AOL IP addresses

[disneymama73]

Can anyone help me out? I know IP addresses can change with AOL, but is it possible for two people who know each other to email me from separate addresses and have it show up with the same IP addy?

 

[Pop Daddy]

sounds odd to me, I wouldnt trust them

 

[disneymama73]

That's my thought on it, too, PD. A little too coincidental for me....

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

Not to be completely computer ignorant, but how do you know they have the same IP address?

 

[Frantasmic]

it is possible for that to happen.

AOL IP addresses are banked at centers around the country.

At a different message board I post at, two people who live across the country can have the same AOL IP addresses.

 

[disneymama73]

Not to be completely computer ignorant, but how do you know they have the same IP address?

You can see it in the email headers.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

Ah, it's a good thing I'm not a cyber stalker! I don't know enough to pull it off!

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Ah, it's a good thing I'm not a cyber stalker! I don't know enough to pull it off!

Me either. I was about to ask the same question. I'm completely clueless to this stuff.

 

[DisneyGirl]

It's possible, but pretty coincidental...

...If you received the two emails within the same 24 hour period, there's a pretty good chance it was the same person. I don't know AOL, but I know with a lot of ISP's, you get a "lease" of the IP for a 24 hour period (can vary, but that is the average). Generally, that address is "renewed" if online after the 24 hours, so it's even possible after the 24 hours.

However, if the user logs off before the end of the 24 hours, and then back on after the 24 hours, you get a new "lease" for 24 hours from that point-- it may or may not be the same IP.

It sounds like you suspect it was the same person even from the emails themselves (enough to compare the headers)... it probably was.

 

[Charade]

It's possible, but pretty coincidental...

...If you received the two emails within the same 24 hour period, there's a pretty good chance it was the same person. I don't know AOL, but I know with a lot of ISP's, you get a "lease" of the IP for a 24 hour period (can vary, but that is the average). Generally, that address is "renewed" if online after the 24 hours, so it's even possible after the 24 hours.

However, if the user logs off before the end of the 24 hours, and then back on after the 24 hours, you get a new "lease" for 24 hours from that point-- it may or may not be the same IP.

It sounds like you suspect it was the same person even from the emails themselves (enough to compare the headers)... it probably was.

I don't agree that it's possible for two people to have the same IP address at the same time. If that's what you meant by possible. No two computers on the internet should have the same IP at the same time (on purpose) unless it's a spoofed address.

I agree with your second part though. The same thing can happen with any internet provider that gives out IP addresses that aren't permanent. If you have a cable modem and leave it on all the time, most likely your IP won't change. If you have AOL as your provider and leave your connection active all the time (like DSL), chances are you will keep the same IP address.

 

[jfulcer]

I was about to say that it couldn't be the same address, but now am going to change my answer and go out on a limb here.

As a web developer, I can say that if they both used a web browser as their email client, it's very possible that they came from the same address. All email messages that come through that are most likely using built in email messaging, and 'FROM' IP address could be that of the mail server that is serving their web servers.

Now if they are using a mail client like outlook or outlook express, the likelihood that someone could email from the same IP would be directly related to whether or not they were in the same geographical location.

 

[disneymama73]

What about AIM addresses vs AOL addresses? Would that affect the IP address?

 

[Charade]

I was about to say that it couldn't be the same address, but now am going to change my answer and go out on a limb here.

As a web developer, I can say that if they both used a web browser as their email client, it's very possible that they came from the same address. All email messages that come through that are most likely using built in email messaging, and 'FROM' IP address could be that of the mail server that is serving their web servers.

Now if they are using a mail client like outlook or outlook express, the likelihood that someone could email from the same IP would be directly related to whether or not they were in the same geographical location.

I believe that most AOL users use a web client for their email so it is possible for emails to show coming from the same IP but it's the servers IP, not the AOL users PC's IP address.

If you know the person that had the same IP in their email header, you can just open a DOS window and type "ipconfig /all" and you'll see YOUR IP address. Then compare to theirs. They should not be the same.

 

[rockin_rep]

As a web developer, I can say that if they both used a web browser as their email client, it's very possible that they came from the same address. All email messages that come through that are most likely using built in email messaging, and 'FROM' IP address could be that of the mail server that is serving their web servers.

Do you mean like hotmail or yahoo?

I've often wondered about this same thing. I'm so techno-challenged tho that didn't wonder long! I appreciate the info!

 

[jfulcer]

What about AIM addresses vs AOL addresses? Would that affect the IP address?

well, AIM = AOL Instant Messenger right? That's two different tools. I'm not sure what you mean if that effects the address. I don't think you can see the IP in AIM.

 

[jfulcer]

Do you mean like hotmail or yahoo?

I've often wondered about this same thing. I'm so techno-challenged tho that didn't wonder long! I appreciate the info!

I'm going to be wishy washy and say "It depends". Do they have more than one mail server that deals with web requests? If it's not even using a mail server, do all their web servers have the same outward facing IP (as it is possible to send mail without a mail server).

So the answer to your question is Yes, and No, and sometimes.

 

[disneymama73]

well, AIM = AOL Instant Messenger right? That's two different tools. I'm not sure what you mean if that effects the address. I don't think you can see the IP in AIM.

So if someone had AOL as their ISP but also had AIM downloaded, they could email you from AOL or AIM and have the same IP addy? (You can have a separate AIM address.)

 

[rockin_rep]

I'm going to be wishy washy and say "It depends". Do they have more than one mail server that deals with web requests? If it's not even using a mail server, do all their web servers have the same outward facing IP (as it is possible to send mail without a mail server).

So the answer to your question is Yes, and No, and sometimes.

Wow, thanks so much for the reply -- but i have no idea what that means! YIKES, and i am a college grad with work towards my MBA!!

 

[disneymama73]

Wow, thanks so much for the reply -- but i have no idea what that means! YIKES, and i am a college grad with work towards my MBA!!

My head is spinning. <----see?