You’re certainly familiar with the concept of an IP address, which is a number that uniquely identifies a device on a network. But what more do you need to be aware of? IP addresses are made up of 32 bits of information.

We generally conceive an IP address as something like 1.1.1.1, but it comprises eight binary bits. Each set of binary bits can only represent the numbers zero through 255, and no other numbers can be defined. The reason for this is that your IP addresses can only be in the range of 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.

The essential thing to remember about IP addresses is that they must be unique on your network. The existence of two devices with the same IP address is referred to as an IP address conflict. When this occurs, either the device or both devices will not communicate with the network.

This technique is often used to dynamically assign IP addresses to eliminate address duplication and alleviate the administrative effort associated with static IP addressing.

What Is My IP Address

To discern between different devices and networks and their relative locations, any network of computers, including the internet, needs a method of distinguishing between them. This is where an IP address comes in to fill the void.

IP addresses help identify computers, routers, Bluetooth devices, and other hardware on a network by providing a unique identification number. These addresses enable the devices to communicate with one another and transmit information through a local network or the internet due to the addresses.

Function Of IP Addresses

You may encounter small computer networking troubles regularly, or you may discover that your computer or other device does not connect in the manner it is designed to. When this occurs, having a fundamental grasp of how an IP address works might assist you in troubleshooting the issue.

Protocol technology, such as the Internet Protocol, operates in a manner identical to that of any other protocol. It provides a standard language and set of rules used to convey information across those involved in the process. The following are the processes that must be completed while sending or receiving data via the internet:

Your device establishes a connection with a network, which in turn establishes a connection between your device and the internet. If you’re at work, this network is normally your ISP (Internet Service Provider), or it might be the network of your firm.

Your device is assigned an IP address by your Internet service provider. When you request data (for example, when you browse a webpage or play a video), the request is routed via your ISP, which uses your IP address to identify you.

The IP address that is allocated to your device, is not constant. It may change under specific situations, such as when you turn on or off your router or modem, or if you contact your ISP and ask for a change in settings. Every step of the procedure is repeated each time you connect to a new network. For example, if you connect to the internet from an airport, your IP address will be assigned by the airport’s Internet service provider.

How To Find My IP Address?

You can easily find your IP Address with the help of the instructions given below-

Obtaining Your Public Internet Protocol Address

One of the quickest and most straightforward methods of determining your network’s public IP address is to simply write “What is my IP address location?” into the Google Search box. The same information may be obtained from other websites, such as whatismyipaddress.com and IP Location, both free to use.

In a matter of seconds, online sites such as whatismyipaddress.com enable you to find out what your Internet Protocol address is.

These websites help to get my public IP address since the user attempted to visit these websites and sent a data request to them. In other words, your router has processed a request and, in the process, has published your public IP address.

Obtaining Your Private Internet Protocol Address

The procedures you must take to determine my pc IP address may vary depending on the device and operating system you are using.

• For Windows- To reach the command prompt, open Windows Search and type “CMD” (without the double quotes) into the search box. To determine the private IP address, enter “ipconfig” at the command line when it displays.
• For Macintosh- Select Network from the System Preferences drop-down menu.
• For iPhone- Navigate to the Settings menu. Select Wi-Fi and touch the letter I in a circle next to the currently active network to begin the connection. The IP address may be found underneath the DHCP tab on the toolbar.

By visiting the router’s gateway IP address from your web browser, you may learn the names of the IP addresses and find my ip address connected with other devices on your network. The specifics of how to accomplish this may vary depending on the router’s brand and type.

How To Protect Your IP Address?

Your IP address may be hacked no matter where you are on the globe or what kind of equipment you use. The security of a basic number identification is largely unknown to the general public, despite it being very important.

If you want to keep your IP address safe, several practical and straightforward options are here.

Make Your Own Passwords

The only thing preventing unauthorized access to your device is your device password.

Some users use the gadgets’ built-in passwords, which leaves them open to assault. Your smartphone, like all of your other online accounts, necessitates the use of a complex password that is almost impossible to crack.

A password that consists of upper and lower case alphabets, digits, and characters should always be used.

Use a Virtual Private Network

The safest way to access the internet is via a Virtual Private Network or VPN. A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts all of your online activity, ensuring that no one can access your data as it travels between your computer and the Internet. There is no way for thieves to target your computer with malware since this prevents them from spying and eavesdropping.

Enabling you to browse the internet through external servers further obscures your true identity and location, making IP address hacking impossible. Networks and devices secured by a VPN are very difficult to break into and abuse.

All Your Apps Should Be Restricted

It is recommended that you limit the number of phone applications installed on your phone and alter the privacy setting from public to private. As a result, only those on your list may view your information.

Avoid taking calls from unknown numbers since the moment you connect with someone on a call, that person has access to your device and your location. That information might lead to an IP address being hacked.

Having Additional Safeguards

Keep your computer secure by using the most recent version of any anti-virus or anti-malware program. You’ll be alerted when you click on a manipulative link since this program identifies any ambiguity in the information you get on the device. They also alert you to any suspicious behavior taking place on your phone or tablet, assuring utmost security.

Unique device identifiers, such as IP addresses, are assigned to any device that connects to a local network or the internet. It aids in identifying each device on a network for data sharing.

In network communication, a private IP address is used for communication inside the network, while a public ID address is used for communication outside of the network. When finding your public IP address, you may do it quickly and simply by utilising an internet service. However, the steps for finding your private IP address differ from device to device.

As previously indicated, having a rudimentary understanding of the concepts behind an IP address is not required, but it is a good idea if you encounter any network-related problems.