+Geo-Johnson's Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 I got an email through geocache.com this morning from user mike_2233. It says...... quote:Hello, you seem to know alot about all this .. so can I ask you a question: >From an IP address at home, can someone if they wanted to , use that address to locate EXACTLY where a computer is?? Is that possible to do from the IP address? Thanks for any info you can share with me on this Mike Here's my questions...... 1. I don't know didly squat about IP addresses, why would he ask me? 2. Why would he want to know EXACTLY where a computer is? 3. What does this have to do with Geocaching? 4. Is this something I need to worry about? Its entirely possible that this guy is just curious about something, but I have never posted anything that would leave anyone to believe that I know anything about computers.........He has no finds, nor has he made any posts in the forums.... What do you think? Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners. Quote
+Ducky Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 I just got the same email and it sounded fishy to me I can't find a mention of him anywhere (ie: no finds no hides)so why is he asking a question so FAR off topic. Work Smarter, Not Harder! Quote
+tirediron Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 As a guy with a computer networking background, an email like that would set the red flags waving at full tilt. It sounds to me (if I am reading your posts correctly) like someone is trying to use the "naieve newbie" routine to get info out of people. Just to sort some fact from fiction, yes, a person with your IP address (IP Address = Internet Protocol Address, basically your computer's address on the 'net looks like 255.255.255.255) could, with appropriate software find the location of your computer, at least what city you are in. What could he do with that info? Probably not much. Attacking a single Windows machine (especially if you are running a firewall, which EVERYONE on the 'net should be) is much more difficult than people think. Sounds like a good person to put on your ‘ignore’ list, unless he sent it you by mistake. Quote
solohiker Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 I can determine the latitude and longitude location of the server sending the IP address. I can also get the name, address and phone number of the person who registered the IP number. Locating every computer connected to that server is something I am still working on. Quote
+tirediron Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 Solo, Before you send everyone into a panic thinking that you have access to their unlisted telephone numbers (and Lats & Longs ) It should be pointed out that in 98% of the cases we are worried about, the owner/register of the IP Address is your Internet Service Provider, and even then, there is a lot of unlisted info. If anyone wants to play with this, download a copy of Neotrace. It can be kind of interesting. Quote
+erik88l-r Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 I got the same request. I replied thru the geocaching.com e-mail system. The cache approvers seem to get a lot of requests not related directly to a cache that is in question, so I usually just reply as best I can. If this is not legit at least a half dozen caches didn't get approved because of the time wasted, which is aggravating. So don't e-mail me asking how to fix your Land-Rover or where to find a good recipe for crawfish etoufee. I could probably handle both but that's not what Jeremy pays me the big bucks to do. (I wish) erik - geocaching.com admin Quote
+Roadster Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 The way I take it is that he is wanting to maybe post something rude or offensive to either the forums or on someone’s cache page and is wondering that if he did would geocaching.com be able to track it back to his computer at home by the IP address. He possibly could already be a cacher and someone made him mad in here and wants to get back at them. Therefore he registered a new username. Just my ways of thinking, but you never know. . The early bird gets the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese. [This message was edited by Roadster on March 16, 2003 at 08:45 AM.] Quote
+tirediron Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 Good point Roadster, hadn't thought of that... makes perfect sense! Quote
+erik88l-r Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 Hi did get back to me with a "thanks" I think it was something about E-bay already knowing him when he tried to set up a second account. I explained "cookies". ~erik~ Quote
+brad.32 Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 I had an email from him too, and replied, BEFORE seeing this thread. Why would he contact so many people to ask a simple question like that? Sniff sniff. Smells like ... sniff ... email address harvesting. SPAM SPAM SPAM. Quote
+briansnat Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 Hmmmmm, I got the same e-mail and replied to it. Didn't think anything of it until now. Something's fishy! "An appeaser is one who keeps feeding a crocodile-hoping it will eat him last" -Winston Churchill Quote
+Ducky Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 I sent an email off to the cache gods and we'll see what happens. It was very strange and really set off my alarm bells. I hope no one else response to his email. Work Smarter, Not Harder! Quote
+nincehelser Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 That was all just voluntary information people gave out in the early days of the Internet. I don't think many people mess with it anymore. George Quote
+TEAM 360 Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 Maybe it's a landowner or the BLM trying to figure out how to bust people that have placed caches on their land...uh oh.... Quote
+mrcpu Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 quote:Originally posted by nincehelser:That was all just voluntary information people gave out in the early days of the Internet. I don't think many people mess with it anymore. George I always know where 127.0.0.1 is!!! http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20010523 Rob Mobile Cache Command Quote
+Mopar Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 All those that replied, and didnt uncheck "send my email address" probably just gave out your email to a spammer. Tae-Kwon-Leap is not a path to a door, but a road leading forever towards the horizon. Quote
+jeff35080 Posted March 16, 2003 Posted March 16, 2003 I always know where 127.0.0.1 is!!! Hold on one second! How can 127.0.0.1 be there, when it is here too Jeff http://www.StarsFellOnAlabama.com http://www.NotAChance.com If you hide it, they will come.... Quote
+Ducky Posted March 18, 2003 Posted March 18, 2003 This is the reply to my email from Jeremy He only sent a few of these messages out. Apparently eBay blocked him somehow and he was just trying to ask for some help. Jeremy I still find it rather strange though Work Smarter, Not Harder! Quote
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