Windows 7: Tools and methods to track down suspect IP addresses

There are many reasons why you might need to track down an IP address. You might have discovered a hacking attempt in one of your logs. You might think you have found a spammer that you want to add to a black list. The “why” are as many as are the “how.” Every operating system has different tools for helping you track down an IP address. Compounded with this is that any tool that makes use of an IP address also has different tools for this purpose. So where do you start? What’s the easiest way to find IP addresses and help locate their sources?

I’m assuming you know what an IP address is and what it does, but that’s about it. Much of this information will be common knowledge to the seasoned administrator., but new administrators or support techs might glean some useful information here.