i had someone attack my computer by stealing my ip address somehow??? dont ask me how, but this is what the person that fixed my computer over the phone told me. he also suggested that i change my ip address ever so often, but he never told me how. so my question is... how do i change my ip address? i have comcast cable internet, with a motorolla cable modem. no routers or anything.

 

Go into the command prompt and type in

/ipconfig release all (hit return)
/ipconfig renew all (hit return)

exit the terminal

That is all Im pretty sure, been a while since I did it on a PC though..

 

wheres the command prompt?

 

Is is in Accessories in the start menu I think? I don't know what it is called but I think it is command prompt.. it is the MS DOS promt.. black screen/ white letters, but in XP it opens like a separate program

I think you can renew your IP that way, if it doesn't change you should call comcast on it...

 

Smeezy.

First of all, I am pretty sure you have a dynamic IP, so it should change from time to time. If not, reboot your modem.

Second, get a router. You dont need to configure it for a network or anything, just use it for security reasons. Linksys is a very common one, and there is nothing to install.

Third, If you have WIN XP, follow these steps to release/renew your IP:

Start > Settings > Control Panel > open Network Connections > right click on your LAN (local area connection) > go to Status > Click the tab at the top that says "Support" > Click the button that says REPAIR.

Give that a try as well, but I highly recommend a router.

 

thanks jamz, and i'll look into getting a router.

 

I cant believe you guys let him call you a geek and then helped him.

 

It's coming from Smeezy.....what does it matter?

 

I fix Macs 40 hours a week... i think I probably qualify for the geek title.

 

exactly... so back off uc

 

I see what you mean.

 

Ok first off the problem doesnt make sense - at all.

Stealing your IP address to attack your computer? Huh?

Jamz is right, you have a dynamic IP address so it will change periodically.

The ipconfig /release and renew bit may or may not work depending upon how the DCHP server is configured with address expirations. You would likely release the IP address and get the same one back.

I'd go back to your computer guy and have him explain exactly what happened because its sounds like he is making up some techno crap to make himself seem smart. I dont doubt you got attacked or had problems but "by stealing your IP" sounds like hooey....at least on the surface

 

Release/renew and/or repair does drop the IP then force it to go out to the (DHCP) server and grab a new one, however, most of the time its going to be the exact same IP you already had. Resetting the modem by unplugging it for a couple seconds has a better chance of getting a different IP but still there is a chance you'll get the same one. The best way (although even this is not 100%) is to unplug the modem for 12-24 hours then plug it back in.

I agree with Vader. I had to read what he told Smeezy twice because it didn't make sense. I guess if someone knew your IP and you had open ports they could have gotten into your computer.....theoretically

 

added some punctuation to make it make more sense....not sure what was confusing.

I highly doubt it was a targeted attack at Smeezy. I also doubt that a change of IP address would make a difference. Yes he probably had poor security or no firewall. That is what left him vulnerable nothing else.

 

vader and Tical are correct on the release/renew and getting the same IP. It all depends on the lease of the IP. Here at ***, the lease expires every 2 hours.

Still, get a darn router Smeezy.