I really need some answers to these questions because I may have some sort of internet stalker following me. Is it possible to use an Internet Proxy and appear to be located in a specific country? How do you detect if someone is using an internet proxy (or if you can tell by their IP address)? And how would I get an internet proxy of my own so this person can't bug me anymore? One other thing... is it possible to find someone's IP Address while you're instant messaging them? I've goofed around with stuff in MS DOS (netstat) to check my ports and everything, but can't detect anything other than my messengers server. If anyone can help me with this, it'd be much appreciated.

If you are really being stalked you should contact your local police. But if you think we are going to help you invade someone else's privacy, you came to the wrong place.

None of the above. The "stalker" reference is kind of hard to explain, so to put it simply I've been sucked into a little challenge. A person I know is pretending to be someone else so that they can talk to me without me being aware of it. I just have to be able to prove that this person really is the person I know, hence all the IP and proxy questions. I don't believe that is a qualification for calling the police, and I'm not trying to invade this persons privacy. I'm just trying to put an end to a silly game that I am fed up with. Did I still come to the wrong place?

This thread may shed some light on what you are trying to do.

Yes, thank you, some of that did help... although, if you can't find someone's IP when you're just using a messenger, why do all the anonmyziers I've looked at say they're hide your identity even when instant messaging? Sounds to me like there is no identity to hide at that rate... just your email address, but then you could always just set up a fake one to use or something.

But my main question is if it's possible to use an internet proxy so that it appears you come from a different country. I already have gotten my hands on an IP address, but I've read all kinds of stuff on faking IP addresses by dialing up with a long distance phone number, proxies, etc.

Yes I would say it's possible to go via a proxy so your IP address is different. Good way of testing:

• Open two internet browsers.
• In one, go to http://www.whatismyip.com/
• In the second, go to http://browsecop.com/
• In that second one, enter http://www.whatismyip.com/ into the edit box and press browse.
• The two IP addresses will be different.

If this person you challenged is smart, then you're not going to be able to tell by anything like their IP address. I think you might just have to admit defeat.

Wow! That is really cool! I really know about this persons actual computer knowledge, but I know that with his intelligence, he would be capable of finding out how to do all this. So, with something like the browsecop thing, you could go into your email account, send an email, and the ip on the header would be something other than the real IP? And are there ones like that which will give you a new, country specific IP? I know I'm being incredbily persistent with the country-specific stuff, but it's the clincher in this thing.