# IP INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: 78.17.93.173/32
Classification: Moderate Risk – Tor Exit Node
Date: Current Intelligence Cycle
Risk Score: 59/100
---
## EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
IP 78.17.93.173 has been classified as a Tor exit node with moderate risk characteristics. The IP exhibits persistent anonymity network activity with associated threat indicators including Tor exit node classification and a single DNS blacklist listing. Network neighborhood analysis reveals elevated abuse density across the 78.17.93.0/24 subnet with multiple sibling IPs showing comparable risk profiles.
---
## TECHNICAL PROFILE
Network Classification:
- ASN: 26832 (moula-world-llc)
- CIDR Block: 78.17.93.0/24
- RIR: RIPE
- Network Role: Tor Exit Nodes
Geolocation:
- Country: US (Waterford)
- Validation Status: GeoPlausible: FALSE
- RTT Violation: Observed RTT 31.0ms violates minimum possible 102.5ms for 5,126km distance
DNS Analysis:
- PTR Hostname: 173.93.17.78.mtl6.servers.guru
- Forward Resolution: servers.guru
- DNSSEC: Valid
- Email Auth: DMARC configured, SPF absent
Service Status:
- Open Ports: None detected
- HTTP/TLS Services: Inactive
- Infrastructure Type: Unknown
---
## THREAT INDICATORS
| Indicator | Status | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Tor Exit Node | Confirmed | Medium |
| Blacklist Listings | 1 | Low |
| Abuse Confidence Score | N/A | N/A |
| Known Campaigns | None | N/A |
Threat Feed Observations:
- Tor exit indicators observed in historical analysis
- Persistent classification across 56 observation cycles
- No correlation to known attacker campaigns
---
## NEIGHBORHOOD ANALYSIS
Subnet: 78.17.93.0/24
Abuse Density: 0 (Mostly Clean)
Total Siblings: 4
Active Siblings: 4
Threat Siblings: 4
High-Risk Sibling IPs:
- 78.17.93.70 (Risk: 59/100, Authority: 50)
- 78.17.93.91 (Risk: 66/100, Authority: 50)
- 78.17.93.172 (Risk: 66/100, Authority: 50)
Assessment: All sibling IPs exhibit elevated risk scores consistent with Tor exit node activity, suggesting coordinated anonymization infrastructure within this /24 block.
---
## OBSERVATION HISTORY
Total Observations: 56
Threat Persistence: Non-persistent (single observation cycle)
Recent Classifications: Consistent Tor Exit Node designation across historical data
Temporal Trends: No significant escalation or de-escalation of risk profile observed. Persistent classification indicates stable operational posture rather than emerging threat.
---
## RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Immediate Actions:
1. Access Control: Implement enhanced verification for anonymous traffic originating from this IP range
2. Logging: Increase logging verbosity and enable detailed activity monitoring for 78.17.93.0/24
3. Firewall Consideration: Block traffic from identified high-risk sibling IPs if policy permits
Implementation Rules:
iptables:
```bash
iptables -A INPUT -s 78.17.93.173 -j DROP
```
nftables:
```bash
nft add rule inet filter input ip saddr 78.17.93.173 drop
```
nginx:
```nginx
deny 78.17.93.173;
```
Cloudflare WAF:
```json
{"description":"Block 78.17.93.173 — IPDebrief risk score 59","action":"block","filter":{"expression":"ip.src eq 78.17.93.173"}}
```
AWS WAF:
```json
{"Addresses":["78.17.93.173/32"],"Description":"IPDebrief risk 59"}
```
---
## ANALYST NOTES
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
The IP exhibits clear Tor exit node characteristics with consistent classification across multiple observation cycles. However, geolocation validation failures and absence of active services suggest the IP may be in a dormant or transitional state.
Risk Mitigation Priority: Medium
While not actively malicious based on current indicators, the Tor exit node classification warrants monitoring. Consider implementing rate limiting rather than outright blocking if service availability requires.
Monitoring Recommendation: Continue surveillance of the 78.17.93.0/24 subnet for changes in threat indicators or emergence of active service signatures.
---
Classification: WORK PRODUCT
Distribution: SOC Team, Network Security Operations
Intel Cycle: Real-time
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Verify critical details independently.
🏢 Ownership & Registration
| Organization | Abuse contact role object |
| ASN | AS26832 |
| Network Name | moula-world-llc |
| CIDR Block | 78.17.93.0/24 |
| RIR | RIPE |
| Country | US |
| Abuse Contact | Available via RDAP |
🌐 DNS Intelligence
| PTR | 173.93.17.78.mtl6.servers.guru |
| Forward Confirmed | No — PTR hostname does not resolve back to this IP (weak signal) |
| Forward Hostnames | 173.93.17.78.mtl3.servers.guru173.93.17.78.mtl6.servers.guru |
🔐 DNS Hygiene
| Hygiene Score | 60% (Good) |
| SPF | Not configured |
| DMARC | Present |
| FCrDNS | Not verified |
| DNSSEC | Valid |
| CAA | Present |
☁️ Network Classification
| Infrastructure | Unknown |
| Service Purpose | Firewalled / No Services |
| Network Tier | Tier 3 — Basic operator with some routing infrastructure |
🔌 Services & Open Ports
| Port | Service | Protocol | Banner |
|---|---|---|---|
| No open ports detected | |||
| Closed Ports | 22, 25, 80, 443, 3389, 8080, 8443 (0 open / 7 scanned) | ||
| Server | — |
| HTTP Title | — |
🔐 TLS Certificate
| SANs | None |
| Valid From | — |
| Valid Until | — |
🛡️ Public Network Snapshot
| Origin ASN | AS26832 |
| Network Prefix | 78.17.93.0/24 |
| Route mapping | Found |
🎯 Confidence Breakdown
Per-dimension confidence scores based on source diversity and data freshness
| Dimension | Score | Sources | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| threat | 25% | 2 | 6 |
| routing | 17% | 2 | 3 |
| services | 25% | 2 | 4 |
| ownership | 19% | 3 | 4 |
| reputation | 21% | 1 | 5 |
| geolocation | 20% | 2 | 4 |
| Overall | 21% | 12 | 26 |
| Data Coherence | Mostly Consistent (80%) — 1 contradiction(s) |
| Attribution | Low (35%) |
| OwnershipFCrDNSGeo ConsensusGeo PlausibleIRR MatchRPKI Valid |
📅 Observation Timeline 🔄 Live
| First Seen | 2026-07-16 14:01:30 UTC |
| Last Seen | 2026-09-15 11:19:08 UTC |
| Profile Built | 2026-09-15 11:32:35 UTC |
| Data Freshness | Live |
| Signal Types | 27 |
| Total Observations | 43 |
Full dossier details are available via our API.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About 78.17.93.173
Who owns the IP address 78.17.93.173?
78.17.93.173 is registered to Abuse contact role object. The address falls within the 78.17.93.0/24 network block. Registration is held at RIPE.
Where is 78.17.93.173 located?
Geolocation data places 78.17.93.173 in Waterford, M, United States. IP geolocation is approximate and indicates the network's registered or routed location rather than a precise physical address.
Is 78.17.93.173 malicious or safe?
78.17.93.173 currently carries a moderate risk assessment, meaning some indicators warrant caution, but the evidence is mixed. This assessment is generated from continuously collected signals and can change over time.
What is the hostname for 78.17.93.173?
The reverse DNS (PTR) record for 78.17.93.173 is 173.93.17.78.mtl6.servers.guru. This hostname is not forward-confirmed, so it should be treated as a weak signal.