Is it possible to get caught by the RIAA or others like them when downloading music from a public access point using a personal laptop?
Probably. If the RIAA asked the public wifi providers to trace your connection, they'd trace you and then get you that way, I should think.
Not only your IP is logged..every data packet contains your network hardware mac number. This can be cross referenced against your legit internet connection to identify you, the same way they can use it to specify which machine on a network was used in...say..a house/family situation.
Just a quick FYI.. It's possible to change a hardware mac number, either by reprogramming an eeprom, or by changing a network card etc... No more info, but it can be done.. ;-)
wmayhem, edit your sig to conform to forum specs. 1. Text-only signatures should have at most 5 lines of text.
