IP Addresses??

Question

You know on some sites where they say that they log ur IP address, why? If they get this address can they do anything harmful or have any control over ur computer? is it safe
I'm just curious. thnx for ur help

Answer 1

> You know on some sites where they say that they log ur IP address, why?
There's many reasons to do IP logging. The simplest is to prevent spam and abuse. If you are an abusive person on a forum, they won't just delete your account. They will ban your IP, preventing you from ever joining the forum again. The same is done for spammers.

> If they get this address can they do anything harmful or have any control over ur computer?
The first thing you need to realize is that you cannot completely hide your IP address. The internet is all about communication. Now, the IP address identifies who you are, so if your IP is not known, no one can "talk" to you. Let's say you got to a website. In doing so, you have to let the other website know what your IP addy is. Otherwise, you can't see the website!

In any case, what happens when you start surfing all over the internet, leaving your IP all over the place? Nothing really. You aren't the only person using the internet. There's countless other people, and all that information gets logged away. It probably gets deleted after a short while, or if it doesn't, it's still a water drop in an ocean.

Yes, someone with an IP address could attempt to hack. What they'll basically do is port scan you and probe your computer for various weaknesses to exploit. Believe me, this isn't a concern. Stop listening to the media about "hackers" and you'll come back down stress-free to earth.

Answer 2

IP address is like your online identity card. Because every online computer in the world have a unique IP address, it helps protect certain form of abuses, such as internet piracy, online death threats, online terrorism, hacking etc.

The only people who can know who belongs to what IP address are the internet service providers who give out and assign IP addresses to their users. These are usually the companies that you suscribe your internet access from. The first 2 dotted segments of an IP address are usually standard 'area' codes that identify your country and district and your internet service provider (if your country has more than 1 internet service providers).

Under some legal conditions, they would be asked to reveal private information of the person who is registered under a recorded IP address, and/or take some form of action or warning against that individual.

In my country (Singapore), IP addresses have been recorded in mIRC of individuals who have been setting up automated bots that send MP3 files to other chatters. These individuals who are usually teenage students have been tracked down and fined large sums of money by the police department which handles Intellectual Property Rights laws. My country has about 3-6 internet service providers, most of which are government-linked, so it is very easy for the police to find out who is behind an IP address.

Thus, it depends on the laws of your country, and the privacy statement/contract agreement of your internet service provider.

Under normal circumstances, someone who has your IP address cannot obtain private information of you from your internet service providers.

Answer 3

All computer have an IP (internet protocol) or internet address. This address is necessary in that all DNS servers use it to connect your computer to and and all computer that are connected to the internet. It is not dangerous for sites to log the info.

Answer 4

It's safe. It's a precaution that if YOU do anything illegal or harmful, they will have some idea of who you are, or rather - they can get a subpoena from a judge, and have your ISP tell them who you are :)

Hope this helps, if not - let me know :)
Regards, Tommy

Answer 5

Its for legal resons if you do something illegal with their service thay can track you down