Simple question of anonymity

[CoinRocka]

This is simply the techie in me but is it not possible to track all block chain transactions using forensics (NSA, CIA..etc)?

Even Darkcoin, Monero, Boolberry and the like make some type of digital footprint on the Internet that is trackable.

In my mind, l33t hackers will always be one small step ahead of the NSA and the NSA will always be miles ahead of the general populace. 

[sumantso]

This is simply the techie in me but is it not possible to track all block chain transactions using forensics (NSA, CIA..etc)?

Even Darkcoin, Monero, Boolberry and the like make some type of digital footprint on the Internet that is trackable.

In my mind, l33t hackers will always be one small step ahead of the NSA and the NSA will always be miles ahead of the general populace. 

Even TITAN?

I can't say whether it suffers from the same flaw you mention, I am not aware of the technical details of each.

[DannyHamilton]

This is simply the techie in me but is it not possible to track all block chain transactions using forensics (NSA, CIA..etc)?

If you are asking about bitcoin, then the answer is yes.

Even Darkcoin, Monero, Boolberry and the like make some type of digital footprint on the Internet that is trackable.

If you are asking about altcoins, then this belongs in the altcoin sub-forum.

In my mind, l33t hackers will always be one small step ahead of the NSA and the NSA will always be miles ahead of the general populace. 

You are welcome to any opinion on the matter that you like.  I suspect that the NSA has hired many elite computer hardware and software experts.

[QuestionAuthority]

This is simply the techie in me but is it not possible to track all block chain transactions using forensics (NSA, CIA..etc)?

Even Darkcoin, Monero, Boolberry and the like make some type of digital footprint on the Internet that is trackable.

In my mind, l33t hackers will always be one small step ahead of the NSA and the NSA will always be miles ahead of the general populace. 

I don't know enough about the governments abilities to know what the NSA can do and I don't think anyone else here does either. I know it's possible to parse the blockchain and get trails from it that most people wouldn't think possible.

I have a simple rule you can follow that makes this problem moot. Don't do anything on-line or buy anything on-line that you wouldn't show your mother and grandmother in church on Sunday Christmas morning. If you must buy drugs or some other illegal item please only use fully anonymous U.S. Dollars. For further security I suggest only purchasing items on a university campus where all items are readily available.

[CoinRocka]

This is simply the techie in me but is it not possible to track all block chain transactions using forensics (NSA, CIA..etc)?

Even Darkcoin, Monero, Boolberry and the like make some type of digital footprint on the Internet that is trackable.

In my mind, l33t hackers will always be one small step ahead of the NSA and the NSA will always be miles ahead of the general populace.  

I don't know enough about the governments abilities to know what the NSA can do and I don't think anyone else here does either. I know it's possible to parse the blockchain and get trails from it that most people wouldn't think possible.

I have a simple rule you can follow that makes this problem moot. Don't do anything on-line or buy anything on-line that you wouldn't show your mother and grandmother in church on Sunday Christmas morning. If you must buy drugs or some other illegal item please only use fully anonymous U.S. Dollars. For further security I suggest only purchasing items on a university campus where all items are readily available.

if only i knew this back in '98    

[QuestionAuthority]

This is simply the techie in me but is it not possible to track all block chain transactions using forensics (NSA, CIA..etc)?

Even Darkcoin, Monero, Boolberry and the like make some type of digital footprint on the Internet that is trackable.

In my mind, l33t hackers will always be one small step ahead of the NSA and the NSA will always be miles ahead of the general populace.  

I don't know enough about the governments abilities to know what the NSA can do and I don't think anyone else here does either. I know it's possible to parse the blockchain and get trails from it that most people wouldn't think possible.

I have a simple rule you can follow that makes this problem moot. Don't do anything on-line or buy anything on-line that you wouldn't show your mother and grandmother in church on Sunday Christmas morning. If you must buy drugs or some other illegal item please only use fully anonymous U.S. Dollars. For further security I suggest only purchasing items on a university campus where all items are readily available.

if only i knew this back in '98    

The first class I took in college was a no credit one taught in a dorm room. 

[pereira4]

You are safe with Bitcoin generally, and you are super safe with Monero. No one is going to go to the lenghts of trying to backtrace Monero transactions unless you are what, fucking bin laden or something.

[franky1]

well coinrocka

bitcoin never asks for your birthname, home address or social security numbers. so bitcoin is about as anonymous as bank notes.
but when people do silly things like putting their bitcoin address in the footnote of their posts
EG 1JzEpKnB5ZYJoetBQF85Tjbqp9Fjorhe4v

it then becomes searchable to link coinrocka to 1JzEpKnB5ZYJoetBQF85Tjbqp9Fjorhe4v. and then using NSA tools and ISP data, to search internet users who have the pseudonym coinrocka.

and thus NSA/ your ISP establishes a link between your real life and a bitcoin address..

bitcoin is only as anonymous as the information PEOPLE stupidly give out on the internet. and even without NSA tools its easy to link coinrocka to other names.. isnt that right bitwhisky

[cheekychap]

This is simply the techie in me but is it not possible to track all block chain transactions using forensics (NSA, CIA..etc)?

Even Darkcoin, Monero, Boolberry and the like make some type of digital footprint on the Internet that is trackable.

In my mind, l33t hackers will always be one small step ahead of the NSA and the NSA will always be miles ahead of the general populace. 

Yes its possible by traingualting IP address from which the transaction originated.
You should look into Darkcoin for complete anonymity.

[DannyHamilton]

Yes its possible by triangulating

I don't think that word means what you think it means.

IP address from which the transaction originated.

How can you identify which IP address originated the transaction?  Do you even know how bitcoin works?

You should look into Darkcoin for complete anonymity.

Are you certain that Darkcoin will provide complete anonymity?  I suspect you are mistaken about that.  Complete anonymity is a LOT more difficult than most people realize.  As franky1 pointed out, people have a tendency to leak their identity without even thinking about it.

[Lauda]

Stop merging Bitcoin and altcoin discussions into one.
The anonymity of Bitcoin is not related to the anonymity of altcoins.
Yes, Bitcoin transactions can be traced.

[Lethn]

As others have already said, complete anonymity on the internet is exceptionally difficult, especially if you're dumb enough to post your photo or let people know your voice when you're trying to stay hidden, a classic example is with the ISIS beheadings, even though they were all masked the dumbasses didn't mask their voice, so it was easy to identify that at least one of them is British because of the accent.

There IS a dark wallet for Bitcoin currently in development and it's being worked on by Amir Taaki and Cody Wilson apparently https://www.darkwallet.is/ this will essentially mixup your Bitcoin and make it much harder for people to locate where the transactions have come from but in the end staying anonymous all relies on how smart you are and how much you can think ahead.

[CoinRocka]

well coinrocka

bitcoin never asks for your birthname, home address or social security numbers. so bitcoin is about as anonymous as bank notes.
but when people do silly things like putting their bitcoin address in the footnote of their posts
EG 1JzEpKnB5ZYJoetBQF85Tjbqp9Fjorhe4v

it then becomes searchable to link coinrocka to 1JzEpKnB5ZYJoetBQF85Tjbqp9Fjorhe4v. and then using NSA tools and ISP data, to search internet users who have the pseudonym coinrocka.

and thus NSA/ your ISP establishes a link between your real life and a bitcoin address..

bitcoin is only as anonymous as the information PEOPLE stupidly give out on the internet. and even without NSA tools its easy to link coinrocka to other names.. isnt that right bitwhisky

Well done!  I like this guy...

[QuestionAuthority]

If you really want to know how to defeat the anonymity in Bitcoin here's some light reading for you. Dan Kaminsky was the first one to figure it out in 2011.

http://www.slideshare.net/dakami/black-ops-of-tcpip-2011-black-hat-usa-2011

John Ratcliff can show you how to easily parse the blockchain.

http://codesuppository.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-parse-bitcoin-blockchain

One way to find people is to use Python to connect to bitcoin peer-to-peer clients that connect to a huge amount of the active nodes. You're way ahead of the game if you can find the first node to relay a transaction because that's the source of the transaction.

If you want a good idea for how to link the addresses of a Bitcoin user read An Analysis of Anonymity in the Bitcoin System 2011-07-22 by Fergal Reid.

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1107.4524.pdf?origin=publication_detail

Another good read on the subject is Bitcoin Theft – The Top Ten Threats | Genesys Guru Blog

http://genesysguru.com/blog/blog/2011/06/17/bitcoin-theft-the-top-ten-threats/

Read all of these then think back to: mom, grandma, church Sunday Christmas morning  

[maurya78]

QuestionAuthority - these are great links, thank you
I have given up on anonymity - much easier not to have anything to hide

[QuestionAuthority]

QuestionAuthority - these are great links, thank you
I have given up on anonymity - much easier not to have anything to hide

No problem. All of us have something to hide but it's better to not hide it over an Internet connection. lol

[NewLiberty]

QuestionAuthority - these are great links, thank you
I have given up on anonymity - much easier not to have anything to hide

No problem. All of us have something to hide but it's better to not hide it over an Internet connection. lol

For many folks it is not about what they have to "hide", and more what they have to "protect".

Even the injured animal mothers know not to lead the predators back to the den of their young.

[QuestionAuthority]

QuestionAuthority - these are great links, thank you
I have given up on anonymity - much easier not to have anything to hide

No problem. All of us have something to hide but it's better to not hide it over an Internet connection. lol

For many folks it is not about what they have to "hide", and more what they have to "protect".

Even the injured animal mothers know not to lead the predators back to the den of their young.

So true. It's sad that humans don't have the intellect of a ground hog. lol

[Poolie]

well coinrocka

bitcoin never asks for your birthname, home address or social security numbers. so bitcoin is about as anonymous as bank notes.
but when people do silly things like putting their bitcoin address in the footnote of their posts
EG 1JzEpKnB5ZYJoetBQF85Tjbqp9Fjorhe4v

it then becomes searchable to link coinrocka to 1JzEpKnB5ZYJoetBQF85Tjbqp9Fjorhe4v. and then using NSA tools and ISP data, to search internet users who have the pseudonym coinrocka.

and thus NSA/ your ISP establishes a link between your real life and a bitcoin address..

bitcoin is only as anonymous as the information PEOPLE stupidly give out on the internet. and even without NSA tools its easy to link coinrocka to other names.. isnt that right bitwhisky

I don't think it's fair to call it a stupid action. You could argue that as soon as you have an item shipped to you via bitcoin you've lost your anonymity but some people don't care about being absolute ghosts.

[LiteCoinGuy]

take a look at Zerocash too:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=362468.msg3878992#msg3878992