How to track IP addresses?

Question

How to track IP addresses? We have a java application (web site) and we want to track the IP addresses of (1) users who visit any particular site and (2) users who are sending mails - is it possible - how??????

Answer 1

If you wish to use IP Addresses, you have to understand: ISP's will hold the server logs of the user who is operating under that IP, and under the quasi-scrutiny of television media in the name of modern security, they won't give up a user's name and address unless you have a court order or a cease and desist warning ready to roll on your behalf. So if you wish to use IP monitoring, you better make sure what your user is doing is illegal or fairly actionable in the eyes of a civil courtroom first.

That in mind, you can track the first two parts of an IP easily online using Traceroute (either from a command prompt or as a service on most websites.) Beyond the ISP's headend, you won't see further data (which end user is on that IP, what their Computer LAN IP is, etc.) without confronting the ISP. Sure, there are less than reputable ways to hack the info out of a IP Packet, but let's stay safe, shall we?

As for using Java, is it a CMS style program you're using or written entirely by hand? If by hand, you'll have to look at the classes that handle internet traffic for the answer to that. I'm not well versed in Java myself, so you're on your own for that. If it's a CMS (Mambo Open Source, for example) then you're good: check out it's documentation on how to check user sessions to see a individual's IP in your CMS's administration backend (the part of the CMS users can't see.)

Answer 2

Every website you go on tracks and records your IP address and associates anything you do to your IP. You don't even have to order anything, as long as you visit the site your info is recorded and kept for an indefinite amount of time.

Answer 3

You can get the IP addresses from the log of your web server process(es).

As for sending email, does your web site allow sending email?
To whom? If to yourself, then you can get the sender's IP
address in the email header. If the email is sent to addresses external to your web site, then ... why would you let people do that?

If your question is actually: we want to track the IP addresses of people sending you email (i.e. completely unrelated to your web site --- your web site could be down but you could still get email) ... then you get the IP addresses from the log file of the mail application.

Good luck

Answer 4

Yeah It is possible!!! you juat need a php script to track the ip of your visitors. by the way many hosting sites also provides this service like netfirms. as far as the mail is concern, you have to go thru the header of the mail to track the IP

Answer 5

Sure, u just need to do some domain name resolution using Java's java.net.* classes and you need to have Java record the originating IP of the website visitor.

Answer 6

Visit www.dnsstuff.com , Downlod and install McAfee FireWall it has an inbuilt IP tracker.

Answer 7

it's possible to trace it to the provider. If you can find the IP post it and I can tell you where it came from, but as far as who? No not really.

Answer 8

mail use paros,ip tracking use nettracer.if they are using a proxy tho that will render it useless. (spoofing,or blinding IPS)

Answer 9

wow i just learned how to do this today. okay. you click start-run-and type cmd in the box. the when a balck screen appears type ipconfig then push enter. it will come up with you ip adress

Answer 10

yes easy just download any mail sniffer
Heres one the FBI use

http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/00/07/21/000721hnfbi.html