No matter what we do, we tend to spend most of our day online. The internet has become a necessity in every walk of life. Every time you go online, comment on a blog post, or play video games a savvy person would be able to take your IP address. This IP address can then be used for launching cyber attacks, you can be spied on, hacked, stolen, or impersonated. As well as it can also be used to get your ID, bank details, plan a burglary, and whatnot. Hence your online activities leave a trail that can be traced to give a major hit. So, to avoid becoming a target online, a key part is your IP address. You might be wondering what exactly my IP address tells you. Can my IP be traced? In this article, we will explore the basics of IP address, how it works, and what information it reveals.
An IP address is a string of numbers that helps websites, online services, and other devices to find and communicate with your device just like your physical address or Google PIN can tell people where to find your house. An IP address is a string of four numbers between 0 and 255 for example, 192.168.1.1. If you want to find out what your IP address is you can simply google ‘ what is my IP address’, and it will show you your IP address right away. Besides, platforms like checkmyiponline will go further and show your city and ISP name. Hence finding your IP address is not so difficult even if you are not tech-savvy.
Firstly other internet users can get hold of your IP address, internet services and websites often log the IP address of their users. If they are reputable they won’t share it with others but your other online activities such as gaming, sending messages via some app, or commenting on someone else's post could leave a trace and it could be used to glean your IP address. Even some emails are used to harvest your IP address when you open the email. Let’s see what information it reveals.
One of the primary pieces of information your IP address reveals is your approximate geographical location. But this location is general and it is usually pinpointed to the city or region level but it does not show your street location. Websites can use this information to customize content or show you region-specific ads. Although IP addresses reveal general location, this general location can further be used to find your socials, and online activities and find your exact location altogether. And they can put together who you are, what you do, and other such information.
In some cases, websites can make guesses about the type of device you are using based on your IP address. This helps them optimize their content for mobile devices, tablets, or desktop computers.
Your IP address can indicate if you are connecting from a corporate network, a public Wi-Fi hotspot, or a residential broadband connection. This information might be used for security purposes, to tailor the user experience, or for some unethical usage as well.
Your IP address also discloses the name of your internet service provider. So if someone has your ISP, they may get a general guess where your ISP happens to be located. Different ISPs have different ranges of IP addresses allocated to them, so your IP can reveal who you get your internet connection from.
If a cybercriminal gets a hold of your IP address and manages to pinpoint your exact location they may stalk you, force a connection to your device, and steal your crucial information. But that does not mean you cannot do anything against it. Because there is a way you can keep your IP from falling into the wrong hands or at least minimize the chances of your IP leaking.
The first and foremost way to keep your IP address safe is by changing your device’s privacy settings. On Windows, it is pretty easy, head to start, set, and then privacy tab. There you can change what apps can access your location, language list, and other things that can give information about you.
Proxy servers are another solution for you. It provides an intermediary server to run your connection and thereby hides your IP address.
VPN is another decent solution for you. It not only hides your IP addresses by routing your connection similar to how proxy servers do. But they are prone to being blocked by websites and they have thousands of servers at their disposal, building a virtually unbreakable tunnel of safety.
In the realm of this digital age, it is important to understand the basics of IP addresses, even if you are not tech-savvy. While it does not disclose your exact location, IP addresses can be a key source for many online threats and unethical activities.
Date: 9-July-2024
Contacts
Email:
info@checkmyiponline.com© Copyright 2023 Checkmyiponline.com All rights reserved.
