Someone says they can get my IP address - who cares?

Question

Why would it bother me in the slightest if some geek pansy tells me he can get my IP address?

Wouldn't his time be better spent applying for a job at Burger King or weeding my lawn?

Answer 1

If someone has your IP address, and you are not protected by a software or hardware firewall, it is conceivable he could:



1. Break into your computer, via any of several cracking programs;

2. Infect your computer with a worm, trojan, virus, etc.;

3. Attack your computer in a way that makes your use of the Internet impossible;

4. Engage in illicit activities online, and "forge" his IP address to be your IP address, thus making it look like you were the person who did the illicit activities.



There's more, but that should give you the drift.



If you have a router between your computer and the modem, there's nothing to worry about. If you have a decent software firewall, such as ZoneAlarm or even Windows firewall, there's nothing to worry about.



If you don't have a router but turn your computer off at night, there's nothing to worry about; you'll get a new IP address the next morning, anyway.



UPDATE:



Having a firewall should protect you from anything he might try to do to your computer. It is exceedingly difficult to get around even a software firewall.



Your best protection is always packet and port filtering, and your best bet along those lines is a Linksys router with the latest firmware.

Answer 2

Any fool can get an IP address. One of my websites gets over a thousand hits a day and I can tell you the IP address of every last one.



Now doing something with it is another matter entirely. If you're running a firewall then that will keep out all but the most hard-core hackers.



And if a serious hacker targets you, there is nothing you can do anyway to keep him out, short of burying your PC in the back yard.



The fool is just trying to sound tough. The most he'll get from your IP is MAYBE the city you live in.

Answer 3

(i)Port scan you. See if any app running on your PC is open to incoming connections as allowed by the firewall and router. Strategy here depends on what port / protocol / app is wide open. Get elevated user privileges. Open all your documents. Install a key logger. Get all your passwords and credit card numbers. Download some illegal stuff for you. Own you.

(ii) give it to another geek who knows what he's doing to do all the above.



Edit: The fact that you have a physical firewall will make it harder or easier depending on how it's configured. If you are running P2P apps and play network games then you are ultimately vulnerable whatever you do.



But as people have pointed out, if you're going to hack you hack, you don't forewarn.

Answer 4

As earlier mentioned although an IP address can provide ways to somehow damage your system, this "geek pansy" already made a critical mistake. S/he forwarned you, and if anything happens to your machine you have clear proof that this individual had intentions and purported means to do so.



I would reply that you also know her/his IP, and should anything happen to your system, s/he will be the first to talk to the local law enforcement.



Sometimes the legal system actually comes handy. Walk quiet and carry a big stick.

Answer 5

In and of itself an IP Address is not a huge security hazard. However, knowing the properties of a computer and its related IP address make unauthorized access (hacking) much more easier. Typically if someone is saying they know you IP address you can write them off as a hacker-wannabe. Don't accept files from them.

Answer 6

You're right, who cares if someone knows your IP address. As long as you have installed security measures on your computer, there's no worry. As for narrowing a location down..that's fine; but there are millions of people out there, and internet companies are NOT going to divulge who the owner of a particular IP address is.

Answer 7

Yes. ROFL!



Of course, he's been fired from Burger King already for calling his Cantonese girlfriend from the company phone after figuring out that the access code for long distance was 5464 (KING).



And you really don't want him weeding your lawn. He'd probably lose the fight with some of the larger weeds, or accidentally pull up your boxelder thinking it was a really big weed.

Answer 8

No one cares. What's he gonna do? Punch you in the computer? Although I must disagree with two of your points. Almost everyone here would do better to apply at Burger King, and foreigners are better for weeding your lawn. Where are you gonna get a fat, lazy kid to do that?

Answer 9

that happened to me......... It like a password or protection so nobody can use ur online.. Just ask ur dad to put the ip address and i bet you will never find it out if u dont ask or i think its the name of the source ur using i think too

Answer 10

Oh, you'd be AMAZED what someone can do with your IP. They can even narrow it down to what city you live in! LOL

Answer 11

who cares? yo momma does, that beer drinking gun loading redneck of a momma has a few bones to pick with ya! mainly that you spend all your gotdang day sittin' infront of the gotdang computer, instead of cleaning up your room like ya s'posse ta!

Answer 12

Well, that someone is just trying to look COOL..Hacker wannabe..."Real" ones don't boast or do harmful things to others =)

Answer 13

I wouldn't look for it you and your pals might blow my head off. Maybe that'll be your first job when you join Bin and the boys.



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Answer 14

because idle threats are fun to make.