IP address...???

Question

if i chat with someone via msn or messenger, can i check his/her ip address to know where they are?
or can they check my ip address to know where my server is?
i mean if A and B chat thru messenger, can A check B's location by accessing to B's ip address?

Answer 1

Yeah, you will need to set up a file transfer in order to see their IP address, otherwise you get the IP of the server its been routed through. (Some M$ Server) If you really want to know their IP and other such info, run a packet sniffer and initiate a file transfer. In order for the files to be transfered quickly without flooding Microsofts .NET network and such, the transfer will go pretty much direct to the other persons computer. In order for this, the packets need a valid IP address and port number. If you run a packet sniffer, you will be able to gain lots of valuable information about that persons computer.



Yes, the netstat way works, however, you will need to have an actual transfer in progress, if I am correct. Using a packet sniffer, you only have to send a request, and their computer will respond. (Using ICMP, and then TCP with the SYN ACK flag set) With that TCP SYN ACK packet, you will have the persons IP address, port number, etc etc. Good stuff. (BTW, although I am currently in Windoze, I normally run Linux and using AMSN and Ethereal, I can do this very easily) If I am wrong, please let me know, correct me! I am certainly no expert, but this is my understanding of the subject.



Oh, one more thing. As already pointed out, this may not be the IP of that persons actual box. I myself run a router with a hardware firewall, and someday will add another router with another *nix box using Iptables. If this is the case, you will get the WAN IP of some sort, usually the one from the ISP, the persons actual computer may be subnetted or somethin behind a router or firewall using NAT or something of that sort, so be carefull! (And don't do nothin illegal!)



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but it is much easier if you do it via email msgs, I did it once.



here is how~~

http://aruljohn.com/info/howtofindipaddress/



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and yes, someonce can run the same thing, and find out your IP address (unless you are using some proxy settings ~~ http://tools.rosinstrument.com/proxy/howto.htm) and then run it in the websites like these~~



www.geobytes.com/iplocator.htm?getlocation

www.ip-adress.com



and find ur server location.

Answer 2

I think one can run netstat or something, and it will output all the ports which are actively letting things through, and the IP addresses they're communicating with. But I forget how to narrow down the items on the list it produces, to find out who you're talking to on MSN.

Answer 3

Yes internet protocol address can be traced in chatting room, such as yahoo and msn and so on..