Did you know that one of the most searched on Google is “What is my IP”? Have you ever searched for this? And do you know what an IP is or what is stands for? If not, it’s time to learn!
IP stands for “Internet Protocol” and is usually an address that identifies a device on the internet or a local network. IP is the set of rules for the format of data sent over the internet or local network. Basically, IP addresses are the identifier that allows information to be sent between devices on a network.
All IP addresses are bunch of numbers separated by periods – for example 2.100.16.48. Each number in the sequence can range from 0 to 255, and no, they are not random! They are mathematically produced by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (which, I know, sounds fake but it really isn’t!). Any time someone registers and domain name, they go through a registrar who then pays a small fee to the Authority to register the domain.
You can hide your IP through a VPN or, the less common way, a proxy server. A VPN is one of the best ways to efficiently increase your privacy and security. The worst someone who has your IP could do to you is send you spam, restrict your access to services, or in extreme cases, they could impersonate you. Even though this isn’t the worst a hacker could do to you, I would still urge you to be safe and use a VPN.
Do you still use Skype? Well, I personally would advise you against using it anymore. Skype uses your IP address to communicate, and the person you’re communicating with is able to see your IP. However, it isn’t just Skype that someone can get your IP from – any online activity can reveal it like playing video games, or commenting on websites and forums, even sending emails contain your IP address.
Although an attack from your IP address is rare considering how many of us use the internet nowadays, please still be safe and think about investing in a VPN.