OT IP addresses

[550Doug]

When a message is posted here on YT we can see the IP address assigned to the poster. Is it possible for me to find my own IP address as soon as I start my browser. If I sent an email to myself, is there some way to find the IP in the header?
Thanks

 

[Anonymous-0]

In linux I click on "details" from KPPP connecto software and it shows me the IP address. Its different each time I connect.

To see what there is in your e-mail program you can ask it to view the complete headers and it might be there.

Gerald J.

 

[Howard H.]

Yep, you can find it in the headers of the messages you receive - if you sent it to yourself. Go into properties on that message and look for 'details' and 'message source' (if you use Outlook Express).

An easier way would be browse to some website like:

http://www.mediacollege.com/internet/utilities/show-ip.shtml

or

http://www.showmyip.com/


Depending on how you're connected to the Internet, the # shown may remain static for months or years, it may change periodically, and/or you may be sharing that public IP with many other people.

Howard

 

[Anonymous-0]

In your browser type..
www.whatismyip.com

 

[David, Surrey UK]

Your IP address can be either static (unchanging) or dynamic (gets assigned by your ISP when you log on). Most dial-ups are dynamic and most broadband connections are static, but there are exceptions -- I used to have a static dial-up IP address but now I have a dynamic broadband one!

Also if more than one computer shares the connection, you'll probably be using NAT (network address translation). Within the local network each computer has its own address, but externally they all look like the same address. Your router makes sure incoming packets go to the right computer.

It's also possible to spoof IP addresses. Don't ask me how, I have no idea!

The upshot of all this is that an IP address is almost useless for identifying a computer or an individual, as far as ordinary people are concerned. However, criminals, hackers and terrorists can be tracked down, at some expense, by the powers that be.

David