As the process implies, there are different types of IP addresses, which we explore below. There are different categories of IP addresses, and within each category, different types. Every individual or business with an internet service plan will have two types of IP addresses: their private IP addresses and their public IP address. The terms public and private relate to the network location — that is, a private IP address is used inside a network, while a public one is used outside a network.
Every device that connects to your internet network has a private IP address. This includes computers, smartphones, and tablets but also any Bluetooth-enabled devices like speakers, printers, or smart TVs.
With the growing internet of things , the number of private IP addresses you have at home is probably growing. Your router needs a way to identify these items separately, and many items need a way to recognize each other. Therefore, your router generates private IP addresses that are unique identifiers for each device that differentiate them on the network. A public IP address is the primary address associated with your whole network.
While each connected device has its own IP address, they are also included within the main IP address for your network. Your public IP address is the address that all the devices outside your internet network will use to recognize your network. Dynamic IP addresses change automatically and regularly. ISPs buy a large pool of IP addresses and assign them automatically to their customers.
Periodically, they re-assign them and put the older IP addresses back into the pool to be used for other customers. The rationale for this approach is to generate cost savings for the ISP. There are security benefits, too, because a changing IP address makes it harder for criminals to hack into your network interface. In contrast to dynamic IP addresses, static addresses remain consistent. Once the network assigns an IP address, it remains the same.
Most individuals and businesses do not need a static IP address, but for businesses that plan to host their own server, it is crucial to have one. This is because a static IP address ensures that websites and email addresses tied to it will have a consistent IP address — vital if you want other devices to be able to find them consistently on the web. This leads to the next point — which is the two types of website IP addresses. These are shared and dedicated.
Websites that rely on shared hosting plans from web hosting providers will typically be one of many websites hosted on the same server. This tends to be the case for individual websites or SME websites, where traffic volumes are manageable, and the sites themselves are limited in terms of the number of pages, etc. Websites hosted in this way will have shared IP addresses.
Some web hosting plans have the option to purchase a dedicated IP address or addresses. This makes it easier to share and transfer files with multiple people within an organization and allow anonymous FTP sharing options.
A dedicated IP address also allows you to access your website using the IP address alone rather than the domain name — useful if you want to build and test it before registering your domain. Google will show you the answer at the top of the page. Other websites will show you the same information: they can see your public IP address because, by visiting the site, your router has made a request and therefore revealed the information.
Generally, you will only receive an approximation of location using this technique — where the provider is, but not the actual device location.
If you are doing this, remember to log out of your VPN too. Obtaining the actual physical location address for the public IP address usually requires a search warrant to be submitted to the ISP.
If you need to check the IP addresses of other devices on your network, go into the router. How you access the router depends on the brand and the software it uses. Generally, you should be able to type the router's gateway IP address into a web browser on the same network to access it. From there, you will need to navigate to something like "attached devices," which should display a list of all the devices currently or recently attached to the network — including their IP addresses.
Cybercriminals can use various techniques to obtain your IP address. Two of the most common are social engineering and online stalking. Attackers can use social engineering to deceive you into revealing your IP address. For example, they can find you through Skype or a similar instant messaging application, which uses IP addresses to communicate.
If you chat with strangers using these apps, it is important to note that they can see your IP address. Attackers can use a Skype Resolver tool, where they can find your IP address from your username. Criminals can track down your IP address by merely stalking your online activity. Any number of online activities can reveal your IP address, from playing video games to commenting on websites and forums. Once they have your IP address, attackers can go to an IP address tracking website, such as whatismyipaddress.
They can then cross-reference other open-source data if they want to validate whether the IP address is associated with you specifically. They can then use LinkedIn, Facebook, or other social networks that show where you live, and then see if that matches the area given.
If a Facebook stalker uses a phishing attack against people with your name to install spying malware , the IP address associated with your system would likely confirm your identity to the stalker. If cybercriminals know your IP address, they can launch attacks against you or even impersonate you. It is important to be aware of the risks and how to mitigate them. Risks include:. Hackers are known to use hacked IP addresses to download illegal content and anything else they do not want to be traced back to them.
This could mean that you — through no fault of your own — could attract the attention of law enforcement. Can IP addresses reveal your identity? No, not outrightly. However, others can piece together bits of your identity, using your IP address and by following your online activity.
How others can find your IP address — and why they want to. But, why would other people want to know your IP address and what would they do with it? Is it dangerous for people to know your IP address? How to protect your IP address The simplest and most straightforward way to protect your IP address is to use a virtual private network VPN because this anonymizes your online activity using encryption.
Talk about throwing someone off your digital tail. Cyber threats have evolved, and so have we. Try Norton with Lifelock. Learn More. Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. NortonLifeLock offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about cyber safety.
Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses. The privacy paradox: How much privacy are we willing to give up online? What is identity management and why does it matter? How to protect your privacy online. Follow us for all the latest news, tips and updates. Your Spotify might hiccup.
Media streaming services will have a momentary brain freeze. If you're sending or receiving files, you may need to start over. And you might have to log back in to whatever secure site you're currently using. If you're tooling around with IP address changes, you might have some other questions. Here are two of the most common questions I've been asked. Routinely changing your external, or public IP address, can help you improve your overall security and browsing privacy.
There are other reasons, too. If you've just installed a new home router, you may need to reconfigure your network with a quick IP change. One common problem among home routers is that they sometimes give devices the wrong IP address, so changing your IP manually can solve those glitches. If you want to access a country's catalog of streaming media services when you're outside of that country for whatever reason, changing your IP to one based in the right country can get you the catalog you're looking for.
Likewise, if you're a gamer looking to lower your lag, changing your IP via a gaming proxy server can help improve performance. One neat tech trick for second-language learners is to use an IP address based in another country to generate search results and local publications written in the local language.
Yes, it's legal to change your IP address in the US. People change their IP addresses routinely when facing direct attacks on their online security, when testing a website before it goes live, or when they simply prefer to protect their privacy. Obviously, this FAQ is in no way offering legal advice and you should consult a licensed attorney for specific questions, but the legal boundaries on IP address changes usually start with what you change your IP to, and what you do with that new IP address.
You might also run into trouble if you're changing your IP address to access a website you've been banned from. IP spoofing is also a tool used by some cybercriminals to perform a handful of well-known attacks, most commonly those related to identity theft and those aimed at crippling websites with organized distributed denial of service bombardment.
When you use any of the virtual private networks we've reviewed in our directory , the service will automatically make you appear as though you have a different IP address originating from whatever country you select. Literally just open your VPN app and connect to any city other than your current one -- in less than 30 seconds, you've changed your IP so it appears to be from wherever you chose.
There are some key privacy differences that I've detailed elsewhere, but when you use a proxy, it also changes your visible IP address. Chrome, Firefox and Brave Browser all have their own versions of proxies and browser-based VPNs that you can try for yourself. Setting up a VPN on your iPhone or Android device is as easy as installing any other app on your phone, and I've got a step-by-step guide in case you'd like to see how to do it.
If you're gaming from a console, I've also got a quick walkthrough for you on setting up a VPN on an Xbox along with a list of the ones that performed best in my tests. If you've never toyed with VPNs but are considering one, I've got the Cliff's Notes version of how to pick the right one , which you might find helpful.
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