How to Trace an IP Address on a Mac

Every computer that is connected to the Internet is assigned a unique IP address, which is used to identify it on different networks. All web servers and websites are also associated with an IP address. Through the "Network Utility" program, which is installed on all new Apple computers, Mac users can look up any IP address and then trace its network route to figure out where the connection is coming from. This article explains how to trace an IP address on a Mac with Network Utility.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mac running OS X 10.4 or later

1. Open a new Finder window by clicking on the icon in the dock.

2. Navigate to the "Utilities" folder, which is located in the "Applications" section of the Mac hard drive.

3. Double-click on the "Network Utility" icon to start the networking application.

4. Click on the "Traceroute" tab at the top of the program window.

5. Iin the main text field, type the IP address you wish to trace.

6. Click on the "Trace" button to begin searching for the IP address. Any trace results will appear in the main application window.