Question about internet security

Question about internet security

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h

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01 May 19

Is it possible for either a computer hacker or some other kind of person to trace my geographical address/location from just having my email address?

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@humy said
Is it possible for either a computer hacker or some other kind of person to trace my geographical address/location from just having my email address?
I shall leave this to our resident viral internetist @sonshouse.

Misfit Queen

Isle of Misfit Toys

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@humy said
Is it possible for either a computer hacker or some other kind of person to trace my geographical address/location from just having my email address?
Just having your email address?

Well, if they sent you an email, and you opened it, then yes, it's possible.

If you did this on your phone, then even more so.

Australia

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@humy said
Is it possible for either a computer hacker or some other kind of person to trace my geographical address/location from just having my email address?
When you created the email address, did you fill in the address box truthfully? If you did, the answer is probably yes.

Resident of Planet X

The Ghost Chamber

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Resident of Planet X

The Ghost Chamber

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@kewpie said
When you created the email address, did you fill in the address box truthfully? If you did, the answer is probably yes.
I think we need to differentiate between having his email address and having access to his email account.

Treat Everyone Equal

Halifax, Nova Scotia

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@humy said
Is it possible for either a computer hacker or some other kind of person to trace my geographical address/location from just having my email address?
Hackers have crashed some pretty big sites with high tech security, I don't think there is any limit to what they can do. Hell they have even got into peoples bank accounts through the bank security!!! NEVER put any information on your computer you don't want the public to find out.

-VR

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I now have at least 3 email accounts for different purposes and I have modified my passwords across each to ensure complexity. I have noticed I get less phishing emails since doing this.

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Also never use your porn access device for internet banking.

You heard it here first.

Treat Everyone Equal

Halifax, Nova Scotia

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@divegeester said
Also never use your porn access device for internet banking.

You heard it here first.
LOL....People are looking at porn instead of playing chess, unbelievable!!!! 😉

-VR

HoH
Thug

Playing with matches

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@divegeester said
I shall leave this to our resident viral internetist @sonshouse.
Ha! That’s hysterical!

Treat Everyone Equal

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@hand-of-hecate said
Ha! That’s hysterical!
Although you're NOT!!!

-VR

rain

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1 edit

@humy said
Is it possible for either a computer hacker or some other kind of person to trace my geographical address/location from just having my email address?
If it's a global email account like gmail, then no.

If the email has some type of information in it, it may be possible to extract some info; for example, an email address ending in .eu, or if it's a business email of a local company. Obviously, if there's a name in the email like bob.johnson.com, that can be used as well.

There are sites that use reverse email look ups, so apps do exist that can trace the ip of an email. Of course, there is such as thing as computer forensics that use technology able track email users. But to what extent they're able to pin down someone's location, I'm not sure.

h

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3 edits

@vivify said
there is such as thing as computer forensics that use technology able track email users. But to what extent they're able to pin down someone's location, I'm not sure.
That last quote of yours made me just occur to me that, for obvious national security reasons, governments and police authorities would want to keep secret their ability (or inability), and perhaps also the other people's potential ability (or inability) such as terrorists etc, to trace a person's geographical location from their e-mail address. If that is the case then I guess I will likely NEVER be able to find out the answer to my OP question.

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@humy said
That last quote of yours made me just occur to me that, for obvious national security reasons, governments and police authorities would want to keep secret their ability (or inability), and perhaps also the other people's potential ability (or inability) such as terrorists etc, to trace a person's geographical location from their e-mail address. If that is the case then I guess I will likely NEVER be able to find out the answer to my OP question.
A terrorist or other criminal is not likely to provide a real address to anyone.