How do I find out who has posted something online, using their IP address?

Question

I have had personal details, including my home address, posted online and I think it may have been done by a malicious former family member. The owner of the website has removed the details and given me the IP address of the person who posted them.

Can I use this IP address to find out anything about the person who posted my details, such as where they are located etc, to ensure that it is who I think it is, before I decide what further action needs taking?

Answer 1

You can do a Whois check (just google on the word) in order to check the hosting company that issues the IP address. In the worst cases, they can be petitioned to diclose the user at the time. It's not an easy process though.

Bear in mind that IP addresses are, in the majority of cases, not permanently allocated to users. Most of IP addresses are assigned to our connection dynamically - in other words, just for the session - and aren't specific to any one user. This is done for security.

However, the IP addresses are themselves to the ISP in clusters, so their records will tell them whose connection was using a given address at any one specified time.

Again - not as straightforward a process as you'd think! Good luck.....

Answer 2

Use ARIN to track down the ISP

http://www.arin.net/whois/

ARIN keeps track of US ISP's (There're separate ones for Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America).

What comes up on ARIN should have contact info for the ISP.  Go through them.  Be sure to have some sort of proof, because there are privacy issues, involved.

Answer 3

No you cannot obtain that information. An IP address will only give you a rough location which can be miles out. To get the actual address from the ISP you will need a High Court Order and a very good reason for wanting it.

As an example I just tried that link given by Cedric. It's that good it gave my IP address as a box number in Amsterdam in Holland. I live in the UK!