Ask Me Help Desk - Trace IP

Trace IP

Is there such thing as an app that traces an IP to a physical location?

You know... like in the movies?

I've tried a few that get it down to the city, but no further.

Is there such a thing?

Thanks!

Trace IP address

Hi,
Here is a link:

http://www.abika.com/help/IPaddressmap.htm
Click on the "Get Report" button, near the top.
I haven't tried this personally, but it looks like an awesome site!
Best of luck.

I just tried it. It's a pay site.
I entered an IP for tracing and it then gave me many options, including a return of City, State, Lat, Long & Owner of IP for $7.98.

At least, then, I know it's possible. A return of Latitude-Longitude would be fine by me...

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickj

I just tried it. It's a pay site.
I entered an IP for tracing and it then gave me many options, including a return of City, State, Lat, Long & Owner of IP for $7.98.

At least, then, I know it's possible. A return of Latitude-Longitude would be fine by me...

You should never have to pay for that, it's part of the TCP/IP protocol. Try http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl

The closest you can get is either the ISP's location or the organization that bought the range of IP addresses. AOL is likely to give you the most headaches as they have something like 6 areas that connect to the external internet for the whole US - so a person in Washington DC maybe getting an IP that originates in New York City.

I see.

Yeah. Just tried VisualRoute 2006 for my other office IP (Dublin, OH) and it only goes as far as Herndon, VA - where, apparently, my Commercial RoadRunner is.

Static IP's I would say it could be possible. Surely IP's are registered somewhere so the details can be retrieved from there.

As for normal home users, well they will be on dynamic IP's. So their IP will change regularly. In this case I guess the only way to get a location would be if you could access the ISP's customer information and the IP they are currently using. But let's face it - there's no way of possibly doing this like the movies. If there is - eeek!

As Need pointed out, the best you get for sure is the location of the ISP that owns the IP. Even if the ISP assigns a static IP, that info is generally kept private (see the RIAA's attempts to get that info). So it would take a court order to get any further.

Lol, I've seen eek and double eek.

I half wonder if this sort of thing will be available in our lifetimes.

After all, with a phone number, you can usually find a physical address...

I wonder...

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickj

lol, I've seen eek and double eek.

I half wonder if this sort of thing will be available in our lifetimes.

After all, with a phone number, you can usually find a physical address...

I wonder...

But not everyone connects via phone these days. Also, the only ones who know the phone number used to connect is the ISP.

I have often said that the anonymity of the Net is, at the same time one of its greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses. In my opinion no one should be anonymous to the service providers. For example, the owners/operators of this site should know the true identity of anyone who posts here. But they should not reveal that info to anyone without a valid court order.

People should feel free to say anything they want within the guidelines of the site and prevailing laws. But they also need to understand they have to take responsibility for what they say. Just as you can't shout Fire in a crowded theatre, you can't post lies and baseless insults about entities without being held accountable for what you say.

Scott<>

Wondering if this should be moved to Member Debates?

http://www.dnsstuff.com

I wasn't speaking of phone connected computers, I was just pointing out how having a phone line pretty allows your location to be found by anyone with a few skills... and thinking that one of these days having a computer connected to the internet may leave us in the same situation.

I would not be surprised.

I hate to say, If someone has money to spend, someone will find a way to provide.
You can buy unlisted numbers, SS#, cellphone listings, about any thing.
I think it leaves everyone vulnerable. I am amazed with current technology, why there is such a problem for Agencies to locate a predator, or whatever.
I know a federal agent had Credit card abuse on several accounts, but not traceable?
The companies would rather pay out than, than find fraudster? Hate it.

Wow, that's a two year old question. LOL.