How to Trace an IP to a City
When a computer connects to the Internet, it is assigned an IP address. This IP address is logged when the user sends an email message or visits a message board. If someone has sent you a malicious or spam email, you may potentially be able to find the location of the person who sent the email by performing a reverse IP look-up on the user's IP. No matter what reason you have for tracing an IP address to a city, online tools are available to help you.
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Instructions
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Navigate to a website with tools allowing you to perform a reverse IP look-up. A reverse IP look-up will trace the origin of an IP address and pinpoint its location. Examples of websites offering free IP look-up tools are IP Checking, WhatIsMyIPAddress.com and IP-Lookup" (see Resources).
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Enter the IP address you want to trace into the indicated box on the website. This box will have a heading notifying you that it is the correct box to input the IP address.
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Click on the "Lookup" button.
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Review the displayed information. If results were found, you will be able to see the origin of the IP address. If the IP address is from the United States, the city will be displayed under the "General information" header. If the IP does not originate from the United States, the country of origin will be shown.
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Tips & Warnings
An IP address look-up may not always be accurate. A user may mask his IP address in a variety of ways, such as through a proxy server.
References
Resources
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