Lounge Computer Gurus. I have a question.

[Midlodemocrat]

Is there a database or a program that will track back an IP to not just the company, (ie comcast or verizon) but to the actual computer? Complete with name of said account?

Does such a thing exist?

Thanks in advance.

[TwilightZone]

1. In short, no.

The reverse lookup programs available online track back to the internet provider and not to the actual computer.

Part of the problem is that IP addresses aren't always static. Some internet providers use DHCP which assigns IP addresses from a range, i.e. 68.1.1.0 to 68.1.1.255, so a specific IP address could apply to one computer one day and a different one the next, and a specific computer could have one IP address one day, say 68.1.1.100, and a different one, say 68.1.1.200, the next.

One IP address can also apply to more than one computer. If you have a home network with several computers sharing the same broadband internet connection, all of the computers would appear (to the internet) to have the same IP address.

Edit: clarification