How do I get someones IP when they are chatting on MSN/yahoo

How many times have you moderators on computer security message boards heard this one? The answer is quite simple really. All you need is a direct connection from you to the person's computer, and a wonderful little command that comes with all windows systems called netstat. Netstat displays active connections and protocol statistics.

Now to get someone's IP on these messenger you would need a direct connection. I will explain why in a bit. Now to get a direct connection you would need to have some sort of file transferring, voice chat session, or even a web cam session with Windows NetMeeting.

Ok say you are sending a file to someone and you want to get his or her IP. First you would need to open up the MS-Dos Prompt or Command Prompt or the little black window thingy to the computer illiterate. Just follow the same format I showed you early on how to find your IP address. You know, Start, Programs, Command Prompt. Ok now you should have the Dos Prompt window up. While you are transferring/receiving a file, or voice chatting with someone, type in the command netstat -n. You should see something like this

C:\WINDOWS>netstat -n
Active Connections
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State

TCP 211.124.228.98:1138 64.4.13.69:1863 ESTABLISHED
TCP 211.124.228.98:1150 64.4.12.190:1863 ESTABLISHED
TCP 211.124.228.98:6891 12.90.50.93:1978 ESTABLISHED

The above is an example I got from using the netstat -n command on a friend. The two above commands are from the MSN messenger service. There are two because I am chatting to two people at this time. So while I was transferring a file to this person I did the netstat -n command and got their IP number (12.90.50.93).