[Blood of Tyrants]

Okay, I'll admit to being the dummy. What is a dynamic IP and why does he think it makes him untraceable? (I sort of understand about receiveing your IP from your ISP)

[demlosers]

What is a dynamic IP and why does he think it makes him untraceable?

His/her ISP uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) ,which centrally manages and maintains and assigns a pool of IP addresses. Every time this person disconnects from the Server, and then reconnects, he is assigned a new IP. Large ISPs who use this system can have a large number of DHCP servers in their network, and any of those servers can assign IP addresses. I'm not going to explain the whole process, but the DHCP lease process is called Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge or DORA for short.

And yes, the IP address is traceable back to the ISP who assigned it.

[TC Rider]

Demlosers explanation is pretty good, provided you understand that every computer on the internet has a unique IP address, which consists of 12 digits in blocks of 3.

My office was assigned a block of 64 'static' or unchangable ip addresses that I can permenantly assign to servers, etc. Or, I can use DHCP to temporarily 'lease' to other users.

Back in the mid 90s a friend had a college sports oriented Bulletin Board that was constantly being trashed by 'fans' from a rival school.

We would track and ban the malcontents. One in particular was moving through a lab at the school, eventually he got every address in the lab banned.

[N3WBI3]

The reason ISP's use DHCP (Dynamic IP) is so that they can make changes like install a new DNS (server which turns freerepublic.com into an IP address) Server without the client haivng to change anything every time you attach you get an address, DNS servers, and other information..