You know your IP address is important; we certainly bring it up often enough in our security guides. But why exactly is
it so important? If someone manages to get your IP address, they can do a lot of damage to your life, from sending you spam to attacking your computer. In this guide, we’ll show you all the ways that someone could use your IP address. In addition, we’ll give you practical advice on how to protect this valuable piece of information. Protect Your IP Address with Our Recommended VPNsWhat Can Someone Do With Your IP Address?Your IP address is a number that identifies you when you’re online. You need it to send and receive data, watch Netflix, or browse Wikipedia entries. Precisely because it’s so very useful, your IP address is a valuable piece of information. What can someone do with it if they gain access to it? The possibilities range from minor inconveniences to full-on cyberattacks, and perhaps even physical attacks as well.
FYI: IP addresses don’t reveal any personal information about you, but they do indicate your general geolocation, usually your city or ZIP code. If a hacker knows your IP address, they can track down your ISP and try to get information about you.What Is an IP Address?An IP address (short for internet protocol address) is a numerical label that identifies your device and your device’s general geographic location. The internet uses IP addresses to differentiate among all the different internet websites, devices, and networks, and it couldn’t operate without IP addresses. Your device has both an external (public) IP address and an internal (private) IP address. The external address corresponds to your home or business. Essentially, it identifies your router. Internal addresses identify specific devices, differentiating them from the others in your home.1 If you check your device settings, you may also notice that each of your devices has two IP addresses: an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address. IPv4 was introduced in 1983 and is still the address most of the internet uses. In 1999, internet experts began to worry that all the IPv4 addresses might get used up eventually, so they introduced a more complex system with more numbers and letters. Laptop Computer with WindowsHow Can I See My Own IP Address?At any time, of course, you can find the IP address of the device you’re using, like finding your printer’s IP address. How you do this will depend on the specific type of device you’re using. WindowsTo find your IP address on a Windows device:
MacIf you’re looking for your IP address on a Mac:
AndroidYou can find your IP addresses on an Android device by doing the following:
iPhoneTo find your IP address on an iPhone:
How Does Someone Get Your IP Address?The truth is, your IP address isn’t that hard to locate. Because it isn’t considered PII, most companies and services don’t take any extra precautions to conceal it. As a result, someone can get your IP address from a number of sources, including:
Protecting Your IP AddressThere are a number of steps you can take to protect your IP address:
Can Someone Use My IP Address to Control My Computer Remotely?By itself, an IP address doesn’t allow hackers to control your computer or impersonate you online. An IP address is simply a numeric tag that identifies your device and provides information about your general geolocation. However, if hackers manage to gain access to your computer through other means, like malware, they can use your IP address to conduct all sorts of shady activities in your name. They might, for instance, make death threats or sell drugs. Of course, this scenario can’t happen if you keep your operating system up to date and use strong antivirus software. Avast Antivirus – Mac is ProtectedWhat to Do If Someone Has Your IP AddressYou can’t stop someone from using your IP address if they have it; just like you can’t stop someone from using your Social Security number if you lost your Social Security card. However, you can change your IP address any time you want. Assuming you’re working at home, the easiest way to change your address is to unplug your router for five minutes and then plug it back in. Once it starts up, you’ll have a new IP address. You can also change your IP address on the device itself, and the process is just as easy. Of course, the specific steps will depend on what type of device you’re using. WindowsTo change your address on a Windows device:
MacIf you’re changing the address on a Mac:
AndroidTo change your address on an Android device:
iPhoneTo change your address on an iPhone:
In some cases, your VPN or network manager may have given you a new IP address. You can also change your IP address by typing these numbers in manually. WindowsTo change your Windows address:
MacTo change your IP address on a Mac:
AndroidIf you’re using an Android device:
iPhoneTo change your IP address on an iPhone:
THE MORE YOU KNOW: There’s an easy fix if you think someone may know your IP address. Head to your device’s settings and change the address to a completely new one. RecapWhat can someone do with your IP address? It turns out they can do quite a bit, from filling your inbox with spam to conducting illegal activities in your name. Luckily, there are means of protecting yourself, such as antivirus software and VPNs. Of course, if all else fails, you can always just change your IP address. Whatever option you choose, a secure device means keeping your address protected. FAQWe’re not done just yet. As a bonus, we’ve taken the time to answer some of your most frequently asked questions about what someone can do with your IP address.
Can a person track my IP address?Tracing your IP address is legal as long as it's not used for criminal activities. The websites you visit, apps you use, and even your ISP collect your IP address along with other personal information. However, individual users can also easily trace your IP address.
How does your IP address get tracked?Your IP address needs to let the device at the other IP address know where to send the information that's being requested. This is how the “handshake” works and IP addresses are being tracked. Every time you visit a website, your network sends out an information packet containing your IP address and port number.
How do I stop my IP address from being tracked?6 Ways to Hide Your IP Address. Get a VPN Software. ... . Use a Proxy – Slower than VPN. ... . Use TOR – FREE. ... . Use Mobile Network – Slow and not encrypted. ... . Connect to Public Wi-Fi – Not Secure. ... . Call Your Internet Service Provider. ... . Hide Your Location. ... . Circumvent IP restrictions.. |