Can you hide your IP with a VPN after you already sent something?

[Anonymous]

If you send an anonymous email without hiding your IP originally, can you get a VPN afterwards and still cover the fact that you sent the email?

[HusamRocks]

Ur IP is ur internet fingerprint, so ur fingerprint is on that email u sent no matter if u used VPN after it won't change it 👍🏻

Lay low for now

[Asker]

I do know the IP used at the time will ALWAYS be attached to that email that was sent because it never changes. I know that if you managed to get another IP, it would at least prevent it from being attached to YOU since you'd no longer have the sent IP.

[Anonymous]

VPNs don't cover the facts after, only the facts before

[Asker]

So they may still be able to know where the IP address came from... but if YOU now have a VPN, would it still protect your identity since the "old' IP wouldn't be yours anymore? What about changing an IP? If you changed your IP after sending it, would that keep your identity safe?

[Opinion Owner]

yes they will still know assuming they know you didn't use a VPN when you sent your email. they store all the IPs the email came from and if they believe one of the IPs from which the emails came from, they'll eventually find which one is yours

the IP from which you send your email at the time won't change. now if you send a bunch of emails from different IP addresses, at best it would confuse them

[Asker]

So, your current IP would forever stay linked to that email that was sent? But, if you got a new IP after, that new email would not suddenly appear on the already-sent email, right? An IP also does not really give a straight location - only the city, right? So, there would technically not even be a way to know for sure who did it since it could be anyone from that city I guess.

[Opinion Owner]

yes each email is linked only to the special IP address being used at the time to send it

IP addresses don't give exact locations only regions so they'll never know it's exactly you unless you live extremely isolated from other people

[Asker]

Ok that makes sense. So, essentially, even if you FIND the sender's IP... they may have changed it and a new IP for their computer OR they got a VPN, so they could still deny responsibility... right?
I guess I will truly never know then lol

[Asker]

Is it the same with operating systems? If someone was using one system then changed it or updated it to a newer version, would the old OS still appear with their IP info or would the new one appear?

[Opinion Owner]

yes you can deny responsibility if you have no other details that link up with your email like a phone number or secondary backup email

operating systems don't change anything

[Asker]

So your operating system doesn't appear when you check an IP address? Ok. If they sent the fake message under their current IP, then changed their IP, their "trail" would be clear then, right?
Do VPN addresses even look any different? Would someone be able to see where an email came from and know if was a VPN that was used? Or do VPNs look just like any other IP address, just allow you the ability to change to a location of your choosing instead of your actual default one?

[Anonymous]

Does this have anything to do with the news events of today? 👀

[Asker]

No. Why would it?

[Anonymous]

I think the FBI will be knocking on your door tonight.

[Asker]

Um no? I didn't do anything illegal. lol

[war_daddy]

lol no

[Asker]

If you change the IP, would the new or old one show up under the email info?

[TonyV]

It's not exactly like changing you ip tho, it dosent resign a new ip number to your house I believe makes your internet activity appear to be some else like a different state or country, so that email from before your v will alway appear to be from where you sent it.

[Asker]

@TonyV Yes, with a VPN, that's how it works. The VPN allows you to CHOOSE what location you appear to be from (like if you're in Atlanta, you could set it to appear like your activity is coming from Chicago). I was talking about changing an IP address. If your IP address changes, it would no longer be the same as the one you sent the email from. Therefore, it would not be able to be tied directly to you. It actually couldn't be anyhow unless you live in a very isolated area because an IP address does NOT include the exact location or address. It just gives a town/city the data is coming from... meaning ANYONE in that town/city could have sent it.