Who owns IP addresses — end users? Internet service providers? Businesses? In this article, we’ll analyze IP WHOIS lookup, a key tool used to find out who controls an IP address and an important part of internet governance. It will help you understand how IP addresses are managed and explain who actually owns all IP addresses. How to find out who owns an IP address To find an IP address’ owner you must use a WHOIS lookup tool, which is essential for getting the IP’s registration details. For official and detailed information, you can use the RIPE NCC WHOIS lookup. Input the IP address you want to know more about into the search bar, and you’ll find all relevant, publicly available information: The organization that registered the IP address. Contact information for administrative and technical matters. Important dates like registration and last update times. Keep in mind that WHOIS information may be limited: The personal details of individual registrants are often protected for privacy reasons. Specific user activity or precise real-time locations are not available. Internal network configurations or network security measures are not disclosed. Alternatively, you can use NordVPN’s IP lookup tool. It will show you the city, state, zip code, country, ISP, and time zone of any IP address. What is IP WHOIS? IP WHOIS is a protocol used to send requests to databases that store registration information about IP resources. Each regional internet registry operates its own WHOIS database. For example, RIPE handles registrations for Europe, while ARIN covers North America. These databases maintain detailed and updated records of IP allocations, which are accessible through WHOIS services. Registries and IP address block ownership There are five main regional internet registries (RIRs): ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, LACNIC, and AFRINIC. These organizations manage and distribute IP address blocks within their regions. Internet service providers, government entities, or large corporations must register with an RIR to receive a range of IP addresses called an IP block. Owning an IP address block allows them to use it under the terms set by that region’s registry. Who owns all the IP addresses? Technically, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) owns all IP addresses. ICANN is responsible for creating, distributing, and maintaining IP addresses. IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) is another key organization that oversees global IP address allocations. Together, ICANN and IANA ensure that internet resources and IP addresses are allocated fairly and in a standardized manner across different regions. This system helps maintain an organized, global internet infrastructure. {SHORTCODES.blogRelatedArticles} Can you be traced by your IP address info? Information provided by a WHOIS search can potentially reveal details about who is using an IP address, including contact and organization info and their approximate physical location. However, registrants can hire privacy services that mask their data on WHOIS databases — users should always exercise caution when their personal information is involved, avoiding unnecessary exposure. You never know what someone might do with your IP address and related information. Is using the IP WHOIS lookup tool legal? Yes, IP WHOIS lookups are completely legal. But you should be mindful of what you do with the information you find — use it responsibly and consider privacy implications for both yourself and others. You can change your IP address either temporarily (to avoid IP tracking) by using services like NordVPN or by contacting your internet service provider and requesting a permanent change. Keep in mind that many ISPs tend to assign dynamic IP addresses, and getting a static one could be difficult. Find out more about static and dynamic IP addresses to decide what you need. ), }, { question: ‘Is it legal to change your IP address?’, answer: ( Yes, in most countries hiding your IP address for legitimate purposes, like improving your online security and privacy, is completely legal. Countries with heavy internet restrictions might ban IP masking of any kind, so you should explore the laws before traveling there. ), }, { question: ‘Can you purchase an IP address?’, answer: ( Yes, you can buy or lease IP addresses through regional internet registries or brokers, depending on availability and your region’s policies. ), }, { question: ‘How much does it cost to own an IP?’, answer: ( The prices for IP addresses vary depending on the type of IP address (IPv4 vs. IPv6), the scarcity of available addresses, and the region in which you’re trying to buy them.
Note that when you “buy” IP addresses, especially IPv4, you are acquiring the rights to use them rather than obtaining ownership in the traditional sense. The prices can change based on availability and market demand, and you’ll only know the exact price when you contact a broker or your regional registry. You should expect to pay at least $40 per IP.
), }, { question: ‘Can I create my own IP address?’, answer: ( No, it is not possible to create your own IP address. IP addresses are allocated by regional internet registries and must be obtained through official channels to ensure they are distributed fairly and the global internet infrastructure remains well organized. ), }, { question: ‘Does a VPN prevent someone from looking me up on WHOIS?’, answer: ( Yes. A VPN changes your IP address, and looking up the new one on WHOIS would show the information of your VPN provider. But keep in mind that some VPN services may leak IP addresses, exposing your real IP to the internet. Find out what your IP is and make sure it’s the one belonging to your VPN provider. ), }, ]} />
