Changes

===Geolocation===

===Geolocation===

IP addresses map to specific devices around the world, and those addresses are leased to them by their service providers.Since the service providers know the exact physical address of each customer, IP addresses can technically be traced to the device's physical location. Publicly available tools are able to get some idea of a device's location based based solely on its address. However, these tools are often limited to the knowledge of what internet service provider owns the relevant IP block, and the ISP's location.  They generally only attempt to determine the state and town of origin, although these estimations can be significantly inaccurate. Sometimes the reported "geolocation" of an IP address will be the network switch nearest to the IP user, and sometimes it will only be able to report several steps back from this.<br />

IP addresses map to specific devices around the world, and those addresses are leased to them by their service providers.Since the service providers know the exact physical address of each customer, IP addresses can technically be traced to the device's physical location. Publicly available tools are able to get some idea of a device's location based based solely on its address. However, these tools are often limited to the knowledge of what internet service provider owns the relevant IP block, and the ISP's location.  They generally only attempt to determine the state and town of origin, although these estimations can be significantly inaccurate. Sometimes the reported "geolocation" of an IP address will be the network switch nearest to the IP user, and sometimes it will only be able to report several steps back from this.<br />

Despite these common inaccuracies, Geolocation can still be used by advertising companies (to advertise based on your approximate location), stalkers and and cyber criminals. IP addresses are not at all secret, so they can be fairly easy to obtain. Any direct communication discloses the user's IP address, and sometimes it is published openly. For example, a [[Wikipedia®]] article "edit history" page that reveals the IP address of editors who did not log into user accounts.<br />

Despite these common inaccuracies, Geolocation can still be used by advertising companies (to advertise based on your approximate location), stalkers and cyber criminals. IP addresses are not at all secret, so they can be fairly easy to obtain. Any direct communication discloses the user's IP address, and sometimes it is published openly. For example, a [[Wikipedia®]] article "edit history" page that reveals the IP address of editors who did not log into user accounts.<br />

This same basic technique can be used by the webmasters of major websites such as [[YouTube]] and [[Facebook]] to help law enforcement track down a criminal. IP address tracking can play a vital role in law enforcement, such as to track down and prosecute hackers, child molesters, stalkers, and even potential terrorists. Law enforcement agencies typically have the significant benefit of being able to obtain from ISPs (by warrant or subpoena) the exact physical address to which the IP address is registered.

This same basic technique can be used by the webmasters of major websites such as [[YouTube]] and [[Facebook]] to help law enforcement track down a criminal. IP address tracking can play a vital role in law enforcement, such as to track down and prosecute hackers, child molesters, stalkers, and even potential terrorists. Law enforcement agencies typically have the significant benefit of being able to obtain from ISPs (by warrant or subpoena) the exact physical address to which the IP address is registered.