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Tracing an IP address is an important and useful skill that can help you find the location of a person, business or website; even when someone is trying to conceal their identity.
By using tools, such as Whois Lookup, you can trace an IP address and gain valuable insight into the whereabouts of the person or website you are trying to find.
Before we get into the steps of IP address tracing, let’s take an in-depth look at IP addresses.
What is an IP Address and How Does it Work?
An IP address is a unique label assigned to devices that are connected to a network, such as the internet. It identifies each device and allows data to be sent and received between them. An IP address is composed of a series of four numbers, separated by periods, ranging from 0-255.
IP stands for Internet Protocol, and is part of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols. It is the primary protocol for routing data packets in networks and the internet. In the TCP/IP model, each layer of the protocol suite performs specific functions that enable applications to communicate with each other.
When a device sends a request to another device, it sends the request to the IP address of the device it is trying to reach. The IP address acts like a street address, and tells the sending device where to send the data.
IP addresses can be divided into two categories: public and private. A public IP address is visible to the public, such as a web server or mail server. A private IP address is only visible within a private network, such as a home or office network.
IP addresses are assigned to devices using a process called Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). The protocol allows a server to assign IP addresses to devices that are connected to the network. DHCP automatically assigns IP addresses to devices when they are connected to the network.
IP addresses also have a limited lifespan. If a device remains inactive for a certain amount of time, the IP address is returned to the pool of available IP addresses. This process is known as IP address expiration.
IP addresses play an important role in networks and the internet. They are used to identify and locate devices and allow data to be sent and received between them. Without IP addresses, the internet would not be able to function as it does today.
How to Trace an IP Address Using Command Prompt
Tracing an IP address with Command Prompt is a simple process that can be done by anyone. Command Prompt is a built-in tool of the Windows operating system. It is a great tool for troubleshooting and identifying the location of a computer, server or website.
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt Window
The first step is to open the Command Prompt window. To do this, press the Windows+R keys. Type in “cmd” and press enter. This will open the Command Prompt window.
Step 2: Enter the IP Address
Once the Command Prompt window is open, you will need to enter the IP address you wish to trace. To do this, type in “tracert” followed by the IP address. For example, if you wanted to trace the IP address of www.example.com, you would enter the following command: “tracert www.example.com”
Step 3: Trace the IP Address
Once you have entered the command, the Command Prompt window will begin to trace the IP address. It will display a list of IP addresses and the time it took to reach each one. The list will start with the IP address closest to you and end with the IP address of the destination.
Step 4: Identify the Location
To identify the location of the IP address, you can use a tool such as NordVPN IP Lookup. This tool will allow you to enter the IP address and it will then display the geographic location of the IP address.
Step 5: Repeat the Process
If you wish to trace multiple IP addresses, you can repeat the same process for each one. Simply enter the command for each IP address and it will display the list of IP addresses and the time it took to reach each one.
By following these steps, you can easily trace the IP address of your target. This is the most useful IP address trace method for identifying the location of a computer, server or website.
How to Trace an IP Address from Email?
Yes, you can also trace an IP address from a received email. By tracing an IP address, you can often find out the sender’s location and even their ISP.
Step 1: Log into your Gmail account.
Step 2: Select the email you want to trace the IP address for.
Step 3: Click the down arrow in the upper right corner of the email and select “Show Original.”
Step 4: This will open a new window with all the email headers. Look for the “Received” headers.
Step 5: The IP address will be listed beside the “Received” header.
Step 6: Copy the IP address and paste it into an IP lookup tool.
Tracing an IP address from Gmail is a 30 seconds job and it can get you the location of the email sender. With this information, you can determine if the sender is legitimate or not.
By following these steps, you can easily trace an IP address from an email. This method is for Gmail, but other mail services also have the same option to track down the IP address of an email sender. Of course, if the individual is using a fast VPN service, there’s a chance the IP address doesn’t reflect their real physical location.
