IP address reveals home location - how to conceal?

aidso wrote: »

Guys this isnt anything to do with your IP address - your IP is dynamic and only has a lifetime of about 48hours before it is assigned to someone else.

Some IP addresses are static, others dynamic, depends on your setup and ISP.
Most ADSL are dynamic, unless you've opted for a static package, but many cable ones are semi-static, and could be permanently static if requested/paid for. Plenty of users report having the same IP for months, Google it.

aidso wrote: »

The address they are using is infact your network address coming from the modem itself. For example i am on Virgin Media and my address will be something like "33-22-33.belf.pop3.com".

Routers and any devices have unique addresses, but again nothing to do with POP. All Ethernet devices have an Ethernet ID (or MAC address), and this is unique, but this isn't available (unless you have very bad security) to web pages etc.

aidso wrote: »

All that means is that I am on the pop3 server in Belfast. There is no identification of my house other than where that pop3 server is located and if you can get to within 30 metres then its a pure flook.

Your POP3 server is your mail server, it has nothing to do with your connection. A POP3 server does not give a internet connection, it gives a mail collection service only. SMTP is used normally for sending.

From this discussion it looks like dynamic IPs aren't fixed in place at all. I've noticed being in Stevenage Dorking and Aylesbury amongst other places, and Market Deeping last night. I've just swapped ISP in the last hour, apparently moving from Chingford to a reservoir in the middle of some moorland near Skipton

Jeez you attempt to help someone and the knives come out:

"That is totally inaccurate for the majority of Virgin Media cable users - many of who keep the same IP for months on end." - I beg to differ. There are a finitie number of IP addresses in the world and you would only be able to maintain a static IP if you were paying for it. By default all IP addresses are DHCP allocated and therefore the OP above will have a dynamic IP.

Re: "Your POP3 server is your mail server, it has nothing to do with your connection. A POP3 server does not give a internet connection, it gives a mail collection service only. SMTP is used normally for sending." - You sir are an idiot else you have misread my post. That was merely an example of my network address and was infact co-incidence that my 4-letter UBR matched an SMTP server setting. It had absolutely nothing to do with Email whatsoever.

I only have Virgin Media cable in the house, but having worked as a DBA for BT I know exactly how the system works.....now back on topic.

aidso wrote: »

Jeez you attempt to help someone and the knives come out:

- I beg to differ. There are a finitie number of IP addresses in the world and you would only be able to maintain a static IP if you were paying for it. By default all IP addresses are DHCP allocated and therefore the OP above will have a dynamic IP.

You sir are an idiot else you have misread my post. That was merely an example of my network address and was infact co-incidence that my 4-letter UBR matched an SMTP server setting. It had absolutely nothing to do with Email whatsoever.

I only have Virgin Media cable in the house, but having worked as a DBA for BT I know exactly how the system works.....now back on topic.

The only knives coming out appear from you... my original post should have read "most cable IPs are semi-static".

Yes, they are allocated dynamically, but AFAIK the DCHP lease on VM IPs is 14 days, effectively giving you a semi-static IP for this period, unless something major affect MAC to force a change in that period. Many people report having the same IP for months as long as their router is powered up, a quick Google will show.

Odd coincidence re. your NA, still does that give you the right to be rude?

Pity whilst at BT, you didn't learn some manners. :rolleyes:

Fair enough :beer: