Hacker News Reader

Your true public IP address won't be disclosed if you're using a VPN as an intermediary. Sort of like private domain registrations; sure, there's an address to associate, but it's meaningless.

Of course, using a SSL connection to Google would be sufficient on this case, since that prevents the referrer from being included when you visit a search result.

View on HN

Most people's "true public IP address" is just as pseudonymous though.

With always-on routers usually being the DHCP lease recipient for residential broadband, even dynamic IP addresses are typically a lot more "sticky" than most people expect. Couple that with the location-specific info available via reverse DNS on residential IPs, and it doesn't take a vivid imagination to see how easily even a loosely correlated search history could be used against you when applying online for jobs, healthcare, credit, etc.

I would honestly be shocked if there aren't risk assessment departments (or entire companies) already specializing in applying techniques like that to filter resumes, bias interest rates, and raise premiums accordingly.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com