[LBo] Re:Firefox/ Firestarter + Akamai

[Geoff Jones]

Thanks to Robert for suggestions re Firestarter.

1] The way I had input a range was incorrect -  "you should use 84.53.142.0/24 
or 84.53.142.0/255.255.255.0" - works fine.

2] I was wrong re Konqueror - it does have the same behaviour.

3] I did more research on Akamai :-

> Akamai? is the global leader in distributed computing solutions and 
services, making the Internet predictable, scalable, and secure for 
conducting profitable e-business. The Akamai on demand platform enables 
customers to easily extend their Web operations - with full control - 
anywhere, anytime, without the cost of building out infrastructure.
> 
> Akamai Technologies' core intelligent mapping technology is known as 
EdgeAdvantage, an independently-controlled content distribution service (CCD) 
based on Peer-to-Peer technologies. The company was cofounded by (M.I.T. LCS) 
professor Tom Leighton, an expert in parallel algorithms, applied mathematics 
and fault tolerance in distributed networks. Akamai provides what is commonly 
known as content peering, the task of optimizing large and complex networks 
and keeping large sites up and serving content, applications and streaming 
media at usable rates. Akamai's FreeFlow service delivers content via its 
global network utilizing sophisticated algorithms developed by M.I.T. 
researchers. The service continuously monitors Internet conditions to 
discover the optimal "edge server" and delivery route for each request. 
Akamai's Digital Parcel Service (DPS) combines enhanced content delivery with 
digital rights management capabilities to form a licensed digital media 
content distribution system.
> 
> Their customers include Yahoo!, AOL , Symantec, Google, Microsoft, FedEx, 
Xerox, iVillage, Apple Computer, Music Television (MTV), and Reuters

Apparently, they have 18,000+ servers world wide, + deliver 10-25 % of 
internet traffic, mainly for large corporations.

Am I being paranoid in thinking this gives them a large handle on "tracking" 
internet traffic - possibly down to an individual basis? After all, the 
reason it came to my attention was because "large" sites ( e-bay, yahoo, my 
ISP, M/soft ) all gave me connections to them + I thought I must have picked 
up a "tracker"/ adware prog or worse.

Cheers
"Paranoid" Geoff.