Geolocation software

Geolokationssoftware is used to to determine the location of people or systems. In the Internet example, an IP address to a country, an organization and / or specific users are assigned, then it can be concluded on the site. Other possibilities for geolocation are studying the MAC address, credit card information or data of the IPTC.

Data sources

There are a variety of databases for Geolokationssoftware, registration is subject to charge. The information contained here range from the state to the place, where the accuracy varies (generally it is at the state level higher). These databases typically contain information about the IP address (es ) that firewalls, ad servers, websites and other automated systems can be used in which a geolocation might be useful. As an alternative to providing a database query and country codes can be found a specific IP address by DNS query.

The main source of IP address data are the regional Internet registries, which assign the IP addresses of the organizations in their region or distribute them among them:

• American Registry for Internet Numbers ( ARIN )
• RIPE Network Coordination Centre ( RIPE NCC)
• Asia- Pacific Network Information Centre ( APNIC )
• Latin American and Caribbean Internet Address Registry ( LACNIC )
• African Network Information Centre ( AfriNIC )

Secondary sources are, among others:

• Data mining or Location Data that are specified by the user. For example, a site for weather forecasts of people ask for a place name to view a local forecast. Furthermore, address information of a user account to be used in connection with an IP address.

• From Internet service providers provided data.
• The combination of information from databases from different vendors.
• Estimates based on the IP range and / or on the number of network hops.

Ways to improve the accuracy:

• Recognizing and (if possible ) Correct obvious errors in results
• Statistical analysis of data of different users

Privacy Policy

Generally, one can distinguish between cooperative and nonkooperativer geolocation. In some cases it is in the interest of the user to be located precisely so that they can be provided appropriate, dependent on the location information. In other cases this is not desired, for example, for data protection reasons.

Technical measures to preserve anonymity, for example, proxies can be used to circumvent restrictions imposed by Geolokationssoftware. Some websites recognize the use of proxies and anonymizers, and may either refuse to work or provide non- location-based information.

Applications

Techniques for geolocation have only been developed since 1999, the first patents were issued in 2004. The techniques are already widely used, including in electronics retail, banking, media, in online games, and in law enforcement, to prevent online fraud, to ensure compliance of rules in order to manage the access rights to data and marketing and to perform pricing policy goal oriented.

Criminal investigations

Banks, software vendors and other online companies are now subject to strict regulations for the testing of new customers ( " Know your Customer ") that have been defined by various authorities in Europe and the United States. These rules are designed to prevent money laundering transactions with terrorist organizations and trade in certain states. By the actual location of visitors to a site is determined geolocation banks can protect themselves, participate in the transfer of sums of money for illegal purposes.

Detection of fraud

Using geolocation can credit card fraud are revealed by the place where an order has been given up is compared to the signaling address of the owner. In case of discrepancies it is probably a scam. Banks can use the location of the user as part of authentication to prevent phishing, money laundering and other security risks.

Governments, law enforcement and security companies are using geolocation as a tool to track the data paths of online fraudsters to make the offender identify and so future attacks that would go out of this place prevent.

Censorship

There are suggestions that the legislature shall order the use of Geolokationssoftware to make illegal Web content providers identify or ensure compliance with international trade agreements.

Geomarketing

Since Geolokationssoftware can determine the location of a user company Geomarketing utilize the web content or offer products that are in the region of use. Advertising can therefore be tailored to the user.

Regional licensing

Online video distributors and suppliers of live streams, for example, for sports events, may provide their services only to certain contractually defined regions. By the audience is located, the provider can make sure to adhere to legal licensing regulations. Also, online casinos need to know the location of their participants, otherwise the risk of breaking the law by certain states that prohibit online gambling.

Jim Ramo, CEO of Movielink movie provider said that the defects were known to the studios, one has become safer, but that the system has shown the ability to function.

Location-specific content

Google.com sites can display by geotargeting content that vary by location, so redirected to google.de further when the page is called from Germany. In several European countries show Google or Yahoo! with no results negationist content.

Fight against spam

Despite some controversies use some ISP geolocation to prevent spam. Some countries are known to have little or no legal action against spam; with the help of Geolokationssoftware Internet service providers can be news and posts from these countries identified or marked.