My understanding is IRC exposes a user's IP address to anybody connected to the chat forums. I am not clear about IM services exposing that information as most of those services go through a central server. Likewise with OTR or video conferencing, such as Skype or Skype alternatives. When is the user's IP address exposed and when not?
I understand IP addresses routinely are exposed throughout the web. Yet even so there is a degree of privacy. For example, participating in an online discussion forum does not expose IP information to users. Accessing a web site exposes an IP address to the server but the IP address is not exposed to the entire world nor is there any identity connected to the IP address. Similarly, while friends and associates likely know a user's geographical location that an IP address exposes, there are instances when users prefer that information not be exposed. IRC is an example.
I am not looking for anonymity, such as tor. I am only trying to understand when IP addresses are exposed when using these services. More specifically, when IP addresses are connected to identities.
I appreciate help to understand the nuances.
Thanks.
