[dynoman]

Scott at CU said that but unless it was a home server with it's own unique IP I don't think it could be traced to an individual residential address. If it wasn't a home server I think you would have to give the IP to the ISP to find out the individual residnetial address where the source computer was.

I was wondering if someone would comment on that.

Here's the link;

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1405019/posts?page=4482#4482

[Purrcival]

If it's a home server with its own IP, it's most likely to have a private IP address (e.g., 192-net), and those are all over the place. These IP's can be duplicated in thousands of places because they are used privately, so if it's a 192-net address, it would be pretty much meaningless as a means of tracing the IP.

IP's are getting pretty scarce with the proliferation of servers. A specific, public IP would not be assigned to a home server. In a class I took last month, it was mentioned that there was talk of extending the IP address -- making it longer -- so there would be more of them available.

[Judith_knows]

I'll comment on that. I have cable Internet and even though I have thought (and was told) I have a dynamic IP, I really don't. Apparently, I'd have to unplug my modem for quite a length of time and hope someone else would swoop in and pick up my IP. Also, since someone did HAVE my IP at one time, and I was concerned over it being traced, I investigated and was told by someone who has been in telecom that he would not be able to locate my home address. Now, if Scott is a high tech person, he may know some way to do this that someone with a lot of experience in the telecom industry may not be aware of. I called my ISP and they said they would not give out any info, as they require the last 4 digits of your SSN. I do believe with dial-up, the IP is dynamic. My experience with things.