What if it it was a URL shortener that can track destination site profile? Can this be done without authentication?
+1
A:
No, without authentication, you could get their IP, and correlate multiple hits via browser cookies. However, there should be no way to correlate either to the Twitter user, absent another Twitter security flaw.
EDIT If the shortener requires them to authenticate with Twitter before following the link (which would be annoying), it's easy. See Get Twitter User Name after oauth Authentication.
Matthew Flaschen
2010-10-05 02:52:01
I think this is by far the most relevant bookmarklet to do the job: http://erkie.github.com/ (ok not really, but it's fun!)
Nick Craver
2010-10-05 02:55:17
Interesting, so you would be able to see which individual twitter user successfully clicked through. How? For instance, not to be stalkery or anything ;) I clicked on your twitter link: http://twitter.com/#!/Nick_Craver/status/26400446912. How can you see that I specifically clicked on it?
jprim
2010-10-05 02:56:12
Haha Nick, ok thanks but that has nothing to do with the question. :P
jprim
2010-10-05 02:57:06
OK, how about with authentication + URL shortener tweet?
jprim
2010-10-05 02:58:56
Theoretically speaking how would it work with a cookie?
jprim
2010-10-05 02:59:47
@jprim - It wouldn't, cookies are per-domain for the same security reasons, to prevent the kind of tracking you're attempting to do...
Nick Craver
2010-10-05 03:01:40
OK, cookies aside it would be possible if the user authenticates on the site and tweets?
jprim
2010-10-05 03:02:54