Do you know that you can be monitored by tracking your IP address while using the Internet? Cybercriminals can use the IP address to trap a user. This question must be coming into the mind of many users what is an IP address?
In this article, we will try to know all the nuances related to IP addresses. First of all, let us try to understand what is IP address after all.
What is an IP address?
Understand in simple language, the IP address is a unique address for device identification on the Internet and local network. The full form of the IP address is Internet Protocol.
With the help of an IP address, information is sent and received for communication between two devices on a network. The Internet needs IP addresses to identify individual computers and websites.
How is the IP Address prepared?
An IP address is a set of four numbers. It is in this format 191.150.1.38. I can see The set of numbers for an IP address ranges from 0 to 255. That is, the IP address goes from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255. The IP address is not a random number, but a special number created using maths. It is allotted by IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority).
How do cybercriminals get access to IP addresses?
Cybercriminals use different methods to access IP addresses. Cybercriminals use online stalking and social engineering to gain access to IP addresses.
Social engineering
Many times when the user is active on many social media platforms and is used to interacting with unknown users, then doing so can leak the IP address of the user. Cybercriminals can also gain access to the IP address with the help of a username.
Online stocking
Similarly, when a user is active on the Internet with different activities, doing so can also leak his IP address. Especially for users who are addicted to online video games, their IP addresses can be quickly tracked.
What is the harm of leaking an IP address?
The biggest disadvantage of having an IP address leak is that cybercriminal can use your IP address to do wrong things in your name. Cybercriminals often use stolen IP addresses for illegal activities.
How to protect IP addresses?
To protect the IP address from the eyes of cyber criminals, it is necessary to hide it. Due to the IP address being hidden, the user's personal information and online identity remain hidden in a way. A proxy server is used only to hide the IP address.
While using the Internet, the Internet sees the IP address of the proxy server instead of the user's IP address. Similarly, the user can protect the IP address by using a VPN (virtual private network).
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