What Can I Do With Someone’S Ip Address
What You Can Do With an IP Address, and How to Hide Yours
With someone’s IP address, you can learn a user’s general location, and disable some parts of their internet browsing device connected to the internet has an IP address, which helps websites identify your third-party programs or services, someone with your IP address could possibly block you from reaching certain you’re concerned about the security of your IP address, consider installing a firewall and Business Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.
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Every device that connects to the internet has an IP (Internet Protocol) address. The
IP address, which is composed of a series of numbers separated by decimal points, looks something like “198. 169. 0. 100. ” This number is used to help devices talk to each other and exchange data. Your network router has its own IP address, of course, as does every device on your network. But because these identifiers are so important, that means a hacker can potentially use them against you. Here’s what you should know about your IP address, and what it can be used for.
What you can do with an IP addressFirstly: most users won’t have to worry about any of this. It’s unlikely that any hacker would take the time to learn your specific IP address, and manipulate your specific device. There’s no real reward in it for them, so unless they love playing pranks, it would be a waste of fact, every website you visit already knows your IP address — that’s how they know to load on your computer, as opposed to someone else’ said, armed with your IP address, someone has the potential to take certain actions against your network. As such, it’s a good idea to keep your IP private from individuals you don’t could:
Block you from accessing websitesIt’s possible to use your IP address to prevent you from performing certain online activities. The most common example of this is blocking your ability to reach a certain site, or to post messages in forums or the comment section of web sites. In fact, this is the most common way that website administrators ban rulebreakers. It’s often referred to as an “IP Ban. “Your IP address can also be used to block or ban you from playing online games on some gaming services.
Learn your general geographic location Your IP address can reveal your geographic location. In most cases, this won’t be any more specific than your city and state. In rare cases, it could be as specific as your IP address also carries the name of your Internet Service Provider (the company that gives you internet access — think Spectrum, or Xfinity).
Your IP address signals where you are. ; William Antonelli/Business Insider
While there’s not a lot someone can do with this information, it can be combined with details from other sources to piece together data about your identity.
Perform a Denial of Service AttackKnowing your IP address, a malicious user may be able to perform a Denial of Service (DoS) attack, in which your network is flooded with data. It prevents normal traffic from getting through and overloads the network’s ability to function. However, these attacks are usually directed at large companies or websites — it’s rare that anyone would set up a DoS attack on a regular user.
How to protect your IP addressWhile there are some risks, your IP address alone poses very limited danger to you or your network. Your IP address can’t be used to reveal your identity or specific location, nor can it be used to hack into or remotely take control of your computer. That said, if you’re still concerned, a few simple precautions can help protect and foremost, your network should be protected with a firewall. Most routers have firewalls built in, but you should contact your router manufacturer or internet service provider to learn about your additional protection, you can use Virtual Private Network (
VPN) software. A VPN hides your IP address from all outside users, making it extremely difficult for someone to uncover your IP address or monitor your online activity.
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services.
NordVPN; William Antonelli/Business Insider
‘What is my IP? ‘: Here’s what an IP address does, and how to find yours’What is a good internet speed? ‘: The internet speeds you should aim for, based on how you use the internet’What is Wi-Fi calling? ‘: How to make calls from your smartphone even if you don’t have a cell signalHow to find the IP address of your internet router using a Mac, PC, iPhone, or AndroidNo, Bluetooth doesn’t use cellular data — here’s how the popular wireless technology connects your devices
Dave Johnson
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he’s also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
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What Can Someone Do With Your IP Address in 2021?
Risks
What is an IP Address
How to See It
Access
How to Protect
What to Do
You know your IP address is important; we certainly bring it up often enough in our security guides. But why exactly is it so important?
If someone manages to get your IP address, they can do a lot of damage to your life, from sending you spam to attacking your computer. In this guide, we’ll show you all the ways that someone could use your IP address. In addition, we’ll give you practical advice on how to protect this valuable piece of information.
What Can Someone Do With Your IP Address?
Your IP address is a number that identifies you when you’re online. You need it to send and receive data, watch Netflix, or browse Wikipedia entries. Precisely because it’s so very useful, your IP address is a valuable piece of information.
What can someone do with it if they gain access to it? The possibilities range from minor inconveniences to full-on cyberattacks, and perhaps even physical attacks as well.
Send you personalized spam: Advertisers become more sophisticated every day. Lately, many advertisers have begun embedding tracking programs in online articles. These trackers record your IP address and send you targeted ads based on your browsing. For example, you might read an article about how to raise bonsai trees. The next thing you know, you’re getting emails from local nurseries.
Learn your geographic location: An IP address indicates what city you’re in. Once someone knows that, they may also be able to poke around online and find your actual address. Many home invaders keep an eye on social media so they know when homeowners go out of town. If they have IP addresses, it’s usually pretty easy to know which houses to hit, so be sure to secure your home while you’re away.
Restrict your access to certain services: Your geolocation isn’t just important to potential thieves. Many online services get this information from your IP address and restrict your access to their services. YouTube TV, for example, allows you to see local content only from the city where you live (unless you use a Youtube TV VPN to change your YouTube TV location, of course). Netflix knows what country you’re in and provides access only to that country’s library of shows and movies, unless you change your Netflix region with a Netflix VPN. Other companies charge different rates depending on where you live.
Prevent you from playing online games: If you happen to be playing against a game administrator and they’re unhappy when you beat them, they can ban you from the match, which may effectively blacklist your IP address on the entire site.
Execute a DoS/DDoS attack: With your IP address, someone can execute a DoS (denial of service) attack against you. Essentially, such attacks prevent you from accessing network resources, including a website you visit, online accounts, and even email. The most common method for such attacks is to flood your address with server requests, overloading and disabling your system with traffic. A DDoS (distributed denial of service) attack works similarly, only it involves multiple machines so the traffic is even more intense. That’s why many people use VPNs to block DDoS attacks.
Discover personal information about you: Identity thieves are constantly on the lookout for PII (personally identifiable information). What is PII? It’s information thieves can use to steal from you directly, or information they can use to impersonate you. This can include items like your Social Security number, phone number, mailing address, and birthdate, all valuable information for identity thieves. Your IP address isn’t PII, and a thief can’t use it to get PII directly. However, if a hacker knows your IP address, they can track down your ISP. They could then use a phishing attack to try and convince the ISP to turn over whatever PII it has on you. One sure way to prevent identity theft is to buy one of the best identity theft services.
Frame you for crimes: A skilled hacker can use your IP address to impersonate you online, routing activity through your address instead of their own. Ultimately, they could frame you for buying drugs, downloading child pornography, or even creating national security threats.
Sell it on the dark web: Not all thieves are looking to cash in by impersonating you. Some are happy just to steal your IP address and sell it on the dark web. You can protect yourself from this scenario, of course, if you sign up for one of our best identity theft protection with dark web monitoring.
Track your activity: Here again, not everyone wants to use your IP address for illegal purposes. Many employers, especially with the advent of telecommuting, will try to track your activities through your IP addresses. While such practices may not be technically illegal, they’re still an invasion of your privacy.
Sue you for copyright infringement: A number of countries, including the U. S., have strict laws relating to copyrights. Many of them monitor torrenting services, looking for IP addresses associated with downloads of protected music, television shows, and films. Once a law enforcement agency has your IP address, it can go to your ISP and demand the company turn over your name and address; that is, if you didn’t torrent with a VPN using one of the best VPNs for torrenting.
FYI: IP addresses don’t reveal any personal information about you, but they do indicate your general geolocation, usually your city or ZIP code.
If a hacker knows your IP address, they can track down your ISP and try to get information about you.
What Is an IP Address?
An IP address (short for internet protocol address) is a numerical label that identifies your device and your device’s general geographic location. The internet uses IP addresses to differentiate among all the different internet websites, devices, and networks, and it couldn’t operate without IP addresses.
Your device has both an external (public) IP address and an internal (private) IP address. The external address corresponds to your home or business. Essentially, it identifies your router. Internal addresses identify specific devices, differentiating them from the others in your home. 1
If you check your device settings, you may also notice that each of your devices has two IP addresses: an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address. IPv4 was introduced in 1983 and is still the address most of the internet uses. In 1999, internet experts began to worry that all the IPv4 addresses might get used up eventually, so they introduced a more complex system with more numbers and letters.
Laptop Computer with Windows
How Can I See My Own IP Address?
At any time, of course, you can find the IP address of the device you’re using, like finding your printer’s IP address. How you do this will depend on the specific type of device you’re using.
Windows
To find your IP address on a Windows device:
Right click on the Windows icon.
Choose Network and Internet.
Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on which you use.
Click Network in the center column.
Your address will be the IPv4 numbers.
Mac
If you’re looking for your IP address on a Mac:
Pull down the Apple Menu.
Select System Preferences.
In the View menu, choose Network.
In the left column, select Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
If you’re using Ethernet, your IP address will appear in the middle of the page.
If you’re using Wi-Fi, choose Advanced.
Select TCP/IP.
You’ll see your address listed under IPv4.
Android
You can find your IP addresses on an Android device by doing the following:
Navigate to your Settings menu.
Choose About.
Select Status.
You should see your IP address listed.
iPhone
To find your IP address on an iPhone:
On the home screen, choose Settings.
Select Wi-Fi.
Choose the network you’re connected to.
Your IP address should appear at the top of the screen.
How Does Someone Get Your IP Address?
The truth is, your IP address isn’t that hard to locate. Because it isn’t considered PII, most companies and services don’t take any extra precautions to conceal it. As a result, someone can get your IP address from a number of sources, including:
Your email: Some email servers list your IP address in the email heading. If you’re concerned about this, look for email servers that don’t, such as Gmail.
Torrenting files: When you torrent, your IP address is visible in the peers list. Using a VPN for torrenting can circumvent this problem, though.
Phishing attacks: Responding to phishing attacks or clicking on bogus links can make your IP address vulnerable to hackers.
Online ads: A link doesn’t have to be phony for it to collect your IP address. Even legitimate ads may record this information if you click on them. This is known as adware. Unfortunately, this is how many companies do business these days, but there are good methods out there for removing adware.
Your computer: It may seem obvious, but if you loan your device to someone, even for a minute or two, they can find your IP address in the device settings easily.
Hackers can use phishing attacks to access your IP address.
Protecting Your IP Address
There are a number of steps you can take to protect your IP address:
Update your firewall: Firewalls can’t protect you if you don’t use them properly. Make sure you use secure passwords on your firewall, your router, and all your devices and accounts. You should also make it a habit to update these passwords regularly. Doing so will help prevent anyone from breaching your security.
Change your privacy settings: Hackers can gain access to your IP address through messaging apps such as Skype. Make sure your messaging apps are set to private, and don’t accept calls or messages from anyone you don’t know.
Use a VPN: A VPN, or virtual private network, routes your internet activity through one or more servers and assigns you a new IP address. The best VPN services assign you an address that no one can trace back to you.
Use a proxy server: Like VPNs, proxy servers also hide your IP address when you’re logged in. Unlike VPNs, proxy servers don’t use high-end encryption to shield your online activity. They only hide your IP address.
Use Tor software: Tor is a web browser that lets you browse online anonymously. Like a VPN or proxy server, Tor hides your IP address, in this case by routing it through an open-source network of other Tor users. Hackers breached Tor back in 2019. A group that called itself 0v1ru$ managed to steal 7. 5 TB of data from a Russian agency. 2 However, Tor said it has fixed the problem.
Switch to mobile data: IP addresses aren’t involved in mobile data. Assuming you have the data to spare, switching to mobile data will ensure you don’t have to worry about IP address leaks at all.
Talk with your ISP: If you’re especially concerned about the security of your IP address, you might want to chat with your ISP. It may be able to suggest some solutions like assigning you a dynamic IP address that changes regularly.
Using a VPN like FastestVPN can help protect your IP address.
Can Someone Use My IP Address to Control My Computer Remotely?
By itself, an IP address doesn’t allow hackers to control your computer or impersonate you online. An IP address is simply a numeric tag that identifies your device and provides information about your general geolocation.
However, if hackers manage to gain access to your computer through other means, like malware, they can use your IP address to conduct all sorts of shady activities in your name. They might, for instance, make death threats or sell drugs. Of course, this scenario can’t happen if you keep your operating system up to date and use strong antivirus software.
Avast Antivirus – Mac is Protected
What to Do If Someone Has Your IP Address
You can’t stop someone from using your IP address if they have it; just like you can’t stop someone from using your Social Security number if you lost your Social Security card. However, you can change your IP address any time you want. Assuming you’re working at home, the easiest way to change your address is to unplug your router for five minutes and then plug it back in. Once it starts up, you’ll have a new IP address.
You can also change your IP address on the device itself, and the process is just as easy. Of course, the specific steps will depend on what type of device you’re using.
To change your address on a Windows device:
Press the Win+R keys at the same time.
In the Run box that appears, type Cmd and hit Enter.
Type Inconfig /Release.
When the text stops scrolling, type Inconfig /Renew.
If you’re changing the address on a Mac:
Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen.
Choose System Preferences.
Select Network.
Select Advanced.
On the next screen, click TCP/IP.
Click Renew DHCP lease.
To change your address on an Android device:
Navigate to Settings.
Choose Connections.
Choose Wi-Fi.
Select the network you’re using.
Choose Forget.
Log on to the network again, and you’ll have a new address.
To change your address on an iPhone:
Find Settings.
Choose Network.
Select the network you’re using currently.
Under the IPv4 address, select Configure IP.
Click Automatic.
In some cases, your VPN or network manager may have given you a new IP address. You can also change your IP address by typing these numbers in manually.
To change your Windows address:
Make sure you’re working from your administrator account.
Go to Start.
Choose the Control Panel.
Select Network Connection.
Choose your LAN connection.
Click Properties.
Type in your new address.
To change your IP address on a Mac:
Find System Preferences.
Click Network.
Click IPv4.
Click Manually.
If you’re using an Android device:
Select Connections.
Tap the gear-shaped icon to bring up your current address.
Choose IP Settings.
Click on Static.
To change your IP address on an iPhone:
Click Wi-Fi.
Under the IPv4 section, click Configure IP.
THE MORE YOU KNOW: There’s an easy fix if you think someone may know your IP address. Head to your device’s settings and change the address to a completely new one.
Recap
What can someone do with your IP address? It turns out they can do quite a bit, from filling your inbox with spam to conducting illegal activities in your name.
Luckily, there are means of protecting yourself, such as antivirus software and VPNs. Of course, if all else fails, you can always just change your IP address. Whatever option you choose, a secure device means keeping your address protected.
FAQ
We’re not done just yet. As a bonus, we’ve taken the time to answer some of your most frequently asked questions about what someone can do with your IP address.
Should I be worried if someone has my IP address?
No, you shouldn’t worry if someone has your IP address. If someone has your IP address, they could send you spam or restrict your access to certain services. In extreme cases, a hacker might be able to impersonate you.
However, all you need to do to fix the problem is change your IP address. You can do this easily in the settings of your device, or you can restart your router.
What information can someone get with my IP address?
The only direct information someone can get with your IP address is your general geographic location, usually your city or postal code. If they have additional information about you, such as your birthdate or Social Security number, a hacker might be able to steal your identity or impersonate you online. And, of course, law enforcement can track you through your IP address by contacting your ISP. An IP address by itself, though, doesn’t give anyone access to your personal information automatically.
Can someone find me through my IP address?
Using your IP address, someone can identify what city or geographic region you’re in. However, without additional information, no one can find you.
What do I do if someone has my IP address?
If you suspect someone has your IP address, the easiest solution is simply to change your IP address. You can do this by shutting down your router for five minutes and restarting it. Once it restarts, it will assign all your devices completely new addresses.
You can also change your address by going into the settings of each device and refreshing the IP address. In addition, you can use a VPN service. A VPN routes your internet activity through a server and assigns you a new IP address that in many cases can’t be traced back to you.
Can your IP address give away your identity to hackers, stalkers and…
tech journalist,
Network World |
In today’s world of hackers, stalkers and cybercriminals, not to mention government spy programs and commercial sites that collect information about you for advertising purposes, is there a way to surf the Web and keep your privacy intact? Or does that mere fact that you have an IP address mean that your identity is out there for the taking? (7 ways to mask your Internet identity) Turns out, there’s no easy answer to this question. (Watch the slideshow version. )Legally, an IP address does not constitute personal identifiable information, according to two recent court July 2009, in a case involving Microsoft, the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Washington ruled that IP addresses do not constitute personal identifiable information (PII). And in a separate case in 2011, the Illinois Central District Court also ruled that an IP address does not — by itself — qualify as personal information that can accurately identify a specific Internet Webber, a research analyst at the Altimeter Group, agrees that “with the exception of law enforcement personnel who have other tools and methods to match IP addresses to a variety of sources (which provide additional information); at this time, an IP address, alone, cannot identify a specific person. “He adds, “However, when combined with other information, such as a user name, then yes, the IP address can reveal your identity. “Scott Crawford, managing research director at Enterprise Management Associates, explains that an IP address identifies a host on a specific network or subnet. That subnet may identify a set of logical addresses that can, in some cases, be associated with a physical location. For example, there could be an address range associated with ISP subscribers in a certain awford emphasizes that when correlated to more specific information (such as address, browsing activity, or other data collected), during the course of online transactions; for example, the IP address can be associated with that activity or with a specific location. Although ISPs often assign addresses dynamically through protocols such as DHCP, it’s not uncommon for a single, physical location (such as a home) to retain the same IP address for a long period of time. “Once the specific personal data is linked to the IP address, the activity associated with that address can be correlated accordingly, ” adds can be doneAndrew Lee, CEO of London Trust Media, Inc. / (a VPN service that protects users’ privacy and identity), says linking users to their IP address is not simple, but it can be done. Many email providers, some IRC networks, extreme tracking sites, poorly configured forums and design flaws in applications such as Skype and AOL (among others) have disclosed users’ identities along with their IP adds that email providers have been known to leak IP addresses to advertisers, market researchers, and other such agencies and some emails (like those from mailing lists) are indexed by Google. “Thus, the IP becomes searchable, ” Lee says. “Programs such as (now inactive), which reveals users’ personal data are developed every day by programmers across the globe. Extreme tracking sites link IPs to Google searches and make them public. And business websites including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc. — in addition to ad targeting companies — already have your personal info linked to your IP address in their databases. Anyone with access to those databases, including those with legitimate or illegitimate access (such as hackers), can obtain any and all of that information. “[ALSO: 10 hot security startups to watch]David Gorodyansky, CEO of AnchorFree’s HotspotShield (an Internet security solution that includes anonymous browsing) agrees the IP address can be linked to a specific individual’s name, address, and other personally identifiable information. According to Gorodyansky, hackers and malware programs attempt to compromise user identities by gaining access to their IP address and then tracking them on the web. “An IP is like your digital address, ” Gorodyansky says. “It provides intel on the city and state of the ISP location, which can be linked back to a residential address if accessing a Wi-Fi hotspot from home. Based on the IP address, companies and hackers collect information about individuals without knowing specific details such as their name. Third party websites and hackers can collect this data and, for example, use it to identify your name and steal or resell your identity and/or track your web browsing habits. “Surfers, bewareJohn Kindervag, a security and risk analyst at Forrester, says that the IP address can be tracked, but with some limitations. The IP header should not have any personal information in it. The mapping of the IP address is performed at the ISP level and, since there is no real user information in the headers, the assumption is that since person A lives at the location where the IP address is assigned, then person A created the traffic. “This is a flawed assumption, ” Kindervag says. “Person A’s network could be compromised, especially if it’s wireless, to hide the identity of an attacker. Attackers always spoof their IP address, sometimes by using someone else’s network and sometimes by going through a proxy server located in some other country. The attacker could live next door, but make his/her traffic look like it came from Eastern Europe. “According to Andrew Lewman, executive director at the Tor Project (a free anonymity online service), lots of companies use GeoIP databases to determine where a potential or actual customer is located in the world and then directs the marketing pitches appropriately. “Criminals also use GeoIP databases to target geographic areas for various malware attacks (English vs. French vs. Spanish languages, donation scams based on localized events). Child molesters and kidnappers can also use the IP address to track where a potential victim is located and further convince the victim that they are local and friendly, ” Lewman says. “The greatest danger here, in my opinion, is from malware such as toolbars and other downloaded utilities that can secretly and systematically collect information and interfere with communications, ” cautions Andrew Frank, research vice president at Gartner. “IT professionals should prioritize malware prevention and home users should enforce basic rules about not opening unknown email attachments, how to identify suspicious sites, and regular use of a virus protection service. IT professionals concerned about this should talk to their ISP about proxy services and other privacy protection methods that may be available. And last, concerned citizens should support common-sense privacy options that give them choice and control over tracking and targeting, but should recognize that illegal tracking is unlikely to be curtailed by any new privacy laws. “How to mask your IP addressIn addition to caution regarding how much personal information you disclose on the Internet, you can further protect your privacy by hiding or masking your IP address. The easiest and most effective solutions are anonymous proxy servers or VPN software and services. An anonymous proxy server functions as a liaison between your home network or computer and the Internet. It requests information, on your behalf, using its own IP address instead of yours, so only the proxy’s IP address is revealed instead of your home IP protection generally requires that you download a software product that works with the company’s VPN services, which bounce your connections around the globe through various distributed networks. These ‘virtual’ tunnels burrow through the Internet landscape creating a random path, which thwarts traffic you search for ‘proxy servers, ’ ‘VPN services, ’ or ‘hide my IP address, ’ note that dozens of products are available; some free and some with fees. The Tor Project is a free “onion routing project” that was originally designed for the U. Naval Research Laboratory, which provides multiple privacy services including IP protection. Fee-based VPN products include Private Internet Access, Hotspot Shield, Banana VPN, Black Logic, and Unblock Us. Free proxy services include Hide My Ass and Mega Proxy, and fee-based services include Proxy Solutions and rtain is a freelance writer. She can be reached at
Join the Network World communities on Facebook and LinkedIn to comment on topics that are top of mind.
JD Sartain is a technology journalist from Boston. She writes the Max Productivity column for PCWorld, a monthly column for CIO, and regular feature articles for Network World.
Copyright © 2013 IDG Communications, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions about what can i do with someone’s ip address
Can someone do anything with your IP address?
The only direct information someone can get with your IP address is your general geographic location, usually your city or postal code. If they have additional information about you, such as your birthdate or Social Security number, a hacker might be able to steal your identity or impersonate you online.Aug 23, 2021
What information can someone get from my IP address?
Based on the IP address, companies and hackers collect information about individuals without knowing specific details such as their name. Third party websites and hackers can collect this data and, for example, use it to identify your name and steal or resell your identity and/or track your web browsing habits.”Jul 16, 2013
