2nd June 2000
Coming from the "That's Me in the Mirror" department, Lockergnomie Kathy Brown knows where you live. If you're online, you've got an IP address. Don't believe me? Launch WINIPCFG.EXE and look. You're also at 127.0.0.1. How do I know that? No, silly... it's not magic. That IP is always the "localhost" address; wherever you are, that number will follow. It's everybody's IP. So, what does that mean and why should you care? It's good to use when you're out to foil spammers, for one. When you're in unfamiliar e-territory, filling out forms or posting messages often requires an e-mail address. If you don't NEED to divulge your personal info, by all means: DON'T. You can substitute "user @ 127.0.0.1" just about anywhere. If (or when) that addy is used in a junk mailing, the idiot will only be sending something to himself (or herself). Registering for a reason is fine; if you're unsure about signing up for a service, always ask a trusted friend first. They may know something you don't.