KylePadilla1
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: After emailing someone, my mac said my IP address was being used by another computer. Could that person be tracking my computer? What does this mean?

How can I protect myself from another computer using IP address, and what kind of information can be accessed from my IP adress?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Oct 22, 2013 8:21 AM

by ds store,Solvedanswer
ds store ds store
Level 7 (30,395 points)
A:

If OS X popped up a window saying that, it means your router is confusing your machine with another one in use nearby that it assigned the same LOCAL IP address too.

 

What happens is a router starts off assigning local IP addresses to all your devices as they connect in a sequence, sometimes this can get wonky and yes sometimes it's a result of a local hacker attempt or glitch/interference from other electronics etc.

 

Best thing to do is to turn everything off, then reset your router (off/on) then turn on each computer/device one at a time and they will all get new correct local IP addresses automatically with DCHP.

 

 

 

If your receiving this message from your email provider via a web browser or mail program, it might be that someone else at another IP address (the one a router uses to connect to the Internet Service Provider) is also logged into your account or you used it at another IP address/wifi location and it didn't log you out properly, so when you changed Wifi/IP's addresses it noticed there was a problem. This can happen sometimes if you sleep the computer and then take it elsewhere and attempt to access the same login with the same cookies. etc.

 

 

Make sure your router's wifi is secure, call in a network security professional.

 

WiFi security issues, at home and WiFi hotspots

Posted on Oct 22, 2013 8:36 AM

Close
KylePadilla1

Q: After emailing someone, my mac said my IP address was being used by another computer. Could that person be tracking my computer? W ... more

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by ds store,Solvedanswer

    ds store ds store Oct 22, 2013 8:36 AM in response to KylePadilla1
    Level 7 (30,395 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 8:36 AM in response to KylePadilla1

    If OS X popped up a window saying that, it means your router is confusing your machine with another one in use nearby that it assigned the same LOCAL IP address too.

     

    What happens is a router starts off assigning local IP addresses to all your devices as they connect in a sequence, sometimes this can get wonky and yes sometimes it's a result of a local hacker attempt or glitch/interference from other electronics etc.

     

    Best thing to do is to turn everything off, then reset your router (off/on) then turn on each computer/device one at a time and they will all get new correct local IP addresses automatically with DCHP.

     

     

     

    If your receiving this message from your email provider via a web browser or mail program, it might be that someone else at another IP address (the one a router uses to connect to the Internet Service Provider) is also logged into your account or you used it at another IP address/wifi location and it didn't log you out properly, so when you changed Wifi/IP's addresses it noticed there was a problem. This can happen sometimes if you sleep the computer and then take it elsewhere and attempt to access the same login with the same cookies. etc.

     

     

    Make sure your router's wifi is secure, call in a network security professional.

     

    WiFi security issues, at home and WiFi hotspots