Why is it bad for someone to have your ip address? What can they do with this information?
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In many cases, with your IP address, I can at least narrow down where you are in the world. Even if I can only narrow down that you’re in Utah, I’ve eliminated 49 other states. If I can get additional information, even if it’s not specific, if I have reason to find you, I probably can. If I know your license plate is UGH IDK and an IP address puts you in the vicinity of Orem, UT, I have a good chance of finding you just with those two pieces of information. Without your IP address, UGH IDK could be anywhere in UT.
Are there better data sources? Yes. Can IP locations be wrong? Absolutely. I was having this argument with someone a few months ago. He said he’s in, like, Virginia, but his IP would show him in Minnesota. That may be, but in other cases, IP addresses — especially for major commercial IPs — will put you into a relatively accurate geographical area. If your IP can be associated to a company’s IP block, then you at least know the person is somehow affiliated to the company. Even if that person was just using guest wireless.
In and of itself, an IP doesn’t tell you much. But it gives you a way to narrow things down. That’s why it’s considered PII (personally-identifying information) under HIPAA.
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