What can people do with your ip address
What can people do with your ip address
Whether it’s browsing websites, sending emails, or playing online games, every internet activity we
engage in relies on an IP address. However, this seemingly simple numeric identifier can also become
a target for hackers and criminals.
If exposed, it can lead to privacy breaches, information theft, or even legal risks. Have you ever
considered that your IP address might be exposed, or that you could unintentionally become the
target of a cyber attack? This article will help you understand how IP addresses work, how others
can obtain information through your IP, and how to prevent exposure and protect your network
security.
Understanding IP Addresses
Public IP vs. Private IP
Public IP Address: It refers to an internet-facing address that can be accessed and routed across
the web. These addresses are globally reachable via the internet and are assigned by the Internet
Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). Typically, they are distributed to end users through Internet
Service Providers (ISPs).
Private IP Address: Private IP addresses are used for communication within a local area network
(LAN). They cannot be accessed directly via the internet. Common ranges for private IP addresses
include:
Class A Private IP: 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255
Class B Private IP: 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255
Class C Private IP: 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255
Generally speaking, the IP addresses that hackers or other malicious actors obtain are public IP
addresses.
IPv4 vs. IPv6
IPv4 Address: IPv4 is the most widely used IP version. It uses 32-bit addresses, typically
represented as four decimal numbers separated by dots (e.g., 192.168.0.1). IPv4 has approximately
4.3 billion unique addresses.
IPv6 Address: People created IPv6 to solve the problem of IPv4 exhaustion. IPv6 uses 128-bit
addresses, which allows for nearly unlimited IP addresses. It is typically represented as eight
groups of hexadecimal numbers separated by colons.
How to Check Your IP Address
On Windows, you can press Win+R to open the Run window, type “cmd” to open the Command Prompt
window.
Then type: ipconfig to display all current TCP/IP network configuration values.
By using the ipconfig command, you can determine whether the IP you’re looking for is a public or
private IP. You can check your network adapter list and compare each adapter’s IP address. Private
IPs will be within the following ranges:
Class A: 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255
Class B: 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255
Class C: 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255
If the IP address you find does not fall within these ranges, it’s a public IP.
You can also directly enter: curl ifconfig.me or curl ipinfo.io/ip to check your current public IP.
How Do Others Obtain Your IP Address?
Visiting Websites or Servers: When you visit any website, the website’s server
records your IP
address. This is because you’ve sent a request to that server, and the server needs to know where to
send the response.
Social Engineering Attacks: Attackers may send phishing emails to trick you into
clicking on
malicious links. After you click on it, they can get your IP address and other related information.
They can use other loopholes to steal your IP address. They can even use your IP address to engage
in dangerous activities.
Social Media or Online Activities: Posting content or commenting on social media
platforms can
result in the platform recording your IP address for purposes such as analysis or targeted
advertising.
Clicking on Ads: When you visit web pages with ads, advertisers can track your IP
address through
embedded ad tracking scripts. They use this data for targeted ad placement, analysis, and user
behavior tracking.
What Can Others Do With Your IP Address?
DDoS Attacks: DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks send massive traffic to
a target server
or device, causing it to be overwhelmed and crash or become unavailable. Attackers can launch a DDoS
attack on your IP address. DDoS attacks may cause disruptions to your internet connection, slow down
your devices, or even cause server downtime.
IP Geolocation Tracking: Once they obtained your IP address, attackers can estimate
your geographic
location and some personal information. Although using this method the address they got is not
always accurate. While they may not know your exact address, they can roughly identify the city or
region you’re in and gather potential information such as your operating area, workplace, and other
information.
Service Restrictions or Bans: By obtaining your IP address, some websites or
services may restrict
your access. Attackers may exploit your IP address to interact with specific services, causing these
services to mistake the activity for malicious traffic. As a result, your IP could end up on a
blacklist, potentially restricting or blocking your access to certain content.
Ad Tracking: Attackers and advertisers can exploit your IP address to monitor your
browsing habits,
enabling them to deliver targeted ads or conduct market research. They can track the websites you’ve
visited, the apps you’ve used, and use this data for targeted advertising or even sell personal data
for analysis.
IP Spoofing and Identity Fraud: Attackers can spoof the source IP address,
impersonating your real
identity to carry out deceptive activities. They might use your IP for illegal activities or to
download pirated content, which could bring legal risks.
Measures to Protect Your IP Address
To prevent your IP address from being easily exposed, you can take the following measures:
Use Proxy Servers: Proxy servers act as intermediaries for data transmission, encrypting your
network traffic and hiding your real IP address. Choosing a reliable proxy can prevent your real IP
from being exposed and protect your data security.
Disable WebRTC: Disabling the WebRTC feature in your browser can prevent it from revealing your
local IP address.
Avoid Clicking on Unknown Links: Do not click on suspicious links, especially those in emails or
social media messages.
How to Change Your IP Address?
Use Proxy Servers: A proxy server acts as an intermediary between the client and the target server.
The user’s request is first sent to the proxy server, which forwards it to the target server. During
this process, the target server only sees the IP address of the proxy, not the user’s real IP. This
reduces the risk of exposing your real IP address.
Blurpath offers over 60 million residential proxy IPs with a 99.7% uptime. Residential proxies
provide real IP addresses from all over the world, helping users access global resources. After
purchasing the corresponding plan, refer to tutorial and use third-party anti-detection browser
proxy tools. Once proficient, users can complete IP configuration within a minute.
Conclusion
The article highlights the significance of safeguarding your IP address to prevent potential
security risks. It provides actionable tips on altering your IP address through proxies and other
techniques, aiming to improve both online privacy and security.