I am *really* not a computer guy, and this question has kinda been on my mind since I found out about doxxing/IP grabbers ages ago. I didn’t really care too much, since I am not a fan of putting people in danger over twitter like a dickhead, but can someone tell me generally why it’s a serious issue if someone leaks your IP?
Since this sounds as if I’m trying to doxx someone: I’m posting after searching my own IP & I found that most websites pinpointed my address to a different country entirely?? (Still a country next to mines, but definitely more than far away enough for me to care if mines were leaked). Famous people who get doxxed online always move away for safety, so I’m really confused why that is when the website I used to check my own IP address on a bunch of places online at once usually all ended up being a whole country off.
Even though I shouldn’t need to state this outright; **don’t give a step-by-step guide on how to doxx people**. I don’t want to know that. I just want to know why IP grabbing is such a big deal and how doxxing is possible vaguely in a way that forces people to move cities.
In: Technology
You are talking about two very different things.
#IP address
Every device on a network has at least one (and likely more) IP address.
Your router has an IP address that the world can see (or else nothing could be routed to you from the Internet) This may change from time to time (called a dynamic IP) when you turn off your router or at a time decided by your ISP.
Behind that router, your phone, PC, TV, Roku and other devices also have a local IP address (192.168.1.??)
**On its own, an IP address is not really a concern**. Every packet of information that comes to your computer has come from a device that “knew your IP” or else it could not have sent info to you.
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#DOXXING
Look at the [wiki entry for doxxing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxing)
Pretend I found your lost drivers license. I could doxx you if I posted a picture of your license (with address, photo, birthday etc.) to facebook or reddit.
I might go further by doing a search for your name & address – then I might find your phone #
Publishing this info about you against your will or without your permission is called DOXXING.
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