IP address search

[jasonrosegiese]

Is there any way I can contact someone if all I have is there IP address??

 

[Gnosisless]

Probably not, unless they have a static IP address. Most ISPs and even cable companies assign dynamic IP addresses in order to conserve IPs and to prevent users from hosting web sites and file servers.

If they should have a static IP, or you are contacting them when you know the IP address you have is current, there are programs, like netmeeting (I think) and some IP telephony packages that let you type in an IP address to make a "call", but the other person would already have to have the software for this to work.

If you're just wanting to trace their location, you can try a WHOIS lookup, which will give you a general idea of where the server they're using is located, or a TRACERT that shows the internet hops from your PC to that IP address.

I'm sure there are other utilites that do similar things, but the bottom line is, if you want to chat with that person, they'd have to have the same software you were using in order to connect.

 

[jasonrosegiese]

I don't even know the people, but I have a program called black ice defender. Kinda like a fire wall i think. When It detects someone trying to access my PC, It displays their IP address. I was just wondering how to track them with that address.

 

[Gnosisless]

Aha, then the WHOIS lookup is what you want, though if it's a hacker, the chances it's someone actually accessing your PC their own account is remote.

If the IP address you see appears frequently, over hours or days, and is on a port known to be used for Trojans, you might want to use the WHOIS info to report the matter to the Domain name owner. Usually, the address is [email protected]etorgwhatever

Here's a web interface to Whois:
http://www.netsol.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois

Also, not that you asked, but I never miss a chance to put my two-cents' worth in , but BlackIce Defender is not a very good choice for firewall software. There are better (and FREE!) choices, like ZoneAlarm and Tiny Firewall.

 

[jasonrosegiese]

thanks, I'll try those other ones.
which is better in your opinion?

 

[Gnosisless]

Which is the best might be a good question for a POLL in this forum; I'm sure others here have had more varied experiences than I with these programs.

That being said, I personally have only used ZoneAlarm and BlackIce, and I don't have a single complaint about ZoneAlarm.

Any time I test my protection at grc.com or symantec.com, I come up as invisible to hackers and not leaking any info. I'm sure I'm not invulnerable, but I feel pretty safe.

Here are a couple of articles that might help (I'm sure zdnet and extremetech have some, too):

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/article/0,aid,43926,00.asp

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,36418,00.asp

 

[DoyceJ]

You can do a search of this sight and find a few discussions concerning the two. Mostly, it comes down to both being recommended as good with ZA being somewhat easier to configure.

Luck