IP addresses form the basis of your entire digital life. They allow the internet to differentiate between devices on a network, and make these devices accessible for sending and receiving data.

Although most people don’t give much thought to their IP addresses, it’s important to understand what this essential internet component reveals about you — and what others can do with this information. In this article, we’ll explain what your IP address does, how other people might use it against you, and how to protect your privacy by using a virtual private network (VPN).

What is your IP address?

Every device you use to access the internet has a unique IP address. Short for “internet protocol address,” an IP address is a string of four groups of numbers ranging between 0 and 255. So, your device’s IP address falls somewhere between 0.0.0.0 and 255.255.255.255.

IP addresses function as digital addresses for your internet-connected devices. They’re used to identify the network you’re connected to and the device you’re using — allowing websites and other networks to route data to you, check your permissions, view your geolocation, and more.

Your device’s IP address is assigned by your internet service provider (ISP) and may change regularly depending on whether it’s static or dynamic. Dynamic IP addresses change automatically — sometimes every time you connect to the internet or restart your computer — whereas static IP addresses remain consistent.

How can your IP address be used against you?

Because your IP address is required to connect to the internet, it acts as a virtual record detailing everything you do online. However, this record can be used against you in many ways:

Pinpointing your location

Malicious parties can use your IP address in combination with global positioning systems (GPS) and tracking websites to pinpoint your location — and possibly even your home address — for spying, stalking, or other nefarious purposes.

Restricting your website access

IP addresses can be used to restrict access to content. For example, many streaming services with region-specific content, such as Netflix, HBO, or YouTube TV, restrict viewers outside of certain areas to view the content based on the geolocation provided by your IP address.

Performing a DoS or DDoS attack

Cybercriminals can use your IP address to deploy a denial of service (DoS) or distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, which overloads a network by generating massive amounts of fake traffic to interrupt services. Using a VPN can help prevent DDoS attacks.

Tracking your online activity

Anyone with your IP address can view your online activities. Some employers use this information to keep track of the websites you access at work. Others can use it to learn details about you with the intent of targeting you with a phishing attack.

Rerouting online traffic through your device

Hackers can use your IP address to reroute online traffic and access or download illegal content that law enforcement can trace back to you. This means you could get in trouble for someone else’s illegal activities.

How can someone find your IP address?

If a malicious party manages to get your IP address, they can do significant damage. Although finding your IP address isn’t as easy for hackers as it is for you, there are still many ways a person can track down this information.

Phishing attacks

Hackers can access your IP address through phishing scams, often in the form of fake links in emails or on social media. Clicking a malicious link exposes your IP address and leaves it vulnerable.

It's a good idea to stay up to date on the ways hackers use phishing emails to steal your data. Scams are constantly changing, and knowing how to spot them is one of the best ways to protect yourself.

Active torrent downloads

When you torrent files, you share your IP address with everyone on the peers list. Of course, not all torrenting peers intend to help you, and hackers masked as seeders or leechers can easily harvest your IP address from these lists.

Web activity

Because everything you do online requires your IP address, malicious parties can find this information by following your online activities, from playing online games to commenting on messaging apps and forums.

Public networks

Most public Wi-Fi networks don’t provide strong security. If you’re accessing the internet from your local coffee shop, a hacker connected to the same network can potentially break through any basic defenses to find your IP address.

How can you protect your IP address?

Although it may seem as though incognito mode hides your IP address, it doesn't. Luckily, there are several effective ways to protect your IP address from hackers and other malicious parties.

1. Activate your firewall

If you’re using a computer, one method for protecting your IP address is to turn on a firewall. Firewalls function as a protective barrier between your device and the internet, blocking unwanted traffic and unauthorized access to your IP address.

The steps to activate your device’s firewall will differ depending on its operating system. 

Windows 10 or 11

Below is a step-by-step guide for machines using Windows 10 or 11:

1. Select the Start button, then open Settings. Under Privacy & Security (or Update & Security), select Windows Security, then Firewall & Network Protection.
2. Choose a network profile from the list: Domain network, Private network, or Public network.
3. Under Microsoft Defender Firewall, switch the toggle to On. Note that if your device is already connected to a network, the network policy settings might prevent you from completing these steps without administrator credentials.

macOS X v10.6 or later

If your device uses OS X v10.6 or later, follow these steps to activate the firewall:

1. Select System Preferences from the Apple menu. Under Security & Privacy, select the Firewall tab.
2. Click the lock and enter your administrator username and password to unlock the settings.
3. Select Turn On Firewall or Start to enable the firewall.

Use antivirus software

You can also use antivirus software with a firewall. Some of our top recommended antivirus programs that come with a firewall include:

• McAfee: Offering a firewall for both Windows and Mac, McAfee lived up to its reputation as a high-quality antivirus with quick and thorough scans, real-time monitoring, and high scores from third-party testing lab AV-TEST.
  
  Get McAfee | Read Our McAfee Review
• Norton 360 Antivirus: Another security suite with a firewall for both Mac and PC, Norton impressed us with its double-layered real-time protection, webcam security, and parental controls. You can also bundle its antivirus with LifeLock identity theft protection for full security coverage.
  
  Get Norton 360 Antivirus | Read Our Norton 360 Review 
• Avast: While it only offers a firewall for PC, Avast antivirus includes extra features that boost your online security. These include ransomware protection, a safe shopping website scanner, and phishing protection. 
  
  Get Avast | Read Our Avast Review

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• All-in-one protection for your personal info and privacy
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2. Use a VPN service

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, have become increasingly popular over the past few years. If you’re unsure what a VPN is, the most important thing to note is that this technology hides your IP address and changes your geolocation. It also encrypts your internet traffic to ensure a high level of digital privacy.

VPNs can mask the IP address of any network-connected device — including your smartphone — which is why many choose to connect to a VPN when they use public Wi-Fi or other networks they don’t trust.

You’ll need to choose a VPN provider and subscribe to a plan. Once you find a VPN solution that meets your needs within your price range, you can follow these steps to set up a VPN on your Windows or Mac computer. We don't recommend using a free VPN service, but if you absolutely can't make room in your budget, we recommend checking out these five free VPN apps. Otherwise, our recommend VPN services include:

Best VPNs for hiding your IP address

• Surfshark: One of the lowest-cost VPN services we recommend, Surfshark continues to impress us with its full toolkit of security features. This includes CleanWeb, an ad and malware blocker, as well as the option to add another layer of protection with its Surfshark Antivirus.
  
  Get Surfshark | Read Our Surfshark Review
• NordVPN: An affordable VPN service with lots of features, NordVPN performed well in our speed tests and also unblocked geo-restricted content like Netflix. We especially like that NordVPN comes with Threat Protection, which helps block ads and malware while you browse the web.
  
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• ExpressVPN: While it's more expensive than most other VPNs, ExpressVPN is the pinnacle of reliability and high-quality service. If you're looking for a feature-rich, secure VPN to protect your Wi-Fi connection, ExpressVPN is definitely worth a look.
  
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• VPN technology offering stability and speed
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3. Connect to a proxy server

Another option for hiding your IP address is to connect to a proxy server. Proxies work as an intermediary between your browser and the internet, so the websites you visit only see the proxy server’s IP address.

When comparing proxies to VPNs, it's important to note that a proxy server cannot encrypt your internet traffic. This means anyone connected to the same network could potentially spy on your online activities, so you might consider using a different method if you need to perform online activities that involve disclosing sensitive personal information.

As with a VPN, you must choose a provider before you can connect to a proxy. Proxy servers are typically hosted in the cloud and available for a monthly fee, such as Bright Data and Oxylabs. There are free versions available, such as Hide.me, though they typically include fewer features.

4. Ask for a dynamic IP

Switching to a dynamic IP address can offer better protection if your device uses a static IP address. Because dynamic IP addresses change regularly, accessing your network interface becomes more difficult for unauthorized users.

Typically, a phone call to your ISP is all it takes to switch to a dynamic IP address. Some devices also allow you to configure your network adapter to use an automatically assigned configuration from the local Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. The steps to obtain a dynamic configuration from the DHCP server using Windows 10 are as follows:

1. Open Settings and select Network & Internet, then Ethernet or Wi-Fi, depending on how you’re connected to the internet.
2. Select the network connection.
3. Under IP settings, click the Edit button.
4. Select the Automatic (DHCP) option in the drop-down menu and save.

5. Restart your router

If you're concerned that your IP address has been compromised, you may be able to obtain a new one by restarting your router or modem.

To do this, unplug the device, wait for 30 seconds, and plug it back in again. Once the connection to your ISP is re-established, you may be assigned a new IP address. You’ll need a dynamic IP address from your ISP for this to work; even then, it isn’t guaranteed.

FAQs

Bottom line

Your IP address is integral to your online identity, connecting you to the websites you visit, the videos you watch, and anything else you do on the internet. Simply put, you can’t go online without IP addresses, so knowing what others can do with yours — and how to prevent that from happening — is crucial.

By following our tips on protecting your IP address, including using the best VPNs and recommended antivirus software, you’re one step closer to ensuring your online activity and network are secure.

The most important part of this guide to remember is that there are several methods you can employ to hide your IP address; some, such as connecting to a VPN, are more effective than others.

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Author Details

Juliana Kenny

About the Author

Juliana Kenny is a freelance writer with 13 years of experience specializing in cybersecurity topics. Her expertise includes endpoint security, cloud security, and networking technologies like secure access service edge (SASE). She has written for technology giants, including Oracle, Hitachi Vantara, and Comcast. When she's not diving deep into security news, you can find her bird-watching or baking.