I know who you are! You cannot hide behind a keyboard. It’s impossible.
You see, over the past several weeks this website (ryanrally.org) exploded with reader comments. Most were proper. Some were misleading. Others were outright lies. All were entertaining! There’s not a single person that I couldn’t identify, if I were so inclined. It’s that way in cyberspace and I wouldn’t be doing anything that is sneaky or underhanded. People just don’t know how it works.
Readers of this website know — because I’ve pointed this out several times before and I specifically call it out in the Disclaimer — that no one can be anonymous while using the internet. No one! The internet knows who you are and it’s easy enough for a website administrator to get damming information on a person. Really, a person could get their ass sued for making libel statements. People think they can “mask” their information, but that’s just not entirely so.
I bet Anthony Wiener (aka, “Carlos Danger”) wished he knew what you do… or soon will!
ryansrally.org Disclaimer excerpt
IP Addresses: Every computer has an IP (Internet Protocol) address. IP addresses of computers and mobile devices used to visit this website/blog are logged by an independent third-party. Be aware, your IP address is every bit as identifying as your telephone number or street address. In addition, this website may automatically collect other information; including such data as email addresses, browser types, operating systems, and the URL addresses of sites clicked to and from this site, among other information. Getting the IP address of a user is quite easy, even when they attempt to mask it through a proxy server.
How It’s Done
The easiest, but most expensive, way to gather reader information is to pay to have this done. With these services all that is needed is the IP address and they’ll have you (virtually) sitting in that person’s backyard. Remember, your IP address is always being captured by any site you visit. Hell, just turn on your computer and connect to the internet for this to happen.
The best way to explain this, and you should try it yourself, is through example. Now, I’m not going to name the services I use but can easily prove this with lesser ones. It will get you close enough to prove this is entirely legitimate. I’m not going to do anything special either. Well, other than tell you what websites, internet service providers (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, etc.), and hosting companies can gather about a person, if they want.
Okay, here we go!
Let’s use a comment I made the last week. Just by making this comment (or accessing the domain ryansrally.org) I have voluntarily provided tons of information. For the purpose here, I’ll keep it simple and use just one way I begin the process to identify a person. Namely, that’s what is logged into my website, Google Analytics, and the host provider (Go Daddy) in its most basic form. Keep in mind, I have filtered out much, just to show that it doesn’t take… well… much. I copied and pasted this information that is one mouse click away:
| Ryan’s Rally LLC ryansrally.org x ken.diviney@ryansrally.org 71.62.91.154 |
Submitted on 2013/07/19 at 12:48 PM | In reply to Carla Liberty.
He paid $50 about 6 months ago. |
I easily could have provided a fake user name and fake email, but that make’s ZERO difference. I could use different ones every time and that means NOTHING. I have the IP address (71.62.91.154) and that’s all I need (but other information is automatically captured that is equally identifying). My IP address, like yours, is always being captured automatically. It’s the Caller ID of the internet. You can’t “block” your number or make it “private” unless you work with the agencies like the CIA or FBI. Even they can be found out, but it takes some legal action.
As for me, I use a more sophisticated IP Tracer (also called IP Locator) service to perform a track-back. But, for the sake of simplicity, let’s use a “middle-of-the-road” one, called IP-address.com . I simply key in the IP address, 71.62.91.154, and here is what it tells me:
United StatesIt also reports on the operating system you use, the browser, and if you are on a computer or mobile device, among other things. Remember, I use a more powerful service that not only gives more information, but more detailed information; like the latitude and longitude is taken to the 6th decimal place. So, with my service it returns the geolocation coordinates of 39.032236 latitude and -77.483734 longitude.
With these coordinates, it takes just a matter of a few seconds to get the address. I’ll show you by using Google Maps.
Presto!
I virtually welcome you to my home. This aerial shot is accompanied with the street address handily provided. It’s deadly accurate.
Fair Warning!
People, I’m warning you, this information is a snap to get. Please, don’t do anything online that you would be embarrassed by (or liable for) in public. Not only could you be answering to local/state authorities, but you are under federal jurisdiction/prosecution because the internet crosses state lines (just like when you mail a letter)! Oh, be certain that I’m not giving legal advice here because I’m not a lawyer, but my opinion is be damned careful!
Seriously! If you email/text your boss or spouse that you’re at work then you’d be best advised to be where you say. Don’t violate company policy if they tell you to stay off certain websites (like Facebook, porn sites, or Twitter). If you don’t want your spouse knowing you love looking at big hooters (and I’m not talking about owls here) then don’t even take a peek at a seedy website. Truth is, just typing a search word or term in Google, Yahoo, or Bing is forever linked to you. Clearing your computers browser history will not cover your tracks because it’s being logged by external websites, service providers, browsers, and who knows who else.
As the administrator of ryansrally.org (under Ryan’s Rally LLC), I seldom check into who made a comment. Still, there are times when I might want to know how many people are viewing the website from a particular town — say, Newark, DE — or state. For fun I just checked activity coming out of there and since midnight 276 “Newarkians” have viewed the website (14 are actively viewing). Another click of the mouse and I now know every one of those 276 IP addresses. In a very real sense, they invited me in. When I’m really interested I can see if a certain household is (or was) on the website. It’s so detailed that I know the web pages they viewed on my site. Also, alerts can be set to notify a web administrator that an IP address is (or was) on the website.
Some websites even place “tracking cookies” on your system. I could, but don’t. Remember, it is always a good idea to clear your browser’s cache, history, cookies, and everything else periodically. For me, I have software that does it automatically for me weekly.
A cookie, also known as an HTTP cookie, web cookie, or browser cookie, is a small piece of data sent from a website and stored in a user’s web browser while a user is browsing a website. When the user browses the same website in the future, the data stored in the cookie is sent back to the website by the browser to notify the website of the user’s previous activity. This can include clicking particular buttons, logging in, or a record of which pages were visited by the user even months or years ago. [via wikipedia.com]
Recently I was quite compelled to find if comments came out of the criminals hometown (again, Newark, Delaware) or support system living in North Carolina. By damned, some sure were! I now know who’s libel, without a doubt, so I suggest they don’t push it one iota further. Frankly, I’m flat-out pissed at the bald-faced lies they spouted on this highly successful website.
It’s just insane to me that some feel like sitting in their basement spewing lies and hate from behind a keyboard provides some protection. The internet knows who you are! So do I. All it takes is a morsel of your voluntarily provided information and a person loses all anonymity. Public information begets more public information and before anyone knows it that keyboard has the same protection as a wet cardboard breastplate.
Making it Real
Here is where a real life example that might be helpful. We all know “Debbie from Newark” who has been blowing-up the blog section of the website recently, right? I know “a bit” about her. Eh, no need to be coy… I know practically everything about her. This is all public information and nothing is preventing me from sharing it, but I will mask her identity because I feel it’s the right thing to do (for now, at least).
-
“Debbie from Newark”
Real Name: Debbie B*****r
- Email Address: debbie_b*****r@yahoo.com
- Resides: 4## S****** P**** Blvd., Newark, Delaware. Previously (2008 – 2009) lived in Wilmington, DE
- Employer: Delaware A***** Program, Brennen (Newark, Delaware).
- Jobs: P****** Educational Products,Manager
- Role: Paraprofessional
- IP Address: 166.137.101.## (She actually has the main IP with slight variations in the ending numbers. This signals her network accessibility is highly unique to her).
- Hair (from a public photo): Blonde
- Born: 1959
- Phone: 302-##8-8##7
- North Hills High School (1977)
- Grew up in Pittsburgh, PA
- Single, interested in men
- Two Children (Son attends a State University & Daughter works with Debbie)
- Associated with the Vantrease family.
I suppose that’s enough to show I clearly know who she is without causing her any embarrassment. Still, I hope it drives home my point that everyone should not behave like a raving lunatic… or like “Debbie from Newark” and think people can’t find out.
The internet knows who you are! Just do the right thing, even when you think no one will know.
###
It’s been a rough past month with the parole hearing looming. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when there’s reader passion on this website. The criminal’s “fan base” was out in full force (all few of them) and I had to take the opportunity to exploit it (and gather information). It keeps Ryan relevant. It brings hoards of new readers. It fires up Team Diviney. Now, it is time to shift the focus back on Ryan’s recovery. Don’t worry, those trolls will return. They just can’t help themselves. They never learn.
I love hooters too, but fortunately I’m single. Then again, those who know me, also know that is not exactly a “secret” that anyone would need the internet to find out! (A little self effacing humor for the Team).
I have to wonder,,, Is she still commenting? LOL
Haven’t heard a peep from her.
It’s been five days since you posted this blog story and it still makes me laugh. I would have loved to see the look on the face of little Debbie Doofus at the moment when she realized she’s been “outed”. A classic Ken move, indeed. Utterly brilliant!
Awwwww, Darn, Debbie from Newark. So ya got called out by Ken for being such an arse last week on the blog. I hate that for ya. NOT. Guess Debbie never learned to not write a check with her mouth that her a$$ can’t cash. Way to go Ken!
Great job Ken in response to Debbie from Newark…Check and Checkmate!!
I had to go back and see her responses from last week to refresh my memory. They are even more callus the second time reading them. She was the one who wrote ..”Team Diviney did not have all the facts” …..”Just plain stupid on the facts”, …we were …”foolish and blind to reality”
this website gave a “pathetic one sided web account” …”not the factual account”. Debbie was also the one who posted “The doctors did not know how to treat Ryan, he didn’t have a mark on him, …so much for a horrific beating….hmmmmm, …..”Truth is scary when it leaks out”.
With the remarks to a crime victims family like the ones above one might see where Austin might have picked up some of her mannerisms at a friends and family picnic playing “kick the can” game, or kickball.
She was also one explaining the difference between jail and prison. Do you remember Austin could not work in jail, but he could work in prison, that is why Ryan has only received $42 from Austin.
Thank you Ken for showing her that you DO get the facts straight.
Thank you West Virginia Parole Board for keeping Austin Vantrease in PRISON (not jail).
Anna, I love your posts!!! I am still chuckling about the “I’ll have to tell everyone that at the next family reunion” in response to a few of D from N’s comments.
Praying for your peace and Ryan’s healing ALWAYS. FOREVER. UNTIL.
With love and in prayer,
Keri, MY C.F. FRANKIE and Family
I promise to never say anything bad! 🙂
OMG Ken, I don’t know you but I LOVE you! Hahaha. Way to go on calling “Debbie downer” out. SHSP in Motown
And…..crickets from the underlings. Loving this!!!
LOL Jaimi
Wow – I just love it! Thank you for that post and for the valuable information. That was awesome, and I hope that whoever is seeking to do further harm or hurt to this family or anyone else, remembers that there is One who knows all, and sees all. May God continue to bless you and your family, and our inspiration – Ryan. love and prayers
Thanks for the computer lesson. Fascinating. It seems wherever I go on the Internet that allows comments, such as The Huffington Post, it doesn’t matter what the topic is people leave the most critical and unkind comments. It’s as the computer brings out the worst in people. That they would come and do that to you and your family is unbelievable.
You’re right Wendy. When people don’t feel they have to be accountable by signing their CORRECT name they spew all kinds of negative comments. I call that key board bullies.
WONDERFUL!!! I am astounded at what you can find out, but I have always known that whatever you put “out there” stays out there, so if I ain’t willing to own up to it, I ain’t gonna write it! Lol!
I love the year she graduated High School and where thrown in there. Very CIA movie esk. haha
Way to go Ken! Always speaking truth!
I think I love you! Not like that…. this is so incredible!
If I ever had anything I was going up against I want you in my corner. OH WAIT, I am going up against some stuff. Can I hire you? I did this exact stuff against my husbands exwife and somehow we always came out okay with the truth and proof behind us.
Now back to Ryan…. it was brought to my attention the other day that when someone has a spinal cord injury like my father in law, he didn’t have any pain, it comes out in other ways. But for the person that has no SCI they have PAIN, lots of it. But someone with a brain injury do they experience pain? How does it show? I was wondering if you have ever had a psychic come to communicate with Ryan? It’s kinda off in woowoo land but he is still thinking, he can obviously hear you so why not find out what he is thinking and possibly what he may want. They might even be able to find out what his body needs to heal itself.
There is this thing called The Emotion Code or The Body Code and you ask the subconscious what it needs, what it wants, if it’s holding on to pain you can find where it is hiding to release it and help the person heal.
Just a weird ideas. Also wondering if you have worked with Eastern healers for acupuncture, opening the chi and infusing him with light energy. It’s not anything scientific but I don’t believe that you are limited in your thinking of trying anything to make him better.
Now, purge your mind of those nasty things from the past month, put on your big girl panties and hit the road to making Ryan better! 😉
Ken, if you put on panties, there’s no telling how many glossies we could sell, but there’s probably a law… …LOL
KUDOS!!!!!!!! GREAT JOB!
Ken, you are a wealth of knowledge! I’m amazed what info can be gathered. Keep up the great work and thank always for sharing!
For those who would do harm in any form to the Diviney family let them know that God is with this family and they will have to answer to Him. May our good Lord protect and continue to bless this family and Ryan; healing him.
Ken, thank you for sharing all this info with us. It was very enlightening to me.
What hurts the most to me is the complete lack of concern the family and friends of VanTrease have for Ryan. I truly don’t think any of them have the desire to understand the pain and suffering Austin’s attack caused Ryan and your family.
It appears to me that the only real aim of those affiliated with the VanTrease family is to get Austin off the hook – by attempting to deflect blame onto Ryan for what Austin did. Their numerous falsehoods infused with contempt and anger reflect poorly on the intentions of the VanTrease family and friends.
Sadly, I don’t expect to see a change in their hearts or their attitudes. They are just too prideful and unwilling to recognize that Ryan and your family are the victims — *not* Austin.
For all these days, weeks, months and years, the VanTreases and their friends could have been doing many different things to provide help and hope for Ryan.
Instead they chose to go down a road of acrimony and unkindness. Their obvious lack of concern for Ryan is heartbreaking. What would it take, I wonder, for any one of this group of defiant souls to have an epiphany and realize exactly what has been done to Ryan and your family.
Well, it’s looking to me like the odds of the VanTreases ever attempting to do the right thing for Ryan are slim to none. I guess they will just continue to live in a world of denial and insensitivity. Austin will serve his time and one day be released, and nothing will have changed.
Other than the destruction Austin has wrought upon Ryan and your family, I think that is the most troubling thing of all.
Sending you my love, hugs, prayers and always faith and hope for our amazing, courageous, handsome, smart, strong Ryan!!
Great job Ken. I am so happy that you have the ability to let the “them” know that you know who they are. I detest “key board” bullies. If you can’t sign your name, you must be ashamed of what your writing.
You need to be playing Snap’s “I’ve Got The Power” in the background with this post!
I’m ok with differing opinions when they are factual based, but I can’t stand trolls that make crap up!
I love this!!!!! I wish this was forced down kids throats in school too! Thank you for your honesty and passion. After following some posts and responding myself and the anger I felt…..can not imagine what its like to be in your shoes. On your roughests days you have more strength then most will ever know.
Ken, you are so on top of things and I love it! SHSP!
Sandy
Kudos to you and your family for standing up to a bunch of bullies!!! Sending you, your family, friends, and Ryan much love and and the warmest wishes from Chicago…. (But I am sure you knew that already) 😉
This was a very informative post! Maybe people will now think twice before acting ignorant on your page etc. Keep up the fight. I am inspired every time I read your post or updates…..
My mama ALWAYS told me “Don’t ever do something that you ain’t willing to put your signature on it !” … Keeping Ryan Relevant ..!