What damage can be done if you have an IP address?

[Philip M]

I hope this is the right forum!

A person who is mentally unbalanced has acquired my IP address and warns that "he will put it to good use". What can he do with this information to interfere with me or my computer? And how can I defend?

Can he send email spam to my IP address? (I have Mailwasher installed).

Regards,

Philip M

[fink]

There's little anyone can do with an IP address. You'd know who your ISP is and a general geographic location but that's pretty much it. However if you have an unpatched operating system, no firewall (hardware and/or software) and no antivirus then someone with moderate hacking experience could "try" to break into your PC with various tools that are available (most of which would first require tricking you into installing a backdoor trojan sent by email, IM, etc).

Mail cannot be sent to an IP address they need your actual email address.

If you are on DSL hispeed rebooting your modem will change your IP. Doesn't usually with cable though but try it anyway. Check your IP here... www.whatismyip.com before and after and see.

[Train]

If you are on DSL hi-speed or cable, adding a route that is properly secured, does help too.

Just a add to what fink posted.

[jdc2000]

If they wanted to go to the trouble necessary, they might be able to try a denial of service attack. That is unlikely though, and requires more resources to do than are likely to be available to this person, especially if they don't want their IP address revealed.

[und3rtak3r]

All the comments above are good, I wish to add the following:
If your on DSL the person can run a number of attacks against your PC (as mentioned) provided your PC is Fully Patched, and has a functional firewall . The Modem .. be sure if it has a firewall that that is turned on..
To cause a person pain.. one would fake the source IP address in SPAM emails..

But all you need to do is (as mentioned above) check your current IP, power off your Modem .. leave off for a few minutes.. power back up and your in business..
There is a software trick to this.. haven't needed it in a while.. but it is ISP and connection type dependent..

Real pain can be cause by having your equipments MAC addresses..

[Philip M]

Many thanks for the helpful replies!

I do have firewall, avast anti-virus and Zone Alarm operative.

Will turning off my broadband router (not a dial-up modem) change the IP address?

Philip M

[fink]

Will turning off my broadband router (not a dial-up modem) change the IP address?

It might, as I said above, if you are on DSL it likely will, if you have cable it likely won't. Try it. (I assume you meant broadband modem and not router?)

In any case since your PC security is adequate It's really nothing to be concerned about.

[fink]

BTW, how did this person allegedly obtain your IP address?

[Philip M]

Tricked me into clicking on a link. Same as your animal lovers click here link.

[fink]

What site was the link? What was on the page you saw?

[Philip M]

Hello Fink,

I cannot tell you the site as the link was removed within a few minutes.

The message I received when I clicked was

Thank you for your IP address (94.143.77.81) Philip M.
It will be put to good use.

I think he is just trying to spook me!

(NB IP address above changed!)

[fink]

I think he is just trying to spook me!

Yes, just ignore it.