GreyNoise Labs has launched a new free tool, GreyNoise IP Check, which allows users to easily and instantly check whether their public IP address has been detected – unknowingly or not – in activities web scanning. The service covers activities related to botnets, malicious scanners and the ever-growing trend of home proxy networks.
The growing problem of “innocent” IPs being used maliciously
According to GreyNoise, which monitors global internet activity through a vast network of sensors, the phenomenon of home connections being “recruited” for malicious activities has multiplied in the past year. Many users – without realizing it – end up becoming part of a botnet or providing access to third parties through malware or deceptive applications.
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As the company notes, the spread of home proxy networks has made personal internet connections a kind of "exit point" for foreign user traffic. In some cases this is done with the consent of the owner, usually in exchange for a small financial reward, but most often it is the result of devices being infected by malicious applications or suspicious browser extensions.
Why is a simple IP check important?
Identifying the involvement of an IP address in malicious actions can traditionally require technical knowledge: reviewing device logs, analyzing network traffic, checking scan patterns, etc. GreyNoise IP Check offers a much simpler, non-intrusive solution: the user simply enters the IP address and receives immediate results, without any technical procedures.
This approach makes monitoring accessible to the general public, helping users identify potential breaches or suspicious behaviors within their network before they escalate into more serious incidents.
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What results does the tool give?
When visiting the GreyNoise IP Check page, the user receives one of three possible results:
- Clean: No malicious or suspicious activity was detected from the IP.
- Malicious/Suspicious: The IP has shown scan patterns associated with intrusive activity.
- Common Business Service: The IP belongs to a corporate network, VPN or cloud provider, where this type of scanning is considered normal.
If suspicious behavior is detected, the platform accompanies the result with a 90-day timeline, providing a detailed history of activity. This can help users discover exactly when a potential infection may have started, in order to pinpoint the cause – for example, the installation of a suspicious application or bandwidth sharing client.
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Tools for more technical users
GreyNoise also offers an unconstrained, permissionless JSON API that can be used via curl and integrated into automated monitoring systems. This makes the tool also useful for system administrators who want to continuously monitor the health and reliability of their IPs.
What to do if the IP appears as “Malicious/Suspicious”
In this case, GreyNoise suggests a series of immediate actions:
- Scan for malware on all devices on the network.
- Be careful with routers, smart TVs and IoT devices that are often easily hacked.
- Update devices to the latest available firmware.
- Change administrator credentials to stronger passwords.
- Disable remote access functions on devices when not in use.
The goal is to immediately stop any unwanted activity and prevent further exploitation of the network by malicious actors.
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