Finding Someone's IP Address Through MSN Messenger? 1

[1Scoot]

Is it possible to somehow find someones IP address if you are talking through MSN messenger?!Do i need a special program or can i find it out using some DOS commands? Now I got 2 different replies from my work collegues.The first one told me "that in order to get someone's IP you would need to directly connect to them by sending them a file or something (the only way possible)..before you make a direct connection with that person run netstat and dump all the netstat data in to a file, then after the direct connection you will do the same, then you will look for the new IP" Is that true? is that the only way to find someones' IP address? The second person, said "You can basically find any IP address..NO need for a DIRECT connection (for instance sending a file etc). While a conversation window is open in ANY type of messenger click the start button on the taskbar, then hit "Run". Use the command "cmd" to enter ms-dos mode. After doing so, type in "netstat" in the ms-dos console and a full list containinig the adresses of all connections at that time, including the IP of the person you are conversating with, will be displayed" ....?? *confused*

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks Michelle

 

[burtsbees]

No---one used to be able to...your colleague that told you that they can get your IP address through netstat has been watching too many YouTube videos. One cannot even get the IP address through a file transfer in an IRC. It all bounces off a server, called the relay (Internet Relay Chat). The IP address your buddy is seeing in netstat is that of the MSN server. There is a way that people can steal your ID, password, or get your IP address, but you'd have to click on a link that the would-be attacker sends you (called an IP Grabber). The link emails the attacker your IP address. So don't click on any links. If you use Yahoo, I would use a client like YMLite.

Burt

 

[1Scoot]

The other day i was chatting on mIRC..my sister sent me a file and i did see her IP addy..furthermore u can definitely see all of the people's IPs addies when they enter or leave a chat room...!! Now the only way to hide your IP on mIRC is to register with Undernet on their web site and access in invisible mode when u log in..u have to execute 2 commands..however if u send a file or receive one u can still see the IP address.Oh and I use MSN messenger not Yahoo.

 

[jimbopalmer]

Of course there is a simple and ethical way to get someone's IP Address via MSN Messenger. You type in "What is you IP Address?", if they want you to have it, they will type it in. If not, they won't. BTW, my IP Address is 192.168.123.104

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[1Scoot]

Obviously not everyone has ethic values like I do and they will malicioulsy use my IP address just to cause troubles.We live in a very sick sick world.The internet is full of bullies ,twisted and mean people who has no life and get a kick out of hurting people espcecially woman,so I try to hide my IP addy whenever possible.Perhaps this is a woman thing ,however do we have a choice in this matter??? I dont think so!!

 

[burtsbees]

What IP address are you seeing? Have you tried a tracert from the DOS command line to see what DNS it resolves to? You sure it's not the relay server??? I am not sure about MSN messenger, but I know Yahell has changed their chat rules dramatically.
Jimbo---LOL!!! You should see the geniuses that used to try and "hack" when I would give someone my private IP...LOL

Burt

 

[1Scoot]

burtsbees not only am i seeing her IP address..im also seeing the name of her Internet service provider as well..including all the people who enters and leaves the channels.

"Have you tried a tracert from the DOS command line to see what DNS it resolves to?"

What is the purpose of that command? is it related to MSN Messenger? How do i do that? Care to explain the procedure in details..ty

Michelle

 

[burtsbees]

Crap...I'm backwards...dns names resolve into IP addresses via ping and traceroute, not the other way around...sorry. You can get more info on the IP address you see---go to dnsstuff.com
Also, how did you verify it is your friend's IP address> I know that with Yahoo, they use mirror/proxy/relay servers, and it would be the IP address of this server that you would see with netstat -a

Burt

 

[1Scoot]

I asked my sister her IP addy its that simple LOL...(yes it was definitely hers) Now if ure interested u can download mIRC and check it our for yourself... u can verify your personal IP address under options and when u login as well. Thanx 4 the link.
Michelle

 

[burtsbees]

Nah, that's okay...not if it's THAT insecure...of course I did configure a PIX520 for our firewall here, as well as two Cisco 2620's for vpn access, so I guess I'm not too worried about attackers. Then again, does your sister use a router that NATs her address?

Burt

 

[MarkZK]

What exactly are you worried about ?.

considering that most IP addresses are dynamic, so for most people that means the IP will change in a few days (or on reconnect). there's also a good chance you connect through a router which its self will more than likely have a built in firewall alone with the firewall your operating system already has. If none of that applies to you then there might a cause for a "small" concern, the reason I say "small" is because hacking isn't actually that easy to do, hence the reason for sub7 and other such trojan viruses. on top of all that, the best hackers in the world don't sit on MSN or IRC chats all day and the very best hackers don't target the average common Internet user.


so, if you're still worried I'd suggest keeping uptodate with current security updates/patches and not think of ways to hide a single IP among millions.

 

[burtsbees]

Well, actually, I myself am not too worried, and I do understand that perhaps your response is not directed toward me alone. I hear a lot of problems in my line of work, as some of these people chat during work hours, and the IP's are static (T1's, T3's, and static ADSL, mostly). The only problems I really hear about are script kiddies talking people into clicking on links (IP grabbers) that can tell them their info as far as browser, etc goes. Then these genius script kiddies try and do an nbtstat on 192.168.1.2, and try NetBIOS attacks on themselves. They also like sitting in those rooms and hurl millions of "booter" packets at people. My company uses Yahoo Messenger for communication with eachother, and as long as most can stay out of chat rooms, they'll be fine.
I agree for the most part with your input.

Burt

 

[Grenage]

IRC is simply old-school (and great), no security through obscurity there. You can easily get the IP address of messenger contacts via third party tools, or third part messengers (mine lists them). NETSTAT etc will generally work with things such as file transfers, too.

If I remember correctly, you used to be able to do it without a file transfer, simply by sending a message and stopping it from reaching the relay server array. It's fall-back was a direct send, but I haven't used messenger in a very long time, so I am not sure if that works any more.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer

 

[maczen]

Hey Burt,
It has been a while since I toyed with IRC but I can not understand why they would be displaying the IP adresses of the users.

1Scoot, Question? What IRC client are you using that displays those addresses?

B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI

 

[burtsbees]

They're on MSN Messanger. I know that Yahoo only displays the IP of the chat server in NETSTAT and a packet sniffer.

Burt

 

[maczen]

OIC Thanks

B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI