subject: Tracing an IP Address [print this page] Tracing an IP Address Tracing an IP Address
An IP address is assigned to you whenever you come online. In case you are using router then all the computers attached to it have the same IP address. An IP address is needed to send information, without an IP address you cannot send or share the information. It is very similar to your postal address, where you cannot receive posts without giving your right address.
To trace an IP address is not that difficult. But it is not necessary that the IP address you got is necessarily the IP address of the sender. It is because there are a lot of internet connections which dynamically assign IP addresses to the user. Each time the user logon they provide him/her a new IP address.
Now we will see how one can trace the IP address by following simple steps.
Required Items
You need following items to trace an IP address:
- Computer/Laptop (whatever available)
- Internet connection
Steps
1. Open the email for which you want to find the IP address. Use the "full header' option to locate the IP address. For instance, in Outlook Express, open the file menu and select properties. Then go on received from' message. In yahoo, you just need to click full headers'. In Msn or hotmail, go to Message Display settings and choose full or advanced for message headers.
2. Now go to email and you will see that you are now having more information. Find out something that says X originating IP:
3. The numbers next to originating IP: gives you the required IP address for the email sent to you.
4. The next step is to copy the IP address and visit any of the website which allows you to find the IP address information. Paste the information to the required place and press enter.
5. Once the information is sent, the online program will analyze the data provided by you and give you the following details:
- Sender's IP address
- Continent
- Country
- Region
- City and time zone.
This information can be saved as well.
Suggestions & Tips
- It is not always possible to get the exact and true information. Because there is Dynamic IP addresses which can be change at any time. While there is Static IP address as well this cannot be changed, unless or until user request to change it.
- Don't rely on the results unless or until you are 100% sure about that sender is not hiding his/her original IP address.
- There are many ways to hide one's IP address, so be very careful about this fact.
- Tracing an IP address is might not that simple. The above given are the general guidelines and are not the set rules for tracing an IP address. It is hard to trace the IP address if the sender is using proxy servers.
