What Does An IP Address Tell You? And How To Find Your Ip Address

Every house has a unique address. Each vehicle boasts its Vehicle Identification Number(VIN). Every country’s citizen will have a Social Security Number. Similarly, internet-connected devices such as your mobile, laptop, router, and more are composed of an IP address. 

Usually, IP addresses support internet-connected devices to communicate with the rest of the world. These aren’t merely the set of numbers. The problem is they reveal much about the users, from geolocation to their interaction with the web. 

In this article, let’s dwell deeper on IP address, from its definition to how to find your IP address location in detail. So, let’s get in.  

What Is An IP Address?

An IP(Internet Protocol) address is a unique and authenticated number given to all your internet-connected devices, from mini smartphones to large electronic devices like refrigerators. In simpler words, it acts as a home address to the devices.

So, how does the device get an IP address– Who issues it? An internet service provider(ISP) issues it to differentiate your device from billions of other internet-connected devices across the globe. It even helps to transfer data from the web to the device.

An IP address is a string of four numbers and typically looks like 231.255.57.8. Usually, the set of four numbers is separated by a period, and each number ranges between 0 to 255. There is a special organization called IANA(Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), which assigns unique IP addresses to various devices. So, no individual device gets the same IP address.  

Types Of IP Addresses

Spying on other devices’ IP addresses isn’t an easy-peasy task. The IP address shared with the web is the router’s IP address and not the device’s. So, there are two IP addresses– Public and private IP addresses. 

An ISP provides the public IP address that helps communicate devices with the internet. This is the router’s IP address associated with your home network. The external world can easily access your public IP address, as its name suggests. 

In contrast, the private IP address associated with the device is highly confidential. So, it isn’t visible to the outside world. This IP address cooperates with the router’s IP address to identify various devices in the home network. 

Why Do You Need An IP Address?

Is it necessary to have an IP address? The simple answer is YES. An IP address acts as a language to communicate between the devices and the internet. It helps in data transmission in teeny-tiny parts called packets. Each packet stores an IP address of origin and destination device to deliver the data to the right location.

Suppose you’re on vacation. And you aren’t sure about the location of your destination. Now, you need an address to reach the right place. What if you don’t have an address? Do you think you can reach your destination point? Similarly, it’s impossible to send the data to the right location without an IP address. 

How To Find Your IP Address

If you aren’t sure about finding your IP address, here’s the appropriate process. However, if you’d like to know your IP address within a few seconds, Google’s shortcut. Click on this link to know your public IP address. 

Yet, here are some other ways to find your IP address. 

Mac 

Follow the procedure given below to find your IP address on Mac.

• Navigate to “Apple Menu.” 
• Click on “System Preferences” and select the “Network” option. 
• Choose the type of connection like wifi or Ethernet. 
• Your IP address is visible below your connection status. 

Android/Tablet 

Here’s the step-by-step procedure to find your IP address on your smartphone.

• Go to settings and choose the “Wireless and Networks” option. 
• Choose the wifi connection and check your IP address and other relevant network data. 

Windows 10 

Here’s another way to find your IP address on your iPad.

• Go to the taskbar and choose wifi or Ethernet. 
• Select your connected network and choose “properties.” 
• That’s it. It shows your IP address. 

How To Protect Your IP Address With A VPN

As per the research conducted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, IP addresses reveal an individual’s full name, online photo sharing, legal activities, fitness, and other personal interests. On the other hand, the IP address acts as a powerful weapon to catch frauds involved in cybercrime activities.

Since there’s an increasing risk of cybercrimes, protecting the IP address is essential. This is where a Virtual Private Network comes into play. VPN reveals your IP address connected to your ISP and prevents outsiders from accessing your geolocation or other personal information. You can avail of several VPNs in the market. Yet, not all provide you the best security. So, choose the right type of VPN to enjoy the highly secured online activity.