How to Trace an IP
Identify location and status of an IP is a unique number that defines the location of a device in a network. An IP lookup tool can return the country, region and city associated with a public IP address, as well as the Internet Service Provider (ISP) that provides that device with access to the Internet. It cannot, however, identify the individual using a specific device.
This is because an IP address points to a network connection, which could be used by multiple devices or people in a home or office. In some cases, paired with other information such as personal data or a user name and password, an IP address may be used to identify an individual.
Geolocate IPs and Determine Their Network Status
An IP can also be traced to learn more about the general location of a device or a website visitor. This information is useful for a wide variety of applications, including content localization, security and compliance audits, and troubleshooting.
A few of the most common ways to trace an IP are by using specialized geolocation databases or by performing a traceroute (using the ping or tracert command on Windows, Mac, or Unix-based systems). These tools use data from a variety of sources to determine the approximate geographic location of an IP address. The resulting location is generally 95% accurate at the country level and about 50% accurate at the state and city levels.
Tracking an IP can help organizations detect fraudulent activity or work with law enforcement to retrieve stolen assets. For example, if a company-owned laptop or mobile phone is lost or stolen, IT professionals can access the last known IP address to track its location and work with local authorities to retrieve it.
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