IP addresses are one of the fundamental building blocks of the internet, but they may pose a security risk if an attacker obtains yours.
What is an IP Address? IP Address Meaning
An IP address is a number string separated by periods.
Internet Protocol addresses are expressed as a string of four numbers, such as 192.158.1.38.
Each number in the set can have a value ranging from 0 to 255.
As a result, the full IP addressing range is 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255. Internet Protocol addresses are not generated at random.
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), a division of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, generates and assigns them mathematically (ICANN).
ICANN is a non-profit organisation founded in the United States in 1998 to help maintain the security and usability of the internet.
Every time someone registers a domain name on the internet, they go through a domain name registrar, who pays a small fee to ICANN to do so.
How do IP addresses Work
Understanding how Internet Protocol addresses work can help you understand why a particular device is not connecting as expected or troubleshoot why your network may not be working.
Internet Protocol communicates in the same way that any other language does, by following predefined rules to pass information.
Using this protocol, all devices find, send, and exchange information with other connected devices. Any computer in any location can communicate with another by speaking the same language.
Internet Protocol addresses is typically used behind the scenes.
The procedure is as follows:
1. Your device connects to the internet indirectly by first connecting to a network that is connected to the internet, which then grants your device access to the internet.
2. That network will most likely be your Internet Service Provider when you are at home (ISP). It will be your company network at work.
Your ISP will assign your device an IP address.
4. Your internet activity is routed through the ISP and returned to you via your Internet Protocol address.
Because they are providing you with internet access, it is their responsibility to assign an IP address to your device.
5. Your Internet Protocol address, however, can change. Turning your modem or router on or off, for example, can alter it. You can also contact your ISP and have them change it for you.
6. When you are out and about, such as travelling, and bring your device with you, your home Internet Protocol address does not accompany you.
This is because you will be accessing the internet through a different network (Wi-Fi at a hotel, airport, or coffee shop, for example) and will have a different (and temporary) Internet Protocol address assigned to you by the ISP of the hotel, airport, or coffee shop.
As the process implies, there are various types of IP addresses, which we will look at below.
Types of IP addresses
There are various types of Internet Protocol addresses and different categories of Internet Protocol addresses.
Consumer IP addresses
Every person or company with an internet service plan will have two types of Internet Protocol addresses: private Internet Protocol addresses and public IP addresses.
The terms public and private refer to network location; for example, a private IP address is used within a network, whereas a public Internet Protocol address is used outside of a network.
Private IP addresses
Each device that connects to your internet network is assigned a unique IP address.
This includes not only computers, smartphones, and tablets, but any Bluetooth-enabled device such as speakers, printers, or smart TVs.
The number of private Internet Protocol addresses you have at home is probably increasing as the internet of things expands.
Your router must be able to identify these items separately, and many items must be able to recognise one another. As a result, your router generates private Internet Protocol addresses that are unique identifiers for each device on the network.
Public IP addresses
A public Internet Protocol address is the primary address for your entire network. While each connected device has its own Internet Protocol address, they are also included in your network’s main IP address.
Your ISP provides your router with your public IP address, as described above. ISPs typically have a large pool of Internet Protocol addresses from which they distribute to their customers.
Your public Internet Protocol address is the address used by all devices outside your internet network to identify your network.
Public IP addresses
There are two types of public IP addresses: dynamic and static.
Dynamic IP addresses
Dynamic IP addresses change on a regular and automatic basis.
ISPs purchase a large pool of Internet Protocol addresses and assign them to their customers automatically.
They re-assign them on a regular basis and return the older Internet Protocol addresses to the pool for use by other customers.
The rationale for this approach is to save money for the ISP.
By automating the regular movement of Internet Protocol addresses, they avoid having to perform specific actions, such as re-establishing a customer’s Internet Protocol address if they move home.
There are also security benefits, as changing your IP address makes it more difficult for criminals to hack into your network interface.
Static IP addresses
Static IP addresses, in contrast to dynamic Internet Protocol addresses, remain consistent. Once assigned by the network, an IP address does not change.
Most individuals and businesses do not require a static Internet Protocol address, but businesses that intend to host their own server must have one.
This is because a static Internet Protocol address ensures that websites and email addresses associated with it have a consistent Internet Protocol address — essential if you want other devices to be able to find them on the web consistently.
This brings us to the next point: the two types of website Internet Protocol addresses.
Website Internet Protocol addresses are classified into two types.
There are two types of website IP addresses for website owners who do not host their own server and instead rely on a web hosting package, which is the case for most websites. These are dedicated and shared.
Shared IP addresses
Websites that rely on shared hosting plans from web hosting providers are usually among many others hosted on the same server.
This is usually the case for individual or small-business websites, where traffic volumes are manageable and the sites themselves are limited in terms of the number of pages, etc.
The Internet Protocol addresses for websites hosted in this manner will be shared.
Dedicated IP addresses
A dedicated Internet Protocol address can be purchased with some web hosting plans (or addresses).
This simplifies the process of obtaining an SSL certificate and enables you to run your own File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server.
This facilitates file sharing and transfer with multiple people within an organisation, as well as anonymous FTP sharing options.
A dedicated Internet Protocol address also allows you to access your website using only the Internet Protocol address rather than the domain name, which is useful if you want to build and test your website before registering your domain.
How to Look Up IP addresses
The simplest way to find your router’s public Internet Protocol address is to Google “What is my Internet Protocol address?”
The answer will be displayed at the top of the page by Google.
Other websites will display the same information: they can see your public Internet Protocol address because you visited the site, which caused your router to make a request, revealing the information.
IPLocation goes a step further by displaying the name of your ISP as well as your city.
In general, this technique will only provide an approximation of location — where the provider is, but not the actual device location. If you do this, remember to log out of your VPN as well.
Obtaining the actual physical location address for the public Internet Protocol address usually necessitates submitting a search warrant to the ISP.
Finding your private IP address differs depending on the platform:
In Windows:
- Use the command prompt
- Using Windows search, look for “cmd” (without the quotes).
- To find the information, type “ipconfig” (without the quotation marks) in the resulting pop-up box.
On a Mac:
- Open System Preferences
- Select Network – and the information should be visible.
On an iPhone:
- Open the Settings app
- Click the “i” in a circle () next to the network you’re on, and the IP address should be visible under the DHCP tab.
Go into the router to check the Internet Protocol addresses of other devices on your network.
The method of accessing the router is determined by the brand and software it employs.
In general, you should be able to access the router by entering its gateway Internet Protocol address into a web browser on the same network
From there, navigate to “attached devices,” which should display a list of all the devices that are currently or recently connected to the network — including their Internet Protocol addresses.
Related Articles: HOW TO CHANGE IP ADDRESS ON PHONE – IPHONE, AND ANDROID
IP Address Security Threats
Cybercriminals can obtain your IP address using a variety of methods. Social engineering and online stalking are two of the most common.
Social engineering can be used by attackers to trick you into disclosing your Internet Protocol address. They can, for example, locate you using Skype or a similar instant messaging application that communicates via Internet Protocol addresses.
If you use these apps to chat with strangers, keep in mind that they can see your Internet Protocol address. Attackers can use a Skype Resolver tool to determine your IP address based on your username.
Online stalking
Criminals can find your Internet Protocol address by simply following your online activity.
From playing video games to leaving comments on websites and forums, your Internet Protocol address can be revealed through a variety of online activities.
Once they have your Internet Protocol address, attackers can enter it into an IP address tracking website, such as whatismyipaddress.com, to determine your location.
They can then cross-reference other open-source data to determine whether the IP address is specifically associated with you.
They can then use LinkedIn, Facebook, or other social networks to see where you live and compare it to the area provided.
If a Facebook stalker uses a phishing attack to install spying malware on people with your name, the Internet Protocol address associated with your system will most likely confirm your identity to the stalker.
Cybercriminals can launch attacks against you or even impersonate you if they know your IP address.
It is critical to understand the risks and how to mitigate them.
Risks include:
Using your Internet Protocol address to download illegal content
Hackers have been known to use hacked IP addresses to download illegal content and anything else they don’t want to be linked to them.
Criminals, for example, could use the identity of your Internet Protocol address to download pirated movies, music, and video – which would violate your ISP’s terms of service – and, much more seriously, content related to terrorism or child pornography.
This may imply that, through no fault of your own, you may attract the attention of law enforcement.
Tracking down your location
Hackers can use geolocation technology to identify your region, city, and state if they know your IP address.
They only need to do a little more research on social media to identify your home and possibly rob it while you are away.
Directly attacking your network
Criminals can target your network directly and launch a variety of attacks.
A DDoS attack is one of the most common (distributed denial-of-service).
This type of cyberattack occurs when hackers use previously infected machines to generate a large number of requests in order to overwhelm the targeted system or server.
This generates too much traffic for the server to handle, resulting in service disruption.
It essentially disables your internet connection. While this type of attack is most commonly directed at businesses and video game services, it can also be directed at individuals, though this is much less common. Online gamers are especially vulnerable because their screens are visible while streaming (on which an IP address can be discovered).
Hacking into your device
To connect to the internet, ports and your Internet Protocol address are used. Every Internet Protocol address has thousands of ports, and a hacker who knows your Internet Protocol address can try those ports to force a connection.
They could, for example, take over your phone and steal your information. If a criminal gains access to your device, they may install malware.
What is my IP address?
You might be wondering what your IP address is if you’re reading this on a networked device. There are numerous websites that will tell you, such as whatismyipaddress.com.
However, if you have your device connected to a local network, as most people do, the result you’ll get from these sites is the public-facing Internet Protocol address assigned to your router.
To locate your private IP address on your local network, go to your device’s network settings.
Lifehacker outlines the steps to take on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
What is my IP Address VPN?
Click “Start,” then “Settings,” “Network & Internet,” and “Wi-Fi.” Choose the network to which you are connected. Select “Properties.” Scroll to the bottom of the window and your IP address will be displayed next to “IPv4 address.”
How to Protect and Hide your IP Address
Hide your Internet Protocol address to safeguard your personal information and online identity.
The two primary methods for concealing your Internet Protocol address are:
1. Employing a proxy server
2. Making use of a virtual private network (VPN)
A proxy server is an intermediary server that routes your traffic:
- The internet servers you visit see only the proxy server’s Internet Protocol address, not yours;
- When those servers send information back to you, it goes to the proxy server, which then routes it to you.
One disadvantage of proxy servers is that some of them can spy on you, so you must trust them.
They can also insert ads into your browser, depending on which one you use.
VPN offers a better solution:
- When you connect your computer – or smartphone or tablet – to a VPN, the device acts as if it is on the same local network as the VPN
- All of your network traffic is routed through a secure connection to the VPN.
- Because your computer acts as if it is connected to the network, you can securely access local network resources even if you are in another country.
- You can also access the internet as if you were physically present at the VPN’s location, which is useful if you use public Wi-Fi or want to access geo-blocked websites.
When should you use VPN
Using a VPN hides your IP address and routes your traffic through a separate server, making your online experience much safer.
Situations where you might use a VPN include:
When using public Wi-Fi, when travelling, when working remotely, or simply when you want some privacy, you might want to use a VPN.
How to hide your IP address with a VPN
Your Internet Protocol address can reveal a great deal about yourself. It will reveal your approximate geographic location, for example, and there are a variety of reasons why you might want to conceal that.
One method is to use a virtual private network, or VPN. A VPN service can create an encrypted tunnel from your device to a private network hosted by the VPN provider over the public internet.
It’s similar to connecting to your home network, except that the network router could be halfway around the world.
Your Internet Protocol address will be the one assigned to your VPN host to external sites. Internet Protocol addresses may not provide much privacy, but VPNs provide a clever way around this.
VPN tunnels can also be established between the originating and destination devices if each is equipped with compatible VPN software.
Many businesses support VPN gateways, which establish tunnels between themselves and remote devices that have VPN software that is compatible with them.
The IPv4 and IPv6 Protocols
IPv4 is the original Internet Protocol. As we’ve seen, an Internet Protocol address is defined as a 32-bit number, such as 506.457.14.512. That only allows for about 4 billion IP addresses, which is insufficient for ongoing use.
IPv6 is a new protocol that debuted in 1998.
Deployment began in the mid-2000s and is still ongoing. If you go to WhatIsMyIP.com, you can find out if you’ve been assigned an IPv6 address.
The new protocol employs 128-bit IP addresses such as 4ggr:1925:5656:7:600:t4tt:tc54:98vt.
This means that IPv6 can provide approximately 340 trillion trillion trillion Internet Protocol addresses. That will be more than enough to meet the growing demand for Internet Protocol addresses for websites, computers, smartphones, smartwatches, and smart refrigerators for the foreseeable future.
IP Address Example
An Internet Protocol address is divided into two parts: the network ID (the first three numbers of the address) and the host ID (the fourth number in the address). On your home network, for example, 192.168.1.1 is the network ID, and the last number is the host ID.
How to change your IP address on Windows 10
1. From an administrator’s account, navigate to Start, then Settings.
2. Select Network & Internet from the Settings window.
3. Select Properties under your local area connection.
4. Select Edit under IP assignment.
5. Select Manual, enable IPv4, and enter the Internet Protocol address.
Then click the Save button.
FAQs
Is there a free IP address tracker?
ipTRACKERonline is another online website that anyone can use for free.
It is an IP address tracker that provides detailed information about any Internet Protocol address.
The best part, of course, is being able to see the IP address’s location on a map.
What is IP Address Location?
There is no database that can provide the exact physical address of an Internet Protocol address location.
At best, you’ll get the exact city where the IP user is located. An IP’s exact physical address can only be provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP).
What is my IP address VPN?
Click “Start,” then “Settings,” “Network & Internet,” and “Wi-Fi.”
Choose the network to which you are connected.
Select “Properties.” Scroll to the bottom of the window and your IP address will be displayed next to “IPv4 address.”
What is my local IP address?
To begin, go to your Start Menu and type cmd into the search box, then press enter.
A black and white window will appear, into which you should type ipconfig /all and press enter.
Between the command ipconfig and also the switch /all, there is a space. The IPv4 address will be assigned to you.
What is TCP IP address classes?
TCP/IP defines five Internet Protocol address classes: A, B, C, D, and E. Each class has a unique set of IP addresses.
The class is determined by the first octet’s value. Host addresses can be assigned to Internet Protocol addresses from the first three classes (A, B, and C).
What is an IP address format?
The following is the format of an IPv4 address: x. x. x. x, where x is an octet with a decimal value between 0 and 255.
What are the 3 designated private IP address ranges?
Private Address Ranges
- Class A: 10.0. 0.0 to 10.255. 255.255.
- Class B: 172.16. 0.0 to 172.31. 255.255.
- Class C: 192.168. 0.0 to 192.168. 255.255.
How can I get Google IP address?
Find your Internet Protocol address
1. Launch a web browser (such as Chrome, Firefox, or any browser of your choice).
2. Navigate to one of the following or a similar website: whatsmyip.org or whatismyip.com. Either of these web pages detects and displays your network’s public Internet Protocol address.
How can I get a fake IP address?
Use a Web Proxy. A web proxy works in much the same way as a VPN. When you connect to the proxy server, all of your web traffic is routed through it. As a result, your Internet Protocol address is obscured by the proxy server’s IP address.
How to find my IP address?
Navigate to your phone’s settings. Choose “About device.” Select “Status.” You can find information about your device, including its Internet Protocol address, in this section.
Can you generate an IP address?
A random IP generator is a web-based tool that allows you to quickly generate a list of random IP addresses.
The IP addresses can be used by developers and programmers for their applications, as well as by online tools for cross-browser testing.
We support two types of Internet Protocol addresses: IPv4 and IPv6.
How do you use an IP calculator?
Simply open the Subnet Calculator webpage and enter the IP address range or CIDR notation.
When you enter the range, the subnet Calculator will automatically mention the last IP address.
In the Quantity tab, you can select the number of subnets from the drop down menu.
Conclusion
Nothing on the internet can function without Internet Protocols. Internet Protocols must be updated on a regular basis, as well as their versions, in order for them to communicate effectively over the internet.
The entire data transfer is handled by the Internet Protocol addressing system and the transmission control systems. TCP/IP is required for both complicated and simple networks to function on the internet.
Nothing on the internet can function without Internet Protocols. Internet Protocols must be updated on a regular basis, as well as their versions, in order for them to communicate effectively over the internet.
The entire data transfer is handled by the Internet Protocol addressing system and the transmission control systems. TCP/IP is required for both complicated and simple networks to function on the internet.
