Does anyone know what an IP address is ? How could someone get my IP address ? Why would someone want mine ? what would be gained. What can I do to protect myself ?
Please any information would be greatly apprecaited.
califsue -> RE: IP Address (7/12/2008 8:51:01 PM)
The Internet Protocol (IP) is the method or protocol by which data is sent from one computer to another on the Internet. Each computer (known as a host) on the Internet has at least one IP address that uniquely identifies it from all other computers on the Internet. When you send or receive data (for example, an e-mail note or a Web page), the message gets divided into little chunks called packets. Each of these packets contains both the sender's Internet address and the receiver's address. Any packet is sent first to a gateway computer that understands a small part of the Internet. The gateway computer reads the destination address and forwards the packet to an adjacent gateway that in turn reads the destination address and so forth across the Internet until one gateway recognizes the packet as belonging to a computer within its immediate neighborhood or domain. That gateway then forwards the packet directly to the computer whose address is specified.
greetings, califsue. The information you gave was wonderful, and apprecaited. I believe I have a stalker, infact I know that I do. I went to this site called speedtest.net.. it shows my IP address coming from Kansas, while I am in California. why would this person want my IP address, what is his goal in having it. So he got it from me opening up mail on aol, does that mean he can follow my every move now?
DomKen -> RE: IP Address (7/12/2008 11:01:28 PM)
No, it doesn't mean he can follow your literal every move. Based on how you connect to the internet the IP address he acquired may no longer point to you tomorrow or in a few days.
It does allow a knowledgeable person to find out the rough geographical area where your ISP thinks you are. Why you show up as in Kansas while in CA is odd but possible.
If you're really concerned you can call your ISP and they should be able to walk you through clearing your existing IP addy and forcing the computer to acquire a new one. However you IP addy is part of every email you send using software residing on your computer. If you're concerned that he will continue to gain access to your sent emails then you should switch to a webmail service like yahoo.
thishereboi -> RE: IP Address (7/13/2008 5:57:54 AM)
quote:
ORIGINAL: DomKen
. If you're concerned that he will continue to gain access to your sent emails then you should switch to a webmail service like yahoo.
Does yahoo handle it differently?
DomKen -> RE: IP Address (7/13/2008 7:45:29 AM)
quote:
ORIGINAL: thishereboi
quote:
ORIGINAL: DomKen
. If you're concerned that he will continue to gain access to your sent emails then you should switch to a webmail service like yahoo.
Does yahoo handle it differently?
The program that sends the email puts the IP addy of the computer it is running on in the email. Therefore a yahoo or gmail email has a IP address unrelated to the IP address of the user who sends the email.
You can view what are called the headers for each message which will include the sender's IP address. For instance mail to me from netflix has this IP address 208.75.76.252 which works out to be Los Gatos California. A mail I sent to myself using my yahoo address has an IP address of 68.142.207.233 which is a NY, NY addy. I was in Chicago when I sent it.
thishereboi -> RE: IP Address (7/13/2008 10:00:03 AM)
Thanks for the info. I use yahoo and wondered when you mention it. Have a great day.