Can people trace your computer's Exact IP from hotmail/msn Email accounts? Wouldn't it be the IP of the Inernet Service Provider or Server? Can you change your IP address by going to Control Panel -> Internet Options-> Connections -> Settings -> Properties -> Networking -> Properties and changing the IP or DNS server to a different number or would this be pointless?

Web based mail cannot be traced to you in the conventional way. If you did something illegal the authorities can get a court order forcing the ISP to give them your name and address. On your second question, it would be pointless. You'll do better posting security related queries to the "Security and Virus forum on the site.

Your IP address is set by the computer servers at your ISP company, not by your computer. If you have cable or DSL service, with a static IP address, it may be possible to request a new IP address.

OK Thank you for your replies. This is actually not MY personal problem, but a friend's question. What they did was sent a bunch of defamatory emails to a whole lot of people under a certain person's name. They thought they were being funny... but it turns out that the person contacted MSN and asked them to trace down the computer so that they could find out who did it. This has been going on for more than a week. (ps- not dsl, but 56 k modem) So there is the situation. Please don't lecture me on the dangers of defamatory for I allready know. Personally, I think that this is a way low shot but I am still trying to help a friend out and they asked what they should do.

Well sometimes you u could trace it with Outlook. In the The email headers it will show ur IP, it showed my IP!