Technical question!

[HoopyFrood]

I have a rather computer-orientated question, and as I know nothing about that kind of stuff (the most I can do on a computer is tap the keys to make pretty little letters appear) I would be grateful of any help. For all I know, what I'm about to ask isn't even possible. In which case I may have to make it possible! But I'd rather be able to give a fancy definition in my story and give it that more realistic element. Anyway. I have three areas:
1. Do computers give out signals?
2. Would someone be able to track said signal?
3. Do different computers have unique signals? (although my computer that I am writing about is one of a kind anyway.)
So what I'm really wanting to know is this: Does a unique computer give out a signal, and if so, would someone be able to pinpoint it and track it?
Thank you very much for any comments you can spare. Rest assured that WHEN (oh yes, my friends, no IFS for me, I'm very optimistic! heh) I get my story published, you will all be in my acknowledgements!
Thanking you.
Froody x

Ok, I now realise that it might have been wise to post this on the technology forum, but meh, too late now! And I'm sure you lovely people will be able to offer some explanations, anyway!

 

[bendoran]

depends on what you mean, but yes each computer announces itself to a network by sending out its netbios name. also every network card ytou have has a unique mac address and when you join a network this is recorded. With certain software your processes can be monitored as well, key logging etc.

you would need to give a certain context though for a full explanation. if you put about a rough idea of what you need i should be able to give you a more exact description if you need one.

 

[Brian G Turner]

When computers connect to the internet, they are given a unique Internet Protocol address. This means anyone with access to your internet service providers records should be able to not simply trace you, but also where you've surfed.

In terms of giving out signals - well, any PC gives out an electromagnetic field, and this I guess could be regarded as a signal.

Another point - wireless networks - means that a wireless connected PC is very much broadcasting what it's doing - usually in a very unsafe way (ie, other PC's can record your data if they really wanted to).

Anyway, hope that helps.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Thank you for the feedback so far, I'm sort of understanding, (heh). Ok, here we go, a basic (very basic) explanation of what I'm after, maybe that will be more useful.
My bad guy has a computer (a very advanced computer, you know the kind, practically a person in machine form) and my main characters need to (in their main character, heroic ways) track down the bad guy. So they have decided to do this by tracking his computer, which I thought was more likely, because I was hoping computers give out something that would be trackable! So what I was hoping was to have some kind of easy, hand-held device that would lead them to the computer, and thus the bad guy. Ok, I admitt, in my head I see it as some kind of hand-held sonar-type device, with a little green blob leading them to where the computer lies. Is this possible, or have I been watching too many films about ships and submarines? Hehe.
Thank you immensely.

 

[Morpheus42]

I guess that if you have an unique computer, it might also have a unique electromagnetic signature. (if its on)
So at close proximity you might identify it.
And "close" is up to how good the equipment is.

If it's connected to an wireless network. And you might have special access to the network... well than it could be possible to trace too.

But if bad guy knows he's being traced.. well then he could try to take counter measures.

 

[chrispenycate]

But, unless your computer is deliberately and actively seeking information from outside, it's silent. If it has a wireless card, it might be possible to "ping" it, the way you detect the tuned circuits in TV sets to collect unpaid licences, but unless it answered you, I can't see how you can recognise which computer is there. The amount of EM radiation leaking out from just calculating would be very rapidly masked by noise, and unless the clocking or something were really strange wouldn't be recogniseable anyway (if most computer clocks ran between one and tenGHz, and your special one ran at 150 GHz, if it was running and came within a foot or so of a detector, it would probably trigger an alert; but satelite scanning, or helicopters, I don't think so (remember, an electronic computer has to be screened, so it doesn't get interference from traffic radars, fridge clicks, police radios, mobile phones; and screening invariably works both ways.)

 

[Morpheus42]

@chris:
If pc is not firewalled, then you could try to send it messages every now and than. Ofcourse this can be detected at the PC side. And as a bad guy you'd be stupid not to check those signals.

I agree on close proximity for EM radiation scanning. But if you already know the signature. You can do wonders with the right DSP's. I mean if you have some unique combination of hardware. Then every part has its own signature. Base frequency and harmonics. Filtering out the clutter from "random" calculation. But still range is not that good.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Hmm, it starting to sound more difficult than I first thought! Ok, well, just to work another spanner into the works (but maybe this will help rather than hinder) the world in which this is taking place is more advanced. So taking that into account, and considering the electromagnet idea, would a more advanced piece of technology be able to pick it up at a wider range, do you think?
Could I also ask what was meant by an electromagnet being "on"? When would be it on?
The bad guy is a bit oblivious in all this (he's not your typical villian) but the computer is one nasty piece of work, and it would probably be able to detect something tracing it...and would definitely use it to it's advantage.
Again, thank you for all the suggestions. You will definitely all be in my acknowledgements! Heh.

 

[Princess Ivy]

if i can make a sugestion? science fiction is based a lot on 'possible' technology. there is technology that can track a mobile phone (triangulating signals etc...), if this super computer were to use a wireless network, your hero could develope a similar device for tracing a wireless network signature, whether it was an invisible tracer (because its only just been invented) or whether the super pc can detect the tracing efforts would be up to you and could be interesting plot devices.

 

[HoopyFrood]

There is always that excellent ability with SF to create whatever you want...I was all prepared to create my own little device, whether it was possible or not. I was just wondering whether it would be possible, just so I could make inject something technical into my story. I can definiately use all that has been suggested (thank you everyone) and then use a little poetic licence.
I'm unsure whether the computer will realise it's been traced because later on it fakes it's own death (eh? I hear you cry...well, it fits into plot of my story, I assure you!) and then my good guys realise it's still "alive" because the signal is still there...and so on and so forth...well, anyway, I'm yet to reach that part, so it's still in it's planning form!
As usual, I will end by saying thank you! I would never have known any of this technical stuff.

 

[flynx]

A few years ago I saw I program on the telly which showed a device which without any intentional broadcast signals to use could show what was on the screen of a nearby computer. So I'd guess that yes, at least monitors actually broadcast identifiable signals.

Televisions definitely broadcast because that is how those blokes with peaked caps come knocking on your door if you don't have a licence.

So it's not a very big leap to say that electrical things, in general, broadcast signals. Which is why (as chrisp pointed out) there is sheilding on electrical things.


Radio signals are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Radio signals are generated by electrical devices. Go for it.

Giant telescopes which cosmologists use to look at distant galaxies etc are radio-telescopes so even suns broadcast radio waves and you don't even have to plug them in.