When you connect to the internet through a device, it is assigned an IP address. You’ve probably come across the term a few times and asked yourself “what is my IP address ?” Well, an IP address is a numeric or alphanumeric identifier that regulates the format of data being sent over a local network or a device. Your IP address determines what type of information you can access when using the internet. They do so by providing servers with information about your device location. This subsequently allows them to determine what type of data can be accessed by that device.
IP addresses are assigned strings of numbers. They are used to govern the exchange of data between networks and devices that are connected to the internet. This IP address differentiates between your Router and your Internet Service Provider’s connection, which then determines the way your IP address appears and also the type of information you may be able to access.
IPV4 and IPV6: What’s the Difference
IP is an acronym for Internet Protocol. There are two types of Internet Protocols that can be assigned to a device. These are IPV4 and IPV6. The IPV4 is a 32-bit string of numbers that is assigned to a particular device. The IPV4 protocol emerged in the early 1980s and was created to host about 4 billion addresses, which was not nearly enough. The IPV6 is a more recent version of Internet protocol that uses 132-bits and provides a far larger number of addresses than its earlier counterpart. IPV6 has an alphanumeric string of characters which usually helps to differentiate it from the numeric IPV4 string.
How to Find an IP Address
When searching for your IP location or address, you should expect to find either the public IPV4 or IPV6 address. This is done to help you find out if your information is protected using an IP proxy or a VPN. It explains why the foremost IP-related search on Google is “how can I find my IP location or address”.
You can find out information about your internet service provider, geographical location, host server, and more, just by using your IP address. This information can be accessed using websites that can pinpoint the location of your IP down to the region or city. One of the best websites for this purpose is IPcost, refer to the link above. By finding out the status of your IP address, you can take measures to protect it from public access.
How to Hide Your IP Address
Hiding your IP address is an excellent way to protect information about your internet service provider and real-time location from being made accessible to websites and possible bad actors on the web. There are three easy ways to do this, depending on your device.
IP Masking
This is the process of hiding your IP address by taking advantage of a false IP address. This can be done using special browsers which help to provide a false IP address to conceal your location and private information from websites and individuals on the web. The website does this by using encryption which is passed through multiple nodes to hide the IP address. Using these browsers usually increases your internet traffic because it takes time for the information being sent across to be decrypted while protecting your information.
Using a VPN
A VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, helps to change your IP address to that of a different location. This provides a layer of security that prevents hackers and websites that contain some types of spyware from accessing your location. They also give you the ability to access sites that are only available to IP addresses from specific geographic regions without leaving your location.
Changing Your Proxy
Changing your proxy can be done manually on both your phone and your system. You can also automatically configure a proxy address. A proxy is like a mediator that stands between your device and the web. A proxy does all the direct communication with the internet that your device needs while preventing it from accessing the private information about your device’s location and host.
Bottomline
IP addresses are protocols that not only help to regulate your internet usage but also provide a way to identify particular systems by their owners and locations. This is why ensuring that you protect your IP is important.
