Every machine located on a TCP/IP network (be it a LAN – local network, or a WAN – the Internet) has a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address.

This IP address lookup can be traced back using various methods without invading anyone’s privacy, including using online tools and command line tools. However, despite the fact that it’s legal to do so and there are countless legitimate uses for this method, you should be aware of its limitations and potential pitfalls when doing so.

Basically, by looking up someone’s IP address you can find out a variety of information that can reveal their geographical location, their ISP and the provider of their Internet service, their timezone as well as other details like their associated autonomous system number for routing purposes. However, IP lookup cannot provide you with their name as they may have a private (secured by proxy servers or VPNs) network.

What Can an IP Address Lookup Reveal About Your Online Visitors?

In order to find a person’s private IP address you will need to have previous correspondence with them and be able to communicate in real-time via a chat app, video call or peer-to-peer messaging tool that utilizes WebRTC. If you have these things, there are several methods available to look up someone’s IP including using an online tool and examining the full email header through terminal-based command prompts. However, the best way to do this is by using SolarWinds NsLookup, an IP address tracker and management tool that provides you with detailed information about your public and private IP addresses in just one click.