Is IP Spoofing Effective in Protecting Personal Information Online?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effectiveness of IP spoofing and related technologies in protecting personal information online. Participants explore the implications of IP addresses in online communication, the functionality of IP scramblers, and the role of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in identifying users.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the effectiveness of IP spoofers, asking if they can truly protect one's IP address from being traced without hacking the server.
  • Another participant argues that running multiple anti-virus programs is not advisable due to resource consumption and potential conflicts between them.
  • A different participant clarifies that any computer communicating over the internet can obtain the user's IP address, suggesting that IP scramblers merely act as intermediaries rather than providing true anonymity.
  • There is a discussion about the necessity of a subpoena for ISPs to disclose a user's identity linked to an IP address, implying that this process is typically reserved for legal situations.
  • One participant poses a question about how individuals could know each other's IP addresses, leading to a clarification that direct communication is not occurring in the context of the forum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effectiveness of IP spoofing and the implications of IP address visibility. There is no consensus on the utility of IP scramblers or the best practices for online security.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the functionality of IP scramblers and the conditions under which ISPs disclose user information remain unresolved. The discussion does not clarify the technical limitations of IP spoofing technologies.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in online privacy, cybersecurity practices, and the technical workings of IP addresses may find this discussion relevant.

WatermelonPig
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Right now I'm running the latest version of ESET which is suppossedly the best out there in terms of anti-virus although for some reason many people say that they have 5 or 6 of these so should I get a couple more and which ones? Also, I've heard of IP spoofers (PM me if you want links) which scramble your IP. I mean how useful are these and can anyone really get my IP if I email/interact with them without hacking the site's server? And I mean unless they contact my ISP then even if they know my IP can they know who I am? So tracing someone through their IP is only something the Feds can do?
 
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I've always heard that running more than one anti-virus program at a time is a TERRIBLE idea for two reasons. First, they are resource hogs so just ONE of them can slow your computer down appreciably ... you really don't want more than one of them running. Second, they tend to step on each other ... that is, each thinks the other is a virus.

Just get a good one and go with that. I use Norton and am satisfied with it.
 
Any computer your computer communicates with over the internet has the ability to obtain your IP. In fact, it having your IP is a requirement for it to communicate with you. Therefore, "IP scramblers" can't work, on a fundamental level. Instead, they just forward your communication through other computers that act as middle men concealing your identity.

To obtain the identity of the user of an IP, one must get it from the user's ISP. Most ISPs, if not all, require a subpoena to give out the identity of a user. For them to get a subpoena, the must have evidence that the user of the IP probably has done something illegal.
 
Ok so right now you and I could know each other's IPs, how would we know what those are?
 
WatermelonPig said:
Ok so right now you and I could know each other's IPs, how would we know what those are?
No, we can't. Our computers aren't communicating directly with each other; they're communicating with the server for this website.
 

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