Flightaware data

Group:

Does anyone here know the data source for flightaware, and how it
works? Recently, I flew from Hampton Roads Executive (KPVG) in
Virginia to Montgomery County Airpark (KGAI) in Gaithersburg, MD, via
the scenic route up the Eastern shore Virginia and Maryland. I was
VFR, not on a flight plan, although I did have a flight plan on file
for my final leg in the Washington, DC ADIZ, from Easton to
Gaithersburg. I did have flight following by Patuxent after leaving
Norfolk class C. After landing I looked in Flightaware, and was
surprised to see that it had traced my whole route. The data was funny
(for instance, it said I had arrived 17 hours ago), but the track was
right and I know no one has take the plane along the route for a long,
long time. Just got me wondering they were able to display my whole
track even though I was VFR. Was it because I was in the system for
flight following?

Thanks,
Wiz