Why BGP matters for security and fraud
Because BGP relies on networks trusting each other's announcements, it can be abused. In BGP hijacking, a network announces IP ranges it does not own, pulling traffic toward itself. Route leaks can do similar damage by accident. The ASN that originates a route is the first thing analysts check when a hijack is suspected.
The ASN behind an IP is also a practical risk signal. Traffic from a hosting or data-center ASN is more likely to be automated than a residential connection. Abstract's IP Intelligence API returns the ASN and its type, plus flags such as is_hosting, is_vpn, and is_proxy, so you can score requests in real time.
Related BGP topics
BGP is a deep subject, and a few pieces are worth understanding on their own. To watch routes the way other networks see them, use a BGP looking glass. To understand how networks agree to exchange traffic, see BGP peering, and for how peering, transit, and exchanges fit together, read Tier 1 networks, transit, and IXPs.
How to see the ASN behind a route
To find the ASN that announces a given IP address, enter the IP into an ASN lookup tool. You get the ASN, the operator's name, and its type. Look up any ASN with Abstract's free tool, or read how IP-to-ASN mapping works under the hood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does BGP stand for?
BGP stands for Border Gateway Protocol. It is the routing protocol that lets the internet's autonomous systems exchange reachability information and choose paths between networks.
What is BGP used for?
BGP is used to route traffic between independent networks on the internet. Each network announces the IP ranges it can reach, and BGP builds the global routing table that every router uses to forward traffic.
How does BGP use ASNs?
Every BGP route is tagged with the ASN that originated it, and the AS_PATH lists each ASN the route passes through. ASNs let BGP identify networks and prevent routing loops.
What is the difference between eBGP and iBGP?
eBGP (external BGP) exchanges routes between different autonomous systems, while iBGP (internal BGP) distributes those routes among the routers inside a single autonomous system.
What is BGP hijacking?
BGP hijacking is when a network announces IP prefixes it does not own, causing traffic to be misrouted toward it. The originating ASN is the key signal used to detect and trace hijacks.
Is BGP still used today?
Yes. BGP runs internet routing between networks, and every autonomous system on the public internet relies on it to reach and be reached.
