 3g, not wifi, by the way... I will tell anyone the site by PM who is an established member, but I will not post it in this thread... I don't want ebay to get any ideas.

[GreenBean]

HeeHee, these scenarios crack me up.Why post in an open forum? A secret shared is a secret lost, if you get my drift.

Heaps of these sites have widgets, HTML codes, tracking software. Think of BlackHat methods, SEO etc.
It's not just the flash cookies. Have you checked LSOs as well? I use chrome for those 'special' sites as chrome has an Incognito Window. Try that and see how it works for you. NB, I've used it only on a PC not a cell phone

I know that one major venue uses java to get your MAC and a lot of other info.

If you don't have java, you can't use the site.

If you do have java, they know your MAC, your windows user name, your machine name, your DNS settings, your screen resolution, the dpi accuracy of your mouse, what brand and model of keyboard you use, and just about everything else.

On a side note - flash objects are now classified as LSO. Some flash elements can (not implemented by all sites yet) be stored in a shared location. This means every windows user account on your computer will have access to that file.

If you log on to <example>.com from winuser Velcro, <example>.com may drop a flash element in a subfolder in All Users. If you then log on to <example>.com from winuser Vic on the same PC, <example>.com would know that Velcro and Vic are the same. Roughly speaking. <example>.com would actually make the assumption that Velcro and Vic are the same, even though it is possible that Velcro is Vic's evil twin.