It will be more difficult for anyone to identify web surfers and track their usage of the Internet when a new standard proposed for the Internet takes effect. Released by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the standard, specified in IETF document RFC 3041, lays out the details of how and when randomly generated information can be used in place of more identifiable fixed data.
The standard is designed for use with Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), which was developed by the IETF to enhance network management, security, ease-of-configuration, and scalability of the Internet.
Every time someone connects to the Internet, a unique number (called an IP address) is assigned. Addresses are a fundamental requirement of communication and cannot easily be hidden from eavesdroppers and other parties. Part of the IPv6 design includes a larger address space capable of supporting the many billions of devices in the home and office that are expected to be connected to the Internet during the coming decades.
Market researchers use techniques (data-mining) that could track Internet usage and, if addresses didn't change, match them to individuals.
This is of particular concern with the expected proliferation of next-generation Internet-connected devices (e.g., PDAs, cell phones, etc.) that could be associated with individual users. With the growing use of "always-on" links (DSL, cable modems), users are increasingly subject to data mining that tracks their unchanging Internet address.
IPv6 pioneered a labor saving way for "interface identifiers" to be formed automatically in devices, as one of the various methods of setting up addresses. But, both this and the interface identifiers in "always-on" environments result in permanent numbers as part of the addresses and allow the same tracking as the current Internet Protocol (IPv4). Randomly generated numbers can be used in place of the permanent numbers, and the release of RFC 3041 will standardize how and when that will be done. It addresses methodologies to resolve the establishment of IPv6 addresses to assure anonymity. "We think this proposed standard is important for protecting the privacy of Internet users," said Jawad Khaki, VP of Windows Networking for Microsoft, "and we are supporting it in Windows XP."
IPv6 is expected to replace IPv4 over time, with the two co-existing for the near future. As is common for Internet standards, RFC 3041 will continue to be discussed by the world-wide membership of the IETF, further enhanced, and adopted by Internet vendors in the coming months.
Internet Core Protocols: the Definitive Guide by Eric A. Hall and Vinton G. Cerf - For network administrators, support professionals, and system designers, intimate knowledge of the network protocols that are the foundation of the Internet is crucial. Internet Core Protocols: The Definitive Guide is a superb summary of the nitty-gritty details of the most important Net standards. This book assumes you have a working knowledge of networks and a basic familiarity with TCP/IP. Unlike the cursory coverage of TCP/IP found in many Internet titles, this presentation includes low-level details that aid in troubleshooting. It also includes a copy of Shomiti Surveyor Lite--a utility for analyzing network traffic. Extensive screen shots of Surveyor Lite also illustrate data fields. Each protocol is examined closely, using network diagrams and detailed breakdowns of the fields and flags. In addition to TCP, IP and UDP, there is far-reaching discussion of multicasting and error communication protocols, including practical application issues such as caching and timeouts to provide a real-world perspective. In addition to an education into the particulars of the Net's underpinnings, this book is an excellent reference tool. Topics covered: TCP/IP overview, Internet Protocol (IP), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Multicasting, Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP), Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). Intended to be used by "people that live and breathe TCP/IP," this work deals with the basic building block protocols that provide the networking and transport services that all TCP/IP applications and services use. The material is geared towards troubleshooting networks in an increasingly complicated systems atmosphere. The CD-ROM contains Surveyor Lite (a packet analyzer that runs on Win32 systems) and the texts from the RFCs (Request for Comments) that define how the networks should work. Until now, the only real guide to the protocols has been the Internet RFCs -- and they're hardly what you want to be reading late at night when your network is down. There hasn't been a good book on the fundamentals of IP networking aimed at network administrators -- until now. Internet Core Protocols: The Definitive Guide contains all the information you need for low-level network debugging. It provides thorough coverage of the fundamental protocols in the TCP/IP suite: IP, TCP, UDP, ICMP, ARP (in its many variations), and IGMP. (The companion volume, Internet Application Protocols: The Definitive Guide, provides detailed information about the commonly used application protocols, including HTTP, FTP, DNS, POP3, and many others). It includes many packet captures, showing you what to look for and how to interpret all the fields. It has been brought up-to-date with the latest developments in real-world IP networking. The CD-ROM included with the book contains Shomiti's "Surveyor Lite," a packet analyzer that runs on Win32 systems, plus the original RFCs, should you need them for reference. Together, this package includes everything you need to troubleshoot your network -- except coffee.