Let's divert a little from serious topics and learn a few funny stories about IP address usage. Perhaps you may have heard some of them before. But in any case, a good mood is guaranteed for those who finish reading!!
What is an IP address
But first, a quick reminder that an IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique number that each device receives on a network to “recognize” each other and exchange data with other devices. It's like a passport for a person, except instead of a photo and a stamp, it's a set of numbers. Currently, there are two types of addresses - IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) and IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6).
- IPv4 is that classic set of four numbers separated by dots and limited to 32 bits (e.g. 192.168.0.1). Their maximum number is about 4.3 billion. The development of this standard began in 1981, but at that time no one thought that in 2011 the organization IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) would give regional Internet registrars the last blocks of IPv4, and in 2019 the European Registry (RIPE NCC) would officially announce that there are no more free IPv4-addresses.
- IPv6 is a more advanced variant, created in 1998 and designed as a solution to the scarcity problem (e.g. 2001:0db8::1, 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). It uses 128 bits, which increases the number of possible addresses to the astronomical figure of 3.4×10³⁸. That is 340 undecillion addresses (that's the number 340 with 36 zeros). This means that each! atom on Earth can be given its own IP address, and there will still be a reserve (both for ants and smart bulbs on Mars).
And here are some life stories with proof of the importance of IP addresses and everything about them - customization, security, and even renewal period.
The most famous IP in the world
Let's start with the local IP address, known as "localhost" or "home" that millions of people know: 127.0.0.1. It is used to verify connectivity within your computer (localhost). There are hundreds of memes built on jokes about "127.0.0.1". Some of our favorites are:
- About workaholics: "The coordinates of the world's best programmer's resting place— 127.0.0.1"
- About philosophers: "IP 127.0.0.1 reminds us that all the answers to our questions are always within us"
- About the joy of communication: "127.0.0.1 is an introvert's dream: it's when you're online, but only with yourself.
1. An "innocent" mistake
In 2012, the US Department of Homeland Security decided to block a website linked to cybercrime. To do this, they added its IP address to the blocking list. But the employees, either in a hurry or “out of ignorance,” specified a whole range that included about 84,000 IP addresses instead of a single address.
As a result, there was a massive failure. Thousands of innocent sites were blocked, including small businesses, blogs, and even charitable organizations. The Internet community made an uproar and the government had to apologize. This case was a vivid example of how important it is to be precise with IP settings.
2. IP as an alibi
In 2017, a user proved his innocence in court thanks to his IP address. Log files showed that at the time of the crime, his phone was at home, on the couch, streaming some movie. And that's what a digital alibi is all about!
But the story didn't end there. The judge, impressed by the technicalities, asked:
— And what were you watching at that moment?
The answer slightly surprised everyone present:
— "How to Get Away with Murder" (the most popular TV series with 6 seasons).
The courtroom fell into silence for a second and then laughter erupted. But the fact remained that digital evidence doesn't lie. Since then, attorneys have often cited the case as a reminder that every device connected to a network leaves a trail. It's also become a great advertisement for the streaming service — after all, who would have thought a show could not only entertain but also save you from jail! And IP can be your best witness!
3. Streamer cat
Whether this is legend or fiction, we have not been able to get to the truth. But the story is worthy of attention
The «cat-streamer» story is said to have taken place in 2018 in the UK and was a great example of how pets can unwittingly interfere with technology. James, the owner of a cat named Toby, came home after a day at work and found that his router was overheating and his internet speed had plummeted. At the same time, he started receiving strange messages from friends asking why he had suddenly started promoting "his cat".
As it later turned out, while James was at work, the cat managed to jump on his desk and play with the keyboard. The keystroke had accidentally activated a video streaming utility that was set to start automatically when the internet was accessed. The camera connected to the computer turned on and began streaming to the public on a popular platform.
Viewers who happened to stumble upon the broadcast saw an "exciting" show: fluffy paws, a tail waving in front of the lens, and a curious cat who even didn't realize he had become a star. Users in the comments on the stream joked that Toby had created "revolutionary content for cat lovers".
When James found out what had happened, he couldn't keep from laughing. The broadcast racked up several thousand views before he turned it off. After that, the host got serious about setting up his router and computer so that nothing like this would ever happen again. And Toby became a local celebrity and received a fee in the form of cat food for the splendid premiere.
4. Blocking the entire country
In 2017, a website administrator accidentally added a huge range of IP addresses to a ban list that covered a significant part of the internet in South Korea. The site became inaccessible to millions of users, and the owner didn't even immediately realize what had happened. The cause of the Internet outage was revealed only after an extensive investigation. The administrator's comment after fixing the error was succinct: "Now I know what IP strength is". And this is a good example of how one person's small mistake can affect millions of users.
5. Arrest over a printer
In 2016, a group of hackers exploited vulnerabilities in a network of printers to deliver comical and provocative messages around the world. The problem was that many printers connected to the internet had open ports that allowed hackers to send print commands to them.
Using tools like Shodan, the hackers identified printers with open port 9100, which is used to send print jobs, and sent various messages to them, including anti-Semitic flyers or just notices like: "Congratulations, your printer has been hacked! And this is just the beginning!". The event became quite visible, and the media quickly learned about it
In the US, it caused quite a stir, and several companies even called the police. The hackers were eventually found, but it turned out that they were just trying to remind the world about the importance of security and device protection on the Internet, not about stealing data or disrupting large organizations.
6. Lost IP
There's a rumor that NASA once briefly lost contact with a spacecraft because... its IP address had expired! Imagine what it would be like to send a satellite into outer space for millions of dollars and forget to update the address. Although it's not known for certain what happened - perhaps it wasn't the IP expiration that was to blame, but rather there were problems with timestamps, timers, or network protocol settings due to misconfiguration or outdated software.
This story sounds like an anecdote, but in serious business, even "small" mistakes can have gigantic consequences. See for yourself (even though this is not directly related to IP).
In 1999, NASA lost the Mars Climate Orbiter spacecraft because of a trivial error: one team used the metric system and the other — British units of measurement. This led to a control failure, and the spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere of Mars.
By the way, be sure to renew your services on time, if you want to avoid a collapse in operations!
7. Refrigerator spammers
And lastly, a story about horrible refrigerators that live their dark lives in secret from their owners.
In late 2013, Proofpoint discovered that home appliances including "smart" refrigerators, TVs, and routers were being used by hackers to send spam. These devices became part of a botnet (a network of infected devices that are controlled by hackers to perform actions without the device owners' knowledge), sending hundreds of thousands of emails. In total, about 100,000 devices were involved, about a quarter of which were home appliances.
The reason for this incident was due to the weak security of IoT devices. Many users left default passwords and didn't update their software, leaving their devices vulnerable to attackers. The attack exploited configuration vulnerabilities and networked the devices to send mass spam three times a day. It was one of the first reported cases of consumer electronics being used in a cyberattack.
History shows that even "smart" devices such as refrigerators can pose a security threat if not addressed. Don't be lazy to set complex passwords and regularly update your software to minimize risks.
As a conclusion
With these examples, we tried not only to cheer you up, but also to remind you once again of the importance of small things. IP may seem like a bunch of numbers, but it's a fundamental brick in the foundation of the Internet.
By the way, the phrase "I'll figure you out by IP" sounds spectacular, but in reality, it's more of a meme than a real threat. In reality, an IP address you can determine by IP address:
- country, city, and sometimes even neighborhood (albeit with a large margin of error), provider.
You can't find out by IP:
- exact address (house, apartment), user identity, login or password.
Only your Internet provider knows what specific person is using the IP at the moment, and it will not give this information to anyone (except at the request of law enforcement agencies).
It's better to calculate a person not by IP, but by IQ!
