Have you come across the IP address 158.63.258.200 and want to know more about it? Maybe you saw it in your logs, or perhaps you’re just curious about IP addresses in general. This guide will walk you through how to perform an IP address lookup, using 158.63.258.200 as our main example. We’ll cover the tools, techniques, and the kind of information you can expect to find.
Looking up an IP address like 158.63.258.200 can provide valuable insights, but it’s important to understand what information is publicly available and what isn’t. Let’s dive in!
Understanding IP Addresses and Why Look Them Up
Before we investigate 158.63.258.200, let’s quickly cover the basics.
What is an IP Address?
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is like a unique mailing address for devices connected to a network, including the Internet. It allows computers, servers, phones, and other devices to find and communicate with each other. The address 158.63.258.200 is an example of an IPv4 address, the most common format. Without these addresses, data wouldn’t know where to go online.
Common Reasons for Checking an IP Address
People perform an IP lookup for many reasons:
- Cybersecurity: To identify the source of suspicious activity or potential threats.
- Network Troubleshooting: To diagnose connection problems.
- Geolocation: To estimate the physical location associated with an IP (e.g., for targeted content or fraud prevention).
- Learning More: Simply to understand where a website is hosted or where network traffic is coming from.
Tools and Techniques for Looking Up 158.63.258.200
Several types of online tools help gather intelligence about an IP address like 158.63.258.200.
Finding the Location (IP Geolocation Tools)
These tools map an IP address to an estimated geographic location.
- What they provide: Country, Region/State, City, Postal Code, Latitude/Longitude, Timezone.
- How they work: They use large databases that correlate IP ranges with known locations, often based on where the Internet Service Provider (ISP) has registered the block.
- Key takeaway: Geolocation provides an estimate, not a precise street address. Country accuracy is usually high, but city accuracy varies.
Identifying the Owner (WHOIS & ASN Lookup)
These tools help identify the organization responsible for managing the IP address range.
- WHOIS Lookup: Queries databases maintained by Regional Internet Registries (like ARIN for North America) to find the organization allocated the IP block and contact information.
- ASN Lookup: Identifies the Autonomous System Number (ASN) and AS Name. An ASN represents a large network under single administrative control (like an ISP or a large organization).
- What they provide: ISP Name, Owning Organization Name, ASN (e.g., AS22238), AS Name.
Checking the Hostname (Reverse DNS / PTR Lookup)
This checks if a specific hostname (like server.example.com) is associated with the IP address.
- How it works: It looks for a Pointer (PTR) record in the DNS system linked to the IP 158.63.258.200.
- What it provides: A hostname, or confirmation that no record exists. This can sometimes give clues about the server’s purpose or network allocation.
Assessing Reputation (Blacklist & Threat Intelligence Checks)
These tools check if an IP address is associated with malicious or unwanted activity.
- Blacklist Checkers (DNSBL/RBL): Query lists that flag IPs known for sending spam, hosting malware/phishing, or being part of botnets (e.g., Spamhaus).
- Threat Intelligence Platforms: Aggregate data from various sources (including blacklists, user reports, malware analysis) to provide a risk score or identify specific threats associated with the IP (e.g., AbuseIPDB, VirusTotal, Cisco Talos).
- What they provide: Listing status on blacklists, reported malicious activities, reputation scores.
Analyzing the IP Address 158.63.258.200: What We Can Find
Now, let’s apply these techniques to 158.63.258.200. Important Note: The following information is based on analysis techniques and contextual data (like adjacent IPs) mentioned in the reference text, as consistent live lookups were noted as unavailable during its preparation. You should perform live lookups using the tools mentioned for the current confirmation.
Estimated Geolocation of 158.63.258.200
- Likely Location: Based on the IP range (158.x.x.x), 158.63.258.200 is highly likely located within the United States.
- Action Needed: A live IP geolocation lookup using tools like IPinfo, IP2Location, or MaxMind is required to estimate the specific Region and City.
Network Ownership (ISP/Organization/ASN) for 158.63.258.200
- Hypothesized Owner: Strong contextual evidence (from adjacent IPs like 158.63.253.0/24) suggests that 158.63.258.200 is part of AS22238. The AS Name associated with AS22238 is Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
- Action Needed: Confirm this by performing a WHOIS lookup for 158.63.258.200 via the ARIN database (the registry for North America). An ASN lookup will also verify the AS number and name.
Hostname (PTR Record) for 158.63.258.200
- Likely Status: Based on analysis of nearby IPs within the same hypothesized network block, it’s probable that 158.63.258.200 does not have a specific, publicly resolvable hostname (PTR record), or it might have a generic internal one.
- Action Needed: Conduct a Reverse DNS lookup (also called PTR lookup) using tools like MxToolbox or command-line utilities (dig -x 158.63.258.200) to verify.
Reputation Status of 158.63.258.200
- Expected Status: Given the likely association with DARPA (AS22238), this IP is unlikely to be listed on common spam blacklists (like Spamhaus ZEN). Government/research networks typically don’t send spam.
- Action Needed: A comprehensive IP reputation check is essential. Use tools that query multiple DNSBLs (like MxToolbox, IPVoid) AND check major threat intelligence platforms (like AbuseIPDB, VirusTotal, Cisco Talos) to see if it’s flagged for other activities (e.g., scanning, malware hosting, potentially related to research or compromise).
Likely Usage Type for 158.63.258.200
- Inferred Type: Combining the strong (though unverified by live lookup here) link to DARPA (AS22238) and the likely lack of a public hostname, the most probable usage type for 158.63.258.200 is Government/Military/Research Network Infrastructure. It doesn’t fit the typical profile of a commercial ISP, hosting provider, or residential IP.
Important Considerations When Looking Up 158.63.258.200 (or any IP)
Keep these points in mind during your IP lookup:
Accuracy Limitations
- Geolocation is an Estimate: IP location data points to a region or city, not a specific street address. Accuracy varies.
- Data Can Be Outdated: WHOIS information or database entries might not always be perfectly current.
- Multiple Sources Needed: No single tool has all the answers. Always cross-reference findings from several reputable sources (different geolocation providers, WHOIS, multiple blacklist checkers).
Privacy and Legal Boundaries
- No Personal Information: Public IP lookups cannot legally reveal Personally Identifiable Information (PII) like someone’s name, exact home address, email, or phone number associated with the IP. This data is protected by privacy laws and ISP policies.
Dynamic vs. Static IPs
- Some IP addresses (especially residential ones) are dynamic, meaning they can change over time. Others (like servers or business networks) are often static. 158.63.258.200, being likely part of a large organizational network, is probably static, but this isn’t guaranteed without more data.
Interpreting the Results in Context
- The meaning of the data depends on context. An IP on a blacklist might be a compromised home PC or a misconfigured mail server. The owning organization (like an ISP vs. DARPA) drastically changes the interpretation of observed activity.
Step-by-Step: Performing an IP Lookup for 158.63.258.200
Ready to try it yourself? Hereโs a basic process:
- Choose Your Tools: Select a few reputable IP lookup websites. Good starting points often combine multiple checks (e.g., whatismyipaddress.com, ipinfo.io, mxtoolbox.com for blacklist checks, ARIN’s website for WHOIS).
- Enter the IP Address: Copy and paste 158.63.258.200 into the search bar on your chosen tool(s).
- Review and Correlate the Data: Look at the results from each tool. Compare the geolocation, ISP/Organization/ASN, hostname (PTR), and reputation status. Note any discrepancies and try to build a consistent picture based on the majority of reliable sources.
Conclusion: What We Learned About 158.63.258.200
Based on standard IP intelligence analysis methods and contextual data:
- The IP address 158.63.258.200 is very likely located in the USA.
- It strongly appears to belong to the network (AS22238) managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
- It probably lacks a specific public hostname (PTR record).
- Its reputation is likely clean regarding spam but needs verification against broader threat intelligence feeds.
- Its most probable usage type is Government/Military/Research Network Infrastructure.
Crucially, always perform your live lookups using reliable tools to get the most current and accurate information about 158.63.258.200 or any IP address.
Applying the Same Technique, you can look into other IP addresses like IP Address 185.63.253.2pp
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can I find out the exact street address for 158.63.258.200?
A: No. Public IP geolocation tools provide an estimated location (country, region, city), not a precise street address. Revealing that level of detail is protected by privacy laws.
Q2: Is the IP address 158.63.258.200 malicious or safe?
A: Based on its likely association with DARPA, it’s probably not involved in typical malicious activities like spamming. However, only live checks against current threat intelligence databases (like VirusTotal, AbuseIPDB) can determine if it’s recently been flagged for any specific security concerns (which could even relate to research activities). Always verify with up-to-date reputation checks.
Q3: What does DARPA mean in the context of 158.63.258.200?
A: DARPA is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense. If 158.63.258.200 belongs to their network (AS22238), it means the IP is part of the infrastructure used for government research and development, not typical public internet services.
Q4: What should I do if I see suspicious traffic from 158.63.258.200?
A: First, verify the activity using your own security tools and cross-reference the IP’s reputation with live checks. If confirmed malicious, standard abuse reporting to generic ISP contacts might not be effective. Reporting to platforms like AbuseIPDB helps the community. For serious issues potentially involving a government network, specific official channels might need to be identified, which can be complex.
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