Every device has one, but what does an IP address actually do?
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a series of unique numbers that connects a device to the internet. Every device connected to the internet, from PCs to smartphones, has its own IP address. But what exactly is it and what happens if it falls into the wrong hands?
Your Digital Address
You can think of it as your ‘home address’ on the internet. When you visit a website or send an email, your device uses this address to communicate with other devices and servers. Without IP addresses, data couldn’t be shared. They ensure that your device gets the answer to a Google search query, or that your emails arrive correctly. But they also play an important role in network management, cybersecurity, and privacy.
Websites track IP addresses to recognize users, detect fraud, or determine location. Think of personalized advertisements (in combination with cookies) or a notification when you view your Outlook calendar in another country. For companies, they are necessary for access management: who is allowed into the company network? Where does a suspicious login attempt come from? In case of a cyberattack, an IP address can help trace a hacker, or at least if they haven’t protected themselves well. That doesn’t happen very often.
Two Standards, Four Types
There are two main types: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 is the older variant and looks like four groups of numbers separated by dots (for example, 192.168.0.1). As we connect more and more devices to the internet, these addresses are being used up. That’s why IPv6 was introduced: a longer series with numbers and letters that allows for billions of unique combinations. An example of such an address is 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.
Not every address is static. Most home networks receive a dynamic IP address from their internet provider. This changes automatically from time to time and is safer. Businesses or professional users sometimes work with a static IP address. This remains the same and is useful for servers or secure remote connections, for example. It provides more control but also requires extra security.
With a static IP address, for instance, you can more easily forward or ‘open’ one or more ports in your router. This doesn’t mean you automatically protect your computer from unwanted traffic, but it does mean you can better regulate external access to a specific application. An example: you’ve set up your own File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server and you want a secure connection. In your router settings, you can then open a specific port and forward it to the correct IP address of your server. This way, external devices can only connect to your server through that port, without other services on your network being open.
There’s also a difference between public and private IP addresses. Your home network (for example, for your laptop or printer) uses private IP addresses to communicate with each other. Only your router has a public IP address, which it uses to ‘talk’ to the outside world.
What if it Falls into the Wrong Hands
They are fairly easy to trace and therefore not very secure. Cybercriminals can not only use them to find out your location, but they can also use it to break into your network, steal data, or carry out DDoS attacks. This happens, for example, if you click on a suspicious URL or use a malicious public Wi-Fi network.
You can protect yourself by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), for example. This hides your IP address or makes it appear as if you’re browsing from a completely different location or even in a different country. This is not only safe but also provides an encrypted connection between your device and the internet. Perfect for people looking for more privacy.