Texas IP Address Lookup
A Texas IP address lookup involves the use of specialized search tools to find data pertaining to an IP address. This includes device information, estimated location, internet service provider (ISP), and other publicly available information, much like other Texas public records.
An IP search can serve many functions. It is used to identify the location of a computer or internet user, corporate administrators use IP addresses to track employee activity and to ensure that only authorized users have access to company resources; digital entrepreneurs or ISPs use this information to serve digital content or conduct geotargeted advertising. In addition, IP address lookup information can assist Texas law enforcement with investigations and the search for cyber criminals.
Is IP Lookup Legal in Texas?
Yes, it is legal to trace an IP address in Texas, provided it is not done with malicious intent. Hence, after performing a reverse IP lookup, searchers must not use the information obtained for electronic access interference, computer security breaches, electronic data tampering, unlawful decryption or online impersonation. According to Texas Statutes on computer crimes, persons who violate this statute will incur criminal and civil liability, and the penalties are as specified by Texas state law.
What is My IP Address?
An IP address (or Internet Protocol address) is a unique string of numbers assigned to every internet-enabled device. Devices with an IP address can communicate with other devices over an IP-based network, such as the internet. The Internet Service Provider typically assigns IP addresses to end users (ISP and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority allocates IP address ranges to ISPs around the globe.
Typically, four sets of numbers are in an IP address, each set separated by a period. Each set consists of one to three numbers ranging from 0 to 255 and is separated by a period. The first three sets of numbers identify the network class, while the remainder of the string indicates the node or host ID associated with the IP address. For example, an IPv4 address is like this - x.x.x.x, where x is a number between 0 and 255.
However, IPv4-the quartet method of assigning IP addresses is restrictive because the number of available IP addresses is limited and may be exhausted. To this end, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) developed IPv6 in 1998 to replace IPv4, addressing its limitations and enhancing security and internet traffic. IPv6 consists of eight groups of four numbers, each separated by a colon. Thus, it is possible to see an IP address such as 2012:0db8:0000:0000:0000:ff00:0042:8129 or 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:82e:0370:8224.
In addition to categorizing IP addresses based on numbering, they can also be categorized based on operation, resulting in four distinct types of IP addresses.
- Publicly Accessible: Anyone who connects to the internet is automatically assigned an IP address. This includes Internet-enabled computers, phones, and other communication devices.
- Private: Only a single computer or device can access this IP Address.
- Dynamic: This type of IP Address changes when a user connects to the internet and is not assigned to a specific device.
- Static: This type of IP Address does not change regardless of how frequently a user connects to the internet.
What Does an IP Address Lookup Reveal?
A Texas IP lookup tool can give the exact location details of an IP address. Typically, the information revealed during the lookup process includes information about the IP-addressed device, including its location and network metadata. Therefore, individuals who conduct an IP address lookup can anticipate the following results:
- A map to pinpoint the geographical location of the IP address
- Internet service provider (ISP) information
- Browser metadata (name, version, VPN, proxy, etc.)
- Device metadata (operating system, screen size, etc.)
- Geolocation, including the state, region, city, and country
- A record of any malicious activity originating from the IP address
How to Find My IP Address Location in Texas
The first option for a device owner interested in discovering the location of their IP address is to search an IP-location database. These databases are specialized search engines whose sole purpose is to assist users in locating their IP address location by inputting their IP address details. Once an IP address is entered, these specialized search tools will display the user's estimated location.
In addition to using IP locator tools or geolocation databases, inquirers may also use a search engine to conduct their research. A search with the query "my IP address" can yield information regarding the user's IP address and estimated location. It is important to note that VPN users must disable the service before initiating a search. If not, the information obtained while the VPN is active will be inaccurate.
How are IP Addresses Assigned in Texas?
IP address assignment in Texas is typically a product of hierarchical allocation. The organizations responsible for allocating IP addresses to internet service providers (ISPs) within a region are the first to assign IP addresses. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) supervises IP address allocation. IANA first assigns blocks of address space to the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). RIRs are responsible for specific regions of the globe. In turn, the RIRs assign space to Internet Service Providers.
For example, a Texas City IP address is assigned to an ISP or Texas hosting provider offering Internet service. These ISPs and hosting services in Texas then assign IP addresses to their subscribers, who may be private individuals or businesses. IP addresses are assigned when these devices from subscribers connect to the ISP's network. ISPs utilize the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) built into routers to assign these IP addresses automatically.
Similar to a street address, IP addresses are crucial for computers on the internet to determine what device requests data and how to access it.
The most prevalent IP blocks in Texas City have the following format:
- 12.251.66.0 - 12.251.66.255
- 24.175.12.0 - 24.175.12.255
- 32.143.223.0 - 32.143.223.255
- 32.176.175.0 - 32.176.175.255
- 50.244.124.0 - 50.244.124.255
How to Find Someone's Exact Location with IP Address in Texas
Publicly accessible IP address lookup tools, also known as trackers, can determine the general location of a user based on their IP address. This is because an IP address contains some geographical location information. In some instances, an IP address indicates the zip code, city, state or country a device is located. It also provides the searcher with the ISP of the individual being checked.
However, even with all this information, more than an IP address is required to determine a person's precise location or personal information in a large city. Although, if a person resides in a small town, the information gleaned from an IP search may be sufficient to pinpoint their exact location. In larger cities, it can be difficult to determine a person's location using an IP address lookup without additional information from the subject's service provider. This is because service providers generally only make this information available to the public if they are subpoenaed by the police and must turn over their information logs.
IP Address Tracker
An IP address is likened to a digital address for devices connected to the internet. The IP address of the target is the most important information required to use an IP address tracker. Finding this information as a third party can be difficult, as most devices use a dynamic public IP address. Despite this change, the location of an IP address will remain unchanged unless the user employs a proxy server or virtual private network (VPN) to conceal their location. Individuals interested in discovering a person's location through an IP address lookup can follow these procedures.
- Make findings and get an address tracker to be used.
- Note the IP address of interest
- Visit the IP address tracker website or online tool
- Input the IP address into the website search bar
- Click search and wait for the result
- Look for the geolocation metadata
Where Do I Conduct a Free IP Address Lookup?
Numerous organizations and third parties offer free IP address lookup services. Inquirers can search popular engines with the phrase "free IP address lookup" to find an IP address lookup tool or IP location databases.
However, searchers must consider utilizing the databases, search tools, or free IP address lookup services provided by reputable companies and organizations in charge of IP address allocation.
These include:
- Internet Assigned Number Authority (IANA)
- ARIN for searching IP addresses in the United States, Canada, many Caribbean and North Atlantic Islands
- AFRINIC for searching IP addresses originating in Africa
- APNIC for searching IP addresses in South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
- LACNIC for searching IP addresses assigned to persons in the Caribbean and Latin America
- RIPE NCC for searching IPs in Europe, West Asia, and Central Asia, and Russia.
It is important to note that the aforementioned organizations are directly or indirectly coordinated by ICANN; without this coordination, the internet would not be globally connected.
Can Police Track an IP Address in Texas?
Yes, the police in Texas can track IP addresses under certain conditions. These include cases of cyberstalking that resulted in serious bodily harm or death and cases where the person of interest was involved in cyber-attacks that resulted in electronic access interference, breach of computer security, electronic data tampering, unlawful decryption, and online impersonation.
In criminal investigation cases where law enforcement must identify the owner of an IP address, they typically contact the internet service provider that assigned the IP address. Per Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 18.21, law enforcement must have a search warrant before obtaining cloud-stored phone data, content, and location information from a phone company. However, the Ford v. State opinion published in 2015 showed that police in a criminal investigation could review a Texan's cell phone and IP address through their ISP without their knowledge and that the information found there can be used against them in a criminal proceeding.
How Many IP Addresses are There in Texas?
There are about 150 million IP addresses in Texas. However, the United States is the only country in the world to be a member of the "Billion IP Address Club". This is because more than 1.5 billion IPv4 addresses and 9.69 x 10^34 IPv6 addresses are assigned to internet-enabled devices and websites in the country.
How Many Websites are Hosted in Texas?
It may be difficult to determine the number of websites hosted in Texas. However, available data show more than 100 million registered websites (or domain names) in the United States. Yet, despite the number of domain names that have been registered, only a fraction are active, and even fewer are popular among internet users.
Notable Texas IP Address Cases
In the United States, IP addresses have been the subject of debates on internet privacy and digital safety. Several states have enacted legislation to protect residents to a reasonable extent. The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 18.21 states that law enforcement requires a search warrant to obtain cloud-stored phone data, content, and location information from a phone company. However, in Ford vs. State, the court opined that police could get access to cell phone company records, including an individual's IP address, and this data can be used against them in a criminal proceeding.
In addition, although it is commonly understood that internet activity and information such as IP addresses are private, users whose personal activities constitute a blatant disregard for state or federal laws are not protected by privacy laws and will be prosecuted. A notable case in which this stance was emphasized and enforced occurred in the United States of America vs Wilhan Martono, where the defendant had, among other things, used multiple IP addresses to promote and facilitate prostitution and sex trafficking.
Texas Web Hosting Companies
Web hosting companies in Texas operate servers where websites can host their content and where users' devices can locate them when they go online. In addition to hosting, web hosting companies offer services like domain name registration and cybersecurity. Also, web hosting companies frequently serve as IP providers also, but not always.
There are hundreds of web hosting companies in Texas alone, each offering various services based on their customers' needs. Shared hosting, WordPress hosting, reseller hosting, and cloud hosting are the most common types of hosting. In Texas, notable hosting providers include Rad Web Hosting, Liquid Web, Scala Hosting, DialWeb, and others.
What is IP Geolocation?
IP Geolocation is the process of assigning a physical location to an IP address. API (Application Programming Interface) search tools are used to specifically obtain geographical information about a domain name or IP address, including the country, region (city), latitude/longitude, and timezone of the subject of the search. While the information obtained from standard IP address lookups is more comprehensive, IP geolocation filters the data to retrieve only geographically relevant information. Companies can use IP geolocation technology to serve geotargeted advertisements and localized digital content, manage digital rights, obtain enhanced analytics for sales/marketing strategy sessions, and prevent online fraud.
How to Find My IP Geolocation
There are free online tools that reveal the geographic location of a user's IP address. Individuals who wish to determine the geolocation of their IP address can utilize either these online search engines or use a more technical option called command line tools. The first option (online search tools) is recommended for those who prefer a graphical interface. The second option is recommended for advanced searchers who can install specialized software or operating systems to conduct a search. Both methods for determining IP geolocation require the searcher to disable proxy servers and VPNs, if any, for accurate results.
How to Conduct an IP Geolocation Lookup in Texas
IP-based Geolocation is a sure way to find IP details or determine the location of a computer or mobile device connected to the internet. The procedure for conducting an IP geolocation lookup is comparable to an IP address lookup. Using a geolocation lookup tool, the searcher must obtain the IP address of interest and input it into a geolocation database.
The geolocation lookup tool searches public databases for the contact and registration information associated with a given IP address. The geolocation lookup tool returns geographic information associated with the IP address that was searched.
Where to Do a Free IP Geolocation Lookup in Texas
The majority of IP address lookup service providers offer free IP geolocation searches. Ipregistry.co, Ipgeolocation.io, ipapi.co, and ipinfo.io are websites that offer free IP geolocation lookups to interested parties.