What Intelligence Can You Extract From an IP Address?
Max Intel's IP Address Lookup lets you investigate any IPv4 or IPv6 address across more than 20 intelligence sources from a single search. Enter an IP address, click Search, and the tool generates links to geolocation services, threat intelligence platforms, ASN registries, and network analysis tools.
| Intelligence Layer | Key Sources | Data Provided |
|---|---|---|
| Geolocation | IP-API, MaxMind, ipwho.is, IPinfo, DB-IP | City, region, country, coordinates (72% accuracy within 50km) |
| Threat Intel | VirusTotal, AbuseIPDB, Shodan, GreyNoise | Malware flags, abuse reports, exposed services |
| Network/ASN | Hurricane Electric, RIPE Stat, ARIN, DNSlytics | ASN ownership, routing info, organizational data |
How Accurate Is IP Address Geolocation?
Geolocation services estimate an IP's physical location using databases of IP-to-location mappings. According to a 2024 study by MaxMind, city-level geolocation accuracy averages 72% within 50km for IPv4, though accuracy varies significantly by country and ISP. Max Intel queries IP-API, ipwho.is, IPinfo.io, IPGeolocation, DB-IP, IP2Location, and MaxMind Demo. Cross-referencing multiple providers improves accuracy, as each maintains independent geolocation databases with different strengths.
What Threat Intelligence Is Available for an IP Address?
Threat analysis is critical for cybersecurity investigations, forming a core component of the MITRE ATT&CK framework's Reconnaissance tactics (TA0043). AbuseIPDB aggregates user reports of malicious IPs. VirusTotal — acquired by Google in 2012 — checks against 70+ security engines and processes over 2 million file submissions daily. Shodan and Censys reveal exposed services and ports. GreyNoise distinguishes targeted attacks from internet background noise. AlienVault OTX, Talos Intelligence, IBM X-Force, and Pulsedive provide additional threat context and indicators of compromise.
How Do You Determine Who Owns an IP Address?
Understanding network ownership helps identify who controls an IP. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) delegates IP address blocks to five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) — ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, and AFRINIC — which in turn assign them to ISPs and organizations. Hurricane Electric, RIPE Stat, ARIN Whois, and DNSlytics provide ASN data, routing information, and organizational ownership details. This is essential for tracing the network infrastructure behind suspicious activity.