An IP address is a unique series of numbers that identifies your computer on the internet. Every time you browse the web, your computer tells sites where you are by sending its IP address. Geolocation services can then use this information to show you maps and other content relevant to your location. Go to IP location page and learn more.
You may notice a small green “G” icon next to your address bar when you visit a website. This allows you to enter your IP address and geolocation data (such as your city, state, and country) to learn about the service and where it thinks you’re located.
Tools that offer geolocation services are sometimes called “geolocation tools.” Tools that use IP addresses exclusively are called “IP tools”, while tools that rely on topography or other information, like latitude and longitude, are often referred to as “GPS tools”. Many free services have been able to be replaced by sophisticated geolocation applications.
Geolocation services can be used to confirm the identity of individuals, their physical addresses, and the date and time when they were present. Services may offer more sophisticated capabilities, including mapping the location of a mobile device during its movement. Geolocation services with these capabilities are often called “people-tracing” tools.
Once a person’s location is identified, law enforcement officers can use this information to relate to the individual’s movements or whereabouts at specific periods of interest or for other investigative purposes. In financial fraud cases, investigators may use geolocation services to identify places where fraudulent transactions took place based on the presence of an IP address associated with those transactions. In child exploitation cases, officers may use geolocation services to confirm a subject’s identity or verify the residence of a topic or victim.
It is important to remember that an IP address only approximates physical location. It may be possible for an individual to obscure their actual location by using a proxy server and other methods. Tools that rely on IP addresses exclusively are therefore limited in their accuracy and usefulness. This is primarily because not all Internet providers give accurate information in their log files when spoofing your IP is concerned.
Geolocation services also have limitations based on the types of devices they can identify. For example, while a majority of smartphones and tablets provide accurate location information, some older devices may not provide this information or may provide unreliable data. Tools that rely on IP addresses alone are also limited in their ability to identify the locations of specific mobile devices, such as those that connect through a corporate VPN.
Conclusion.
IP addresses do not store the complete information of your computer. They are only a number that stores your internet service provider, but they don’t reveal where you are. Many applications can easily change your IP address and, thus your location so that the application or website you are using would identify you as somewhere else.
Tools that rely on IP addresses alone are limited in their ability to identify locations for certain mobile devices, such as those that connect through a corporate VPN.
