How does Gmail know my local time zone (therefore ignoring the time zone of the Tor exit node) and what else can it see?

Geoff Down geoffdown at fastmail.net
Sun Sep 5 21:11:37 UTC 2010



On Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:55 +0100, "Matthew" <pumpkin at cotse.net> wrote:
>   Hello,
> 
> I have yet another question that relates to the effectiveness of Tor.
> 
> Gmail (and therefore presumably other webmail operators) knows my 
> computer's time zone.  It does not know the time per se but the "time
> zone" 
> as set (in Ubuntu) through clicking on the clock, selecting preferences, 
> then choosing location.
> 
> Obviously this ignores the time (based on the location) of the Tor exit
> node.
> 
> I do not know how Gmail knows my computer's time zone, and, in which
> case, 
> what other "local" information it can know.
> 
> Does anyone know how Gmail can do this and what other information from
> the 
> client computer can be viewed.  In other words, why can Gmail not, in 
> theory, also view the real local IP?
> 
> Thanks.

Did you select a time zone when you set up the account?
I assume you are using Torbutton, which blocks Javascript being used to
read your local clock.
GD

-- 
http://www.fastmail.fm - Same, same, but different...

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