Websites can track who you are and where you might live according to your IP address. If that sounds scary, it most certainly is, and even possibly dangerous! You should keep updated on how you use your IP address to make sure you are safely browsing the Internet.

It’s so easy to check your own IP address that you can visit a website and it can instantly tell you what IP address you are broadcasting. The IP address may or may not be specific, since some locating technologies aren’t exactly without problems. IP checking websites are good for when you successfully stealth your own IP address so that others won’t know your information.

The type of IP address you have determines how quickly it will change by itself. A static IP address is one that never changes, unless a specific request is made to your Internet service provider. In that case, your request may not even be approved, even if the nature of your request is not shady. Dynamic addresses instead change each time you disconnect from the network.

You can easily mask the number that you broadcast by using a proxy. A proxy can be installed on your desktop or can be used through a web browser. Either way, the address your broadcast is either the IP address of a designated web server or a public IP address that is used among multiple people. Proxies can make some websites inaccessible, so it’s best to use them with moderation.

Through networking address translation, or NAT, everyone on your network can have the same theoretical IP address. In fact, this is common practice in order to conserve on the amount of IP addresses that can be distributed among the world of devices. NAT also helps secure your real credentials, as it acts as a buffer between you and the outside world. NAT is typically enabled on networks these days, so you don’t have to worry about enabling it for most cases.

IP addresses are easy to change and edit, or even mask, but MAC addresses are a different story. A MAC address is based on the hardware level, so you would need new hardware to change it or do some creative engineering. Don’t give out your MAC address, since it is the number that points directly to your device and none other in the world. Hiding such information is easy with modern security software.

In Conclusion

You shouldn’t have to fret each time you connect to the Internet and share information with others. Hiding your IP address and keeping your private details safe can be done with software out today. Best yet, programs today come both as open source and paid, so options are definitely present.

Learn more about Change My IP Address and Hide My IP Address.