Who owns the IP?

What information the IP provides

Any device that works with the Internet connected requires a number that serves as an address. This number can be used to clearly identify it in the network. This number is called the IP address. Although every device has an IP number, you cannot assign it to any specific person. For clarity, assume the IP address of your own router.

• You dial into your provider with the IP address. You are now in the internal network of your provider. It has a certain number of IP numbers available to access the Internet via its dial-in node. He'll assign you one of these numbers.
• You are not traveling in the network with the IP of the router, but with one of the numbers of the provider. Other users only see this number, not that of your router. You can trace your trail back to the provider and the dial-in node.
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• If you want to conceal your identity on the Internet, you can use the number of the provider to log into a service in the network that will assign you a different IP. The trace ends with one of these services, which usually do not save any data. As soon as you terminate the connection, there is no data about who used the corresponding IP.
• Strangers can never determine your identity. You only find out the IP address with which you were in the network at a certain point in time, the dial-in node and the provider. The stranger can find out who owns the address, i.e. the provider. This saves the connection data for a certain period of time. The legal situation in the EU has not yet been finally clarified. The so-called data retention was approved by the European Court of Justice on March 8th. April 2014 declared inadmissible. German providers are allowed to store the data for up to seven days for internal purposes.


Utrace - this is how the localization service works

If you want to locate an IP address, you can find out where the computer is sitting ...

• Depending on the country in which the provider offers its services, the data is stored for several months. None of the providers gives the data to strangers on request. Authorities only receive this information if terrorism or serious criminal offenses are suspected, usually after a court order.

Find out who owns the address

As you can see from what has been said so far, it is possible to find out who owns an IP. However, you do not find out which person is using them. Suppose you are in a forum. The IP addresses of the users are known at least to the operator of the platform. In e-mails this can sometimes be seen in the header, i.e. in the header.

1. A so-called "Whois service" helps you to find out more. Go to the websites ip-info or Utrace. There is an input field on these pages. Type in the IP number and click on "search" or "request information".
2. At ip-info you can find out which regional registration office is responsible for assigning the number. There is one on every continent in the world. Click the link that appears. Utrace shows you the provider and the dial-in node directly.
3. In both ways, you will see an information page about the provider. Look for an entry that begins with "Abuse @". This is the provider's email address.

Tips for dealing with suspicious content

If you are threatened or asked to commit crimes in an email or on a social platform, defend yourself. The same applies to annoyance caused by undesired contacts.

1. If you know the IP of the sender of the messages, determine the associated provider.
2. Write a to the provider e-mailto complain about the user of the address. Include the date and time the sender used it. The provider can only find the user if he knows this data.
3. You are dependent on the goodwill of the provider. He will not reveal the identity of the user to you, but may help. When you report a serious crime or one Spam-Attack, most providers terminate the contract with the user.
4. In the event of criminal offenses, also involve the police. Pass the data and a copy of the mail to the provider.

The services provide information on who owns an IP address, not who is using it at a specific point in time. None of the Whois providers can establish direct contact with the sender.