AS18431: the DFAT-AS-AP Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade network

AS18431 is an internet Autonomous System operated by DFAT-AS-AP Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia). Here is what that means and why this number may show up when you investigate a connection on your network.

What is AS18431?

An Autonomous System (ASN) is a block of networks under a single control with its own routing policy on the internet. The number AS18431 was assigned to DFAT-AS-AP Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by an RIR (regional internet registry). All traffic entering or leaving that network is announced under this number.

Reach on the internet

AS18431 currently announces 3 IPv4 block(s), totaling about 7.7 thousand addresses (7,680 in all), registered in Australia. Services from DFAT-AS-AP Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are reached through these addresses.

What it means to see AS18431 on your network

When you investigate where a connection from your computer or phone comes from (or goes to), you may find AS18431. That means the other end sits on the DFAT-AS-AP Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade network (Australia). It can be legitimate — a cloud service, an ISP, a CDN — or an unexpected connection worth checking.

How to see every connection and network your devices reach

Tracing one connection's ASN at a time is tedious. Sentinela, by PC Monitor, maps the devices on your network, shows what is exposed to the internet and helps flag suspicious connections and devices — running on your Windows. Meet Sentinela.