What’s Your IP Address?

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author

ipa
One thing is for sure, when you’re in the midst of a long-term recovery, you will get bored out of your mind. Top these circumstances with 2-3 days of snow and ice – someone is going to break the rules. Did I mention – me? To say I’ve been stretching the doctor’s instructions bit is an understatement.facebookhomescreenimage
Pardon my digression; the squirrels are playing havoc with my brain.

Back to the point of this post. Do you know your IP address IP (Internet protocol)? It is a unique number for your computer and links to all of your online activity.

It’s how a Macy’s ad, with the very thing you’re shopping for, just happens to show up on Facebook or other sites you might visit. It’s how Google and other search engines track what you like – through algorithms and your IP address. And, it’s how hackers find us – not that we’ve heard much about hacking lately?

More to the point, it’s why a suspect’s computer is confiscated and turned over for a forensics examination, following a crime.  “Your honor, may I present Exhibit C into evidence. This will show that the defendant completed a search on, how to choke someone, undetectable, poisons, how to break a person’s neck, and how to get away with murder, no less than 200 times.”

You get the idea, but why do you care? Well, knowing one’s IPA is also helpful when determining if your computer or the information within has been compromised. For example, in 2005 my identity was stolen online. The culprits were tracked through an IPA to Amsterdam – a mega site for stolen identities. And just today, I attempted to sign in to Facebook. A message appeared:

“Your account has been locked due to a suspicious login attempt.”  They provided the time, IPA, and location (Charlotte) of the incident. “Was this you? “They asked.

I wasn’t certain, but it prompted me to investigate. I got things straightened out, not that being locked out of Facebook was of concern – it wasn’t, but that’s a subject for another day.

If you want to find out more on the topic, as well as your own IP Address, check out these resources:

  1. IP 101: The Basics of IP Addresses
  2. What is my IP Address.com
  3. How a Hacker Might Exploit Your IP Address
  4. Computer Evidence Recovery
  5. Internet Defamation

 

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Join the conversation. Talk to me or tell me your story. I’m all ears.

22 thoughts on “What’s Your IP Address?”

  1. Pingback: Speaking of IT lovers; and yes, i do know mine ♥ – Hope Dream Wait

  3. Great to see you back in full swing, Sheila. When I completed my first degree in Computer Science, we never dreamed of the world you are describing, where literal identities can be stolen. It is like any theft–there is only so much we can do to prevent it–but most of us (myself included) are not doing nearly enough. Thanks for the reminder.

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