What is an IP Address?

An Internet Protocol address, commonly referred to as an IP address, is a unique identifier that is associated with every device connected to any network in the world. This identifier further allows different devices to communicate with each other regardless of whether the device is on the same or a separate network.

You may think of an IP address as a contact address, for example. You can send your mail to any desired recipient only if you know their house number, mailing address, or zip code.

IP addresses can further be categorized into two types: Public IP and Private IP addresses. Devices that need to communicate with each other on the same network, such as one’s home, require private IP addresses, such as smart devices, gaming consoles, laptops, printers, or a computer connected to a home router. They will also have a public IP address to communicate with the wider web if needed.

Public IP addresses, on the other hand, are those sets of IPs that enable the flow of communication between different devices on separate networks, so for example, a computer in Tokyo connecting to a game server in New York. For example, your smartphone would use a public IP address to connect to an internet web server.

Here are a few common reasons that may prompt you to check your public IP address:

• To check if your VPN or proxy is connected or not.
• To host a gaming server using your IP.
• To connect to a remote server.

Types of IP Addresses – Private IP vs. Public IP Addresses

What is a Private IP address?

Private IP addresses are associated with devices on a single network. As a result, devices that are outside the network cannot access other devices, such as from the internet. Every computer, laptop, smartphone, or printer has a unique IP address that is assigned to it by a router via the DHCP protocol. It should also be noted that private IP addresses are fixed and unrepeatable.

For instance:

If the router’s IP address is 192.168.0.1, other devices connected to it may be assigned the following addresses:

• 192.168.0.10
• 192.168.0.12
• 192.168.0.50

What is a Netmask?

The classes and range of IP addresses we discussed above are defined by netmasks. A netmask defines how many networks are available in a range of IP addresses along with the number of devices that it can host.

For example, in the IP address range, 255.255.255.0, the first block of 255 represents the number of networks, and the “0” represents the number of devices the IP range can host. You may have heard the phrase “subnet mask” which applies to the configuration of these netmasks whereas netmasks define the IP address classes as we’ve discussed earlier.

What is a Public IP address?

Public IP addresses are assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). It is the IP that allows you to connect to the internet and browse the web. Every device on a local network shares the same public IP address since the router itself shares the same IP. That means even though your smart TV might be 192.168.1.31 and your PC’s IP is 192.168.1.68, the public IP given to both devices will be the same, like 123.45.67.89.

When the internet first came into existence, it had a handful number of servers. People would connect to those servers through the IP addresses assigned to them. But as hundreds and thousands of servers proliferated the internet, experts created Domain Name Servers (DNS) that would assign a human-readable label to IP addresses, allowing users to remember and access desired servers easily.

Public IP addresses are further categorized into dynamic and static IP addresses. Dynamic IP addresses are shared between hundreds of thousands of users. It rotates between users often as they restart their routers, or when their DHCP lease expires. Static or dedicated IP addresses, on the other hand, remain the same even if the router or modem is restarted.

How Do I Check IP Addresses on My Network?

You can always check all the connected local IP addresses on your network with a simple cmd or Terminal prompt. Here’s how you can go about it:

• Go to the search bar and type cmd for Windows or Terminal for Mac.
• Now, type arp -a for Windows or arp -e for Mac.
• Hit Enter to proceed.

The mentioned command will list all the private IP addresses connected to your network.

How Do I Check My IP on Windows and Mac?

Find Your IP on Windows

• Press the Windows key and type cmd.
• Type ipconfig and hit enter.
• Your IPv4 address is your local IP.

Find Your IP on Mac

• Press Command + Space.
• Type Terminal and hit enter.
• Type ifconfig and enter to proceed.

How Do I Find My Phone’s IP Address?

Find Your IP on Android

• Go to Settings.
• Tap About Device.
• Tap Status.
• Your IP address will be listed under IP Address.

Find Your IP on iOS

• Go to Settings.
• Tap WiFi.
• Tap the specific Wi-Fi name for more options.
• Your IP address will be listed under IP Address.

What Happens if Someone Knows Your IP Address?

There are lots of things that can go wrong if a cybercriminal gets his hands on your IP address. For instance:

• Once they know your IP address, they can track your location and harass you after determining your address.
• A hacker may look for an open port on your network so they can breach your device using your IP. This is easier to do than you think.
• They can hack your system through remote access and install malware or trojan.
• They can perform a DDoS attack on your IP to jeopardize your entire network.