Can I get someone's name and address from their IP address?

I have the IP address from someone who's causing me some problems. Can I get their name and location from that?

Yes and no.

But mostly no.

I get this question a lot, so let me explain.

As I've discussed in previous articles, there are common services on the internet that will return information about an IP address. Services like ARIN, PlotIP and others will return information about the ISP or hosting company that owns the block that the IP is a part of. Typically that will include the name, address, phone number of the ISP.

"... if you're a regular person just trying to track something down on your own, you simply can not get the information."

At that point your only option is to contact the ISP and ask them. They do know which of their customers the IP is assigned to. The problem is that ISP's will not give this information out to just anyone. Typically it will require legal actions, as part of some kind of police or court proceeding, to get the ISP to release the information.

So can you get a name an address from an IP? Yes ... if you have the legal backing to go get it. Otherwise, if you're a regular person just trying to track something down on your own, you simply can not get the information.

Related:

Ask Leo! - How do I figure out who owns an IP address?
Ask Leo! - What can people tell from my IP address?
Amazon.com - Best Selling books about Computer Privacy
Articles elsewhere on the net about Computer Privacy

Article 9293 | Posted October 16, 2005

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Recent Comments

i have been getting abuse over the internet and was wondering if i could fine out where they live throug ip address or isp?

thanks

Posted by: andy at June 4, 2007 03:50 AM

I am working for an IT security training project.Is there a way to get web site address and phone number by IP Address?

Posted by: nelaon.a at June 6, 2007 09:53 AM

I found this site:
http://www.auditmypc.com/anonymous-surfing.asp
which told me my EXACT CORRECT suburb, with a map.
Will be looking into how it's done.

Posted by: auntypizza at June 7, 2007 04:46 AM

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You must live close to your ISP's point of presence, because it's still only
information ABOUT YOUR ISP that these services can return. They CANNOT go
further, unless your ISP makes the information public.

In my case, they're 300 miles off.

Leo
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Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at June 7, 2007 03:51 PM

I have suffered from an internet scam and all i have one the scam artist are a couple of emails and an address, but i doubt the home address they gave me is even real. from there emails can i find there ip address, and then maybe there actual address so then i can find their phone number? and if so how?

Posted by: jane at June 14, 2007 01:58 PM

Can someone get your personal address and telephone number from a yahoo, aol or hot mail email address? I sent a guy I met online some info I had heard about his girlfriend. She got the email and is telling me I have slandered her and she is working with the authorities to have me arrested. She says that I can be tracked down via my email address as he sister works for a high tech computer company. I never even used her name in the email I only wrote your girlfriend. I'm thinking she watches too much TV. What can she find out about me?

Posted by: Meg at July 18, 2007 12:09 PM

my computer got hacked into by someone who keeps changing they're name on yahoo. but seems to keep the same area in mind from [email address removed] to [email address removed] which is just recently. well here's my problem, they have managed to not only hack my computer but also my razor phone and sent everything from my txt's and instant messanger conversations to my spouse and all his friends. this person claims i know who it is but when i get the emails it keeps changing from i to we and they wanted me to just leave my husband for them..i feel like i'm on a lifetime movie. i don't know what to do..can anyone help and what really sucks is all this started when i started to talking to a friend who is in the Navy..apparently IT's have a whole new way of life in the military.

Posted by: Patricia at August 15, 2007 03:24 PM

someone found my ip address from hotmail how is that possible.

Posted by: MEan at August 19, 2007 04:58 PM

someone got my identiy and address thru my hotmail account. How is this possible. Please let me know if I can legally go after them.

Posted by: megan at August 19, 2007 05:00 PM

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I'm closing comments on this article.

Please read
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_find_out_whos_at_a_particular_ip_address.html for
information on tracing IP addresses, and what it takes to do so.

Leo

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Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at August 21, 2007 01:38 PM

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