hacking into someone elses ip identity theft

Discussion in 'Software' started by paradice, Dec 21, 2010.

  1. paradice

    paradice Private E-2

    I have a wireless roulter and want to know if there some way to use someone elses ip address or make it look like that it came from someones elses ip.

    I'm asking this because i'm on this one site and when I went to log in on the top it said if this is not you frugalangs please do not log in. first of all I live by my self and only seen this type of things when multiple people live together and you know who's nickname it is.

    I didn't know this persons nick name. it wasn't mine.

    I want to know if my ip was hacked and if theres a way to find out who did it?
     
  2. mcsmc

    mcsmc MajorGeek

    Hi

    Yes it is possible, while at the same time it's not. Do you have encryption (WPA, WPA2, etc.) setup on your router? Have you changed the default router password? Those are always important things to do when using a wireless router.

    It's possible for someone else to use your IP address by using your router, if you don't have wireless security setup as I mentioned above.

    The only other way for someone to "use" your IP address would be for them to "spoof" it, which means someone COULD be pretending to be you by sending your IP address out as a fake, instead of their assigned IP address. However, the likelihood of this is small, as IP spoofing is usually only used by bad "hackers", and unless you know someone like that with a vendetta against you, I wouldn't even consider that a possibility.

    The most likely situation for your case, however, is that your internet service uses a DYNAMIC IP address, which means every so often, you get a new IP address, and the website didn't recognize the changed IP address. Most websites don't base identity solely on IP addresses for this reason, though.
     
  3. handygal

    handygal First Sergeant

    I can't find that site to check, do they recognize you by your internet IP? That likely has nothing to do with someone borrowing your wireless and more to do with your ISP? Most home users have a dynamic IP instead of paying for a static one. That means every so often your internet IP will change from one in the providers pool.

    You can go to whatismyip.com to see what it is today. Check it again two weeks from now it will probably be different.

    If the site uses your internet IP to auto-log you in, it was probably someone who had your IP previously.

    Now if you have a static IP, check the security on your wireless. Don't use default login. Some encryption types are easy to hack the password for. Also, many routers have a place to see attached devices. You can check it now and then to see if there seems to be anyone else on your router.

    Also scan your computer. I'm not too good with how malware works, I just know how to follow the guide for removal here on MG -- with my eyes closed by now! I have the impression that some malware allows access to your computer with full access rights and they can use your computer to access the net, making it look like it was you. I don't think they use it to go to sites and login. I think it's more for sending on other malware and spoofing you to send email.
     
  4. spooferdetective

    spooferdetective Private E-2

    Thanks for asking a this question!

    I encountered very similar circumstance.

    My friend's email was hacked and some emails were sent out from her email to her email contacts. She was able to trace the ip address using the email headers to a small town in Mexico. She did this through getting the email headers from the friends who received the emails. She happened to have a friend that was in Mexico and very few people(only her parents) would have known that fact.

    My friend refuses to believe that the friend in Mexico is responsible regardless of having tracked it down! She thinks her friend in Mexico is being "set up", but noone else would know that this person is in Mexico!

    Can you really believe this "set up" theory? Is it possible to pretend to be someone else through the use of IP addresses? :confused

    Thanks!!!!
     
  5. Twin9

    Twin9 Private E-2

    I was surprised to know a lot of people are not aware of an account that lists all devices being used in your network. Verizon, for instance, enables you to access this account by typing your ip address into the address bar. Probably, if you didn't know this overarching account for all the household computer's existed, you would not even know that it still has admin as a username and password as a password--waiting for you to take control of it. This account will show which computers are on or off (besides parental controls and web visits for all combined computers) and other vital info. If you see an unknown device in this overarching account, you will know someone is using your internet connection near your house outside without your permission. That should provide for the hacker your ip address as a cover if you don't close that hole up. Type in your ip address in the address bar and see if it locates your account. It works for Verizon, but not sure for other internet service providers.

    You can alert your friend to this feature.
     
  6. Colemanguy

    Colemanguy MajorGeek

    Assuming your talking about logging into your router interface? Which isn't a foolproof method because if someone is smart enough to spoof your ip, then can reboot a router and remove the minor logs.
     

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds