In today's digital world, our IP address is more than just a string of numbers. It serves as a unique identifier, connecting us to the vast internet network. But with this connectivity comes a certain level of vulnerability, understanding how to find and protect your IP address is crucial for maintaining your online privacy and security.
I. What are the risks caused by IP address leakage?
As we all know, IP address is a kind of public information on the Internet, which means that it is not difficult for others to obtain your IP address. If there are some people with evil intentions or hackers who are proficient in Internet technology, then it will be very easy for them to use your IP address to do some illegal things, bringing unnecessary risks to your life and work, such as:
1. Malicious location tacking
2. Falsely criminal accusation
3. Encounter DoS attack
4. Unpleasing spam harassment
5. Invasion of personal privacy
（Read more about the risks in the article written by Benjiamin）
II. How to find my IP address?
If you want to protect your IP address, you must first learn how to find your IP address and then determine which IP addresses are most likely to be exploited or attacked. The following will tell you how to check your IP address on Windows, Mac, Android phones and iPhones:
(1) For Windows:
> Open "Settings" on the computer
> Choose "Network & internet"
> Select "Wi-Fi" or "Ethernet" (depends on the current network type you're using)
> Check "Properties" of the network, the IPv4 numbers will be your IP address
(2) For Mac:
> Open the "Terminal" app (can be found via Spotlight search or in "Applications" > "Utilities")
> Enter the command ifconfig and press Enter (for newer versions of macOS, you may need to use the ipconfig getifaddr en0 command)
> In the information shown, look for the words "inet" or "inet6". The number following it is your IP address
(3) For Android phone:
> Get into your "Settings" menu
> Choose "Connection" and enter
> Select "Wi-Fi", enter and click the gear icon on the right
> Find your IP address listed at the bottom of the screen
(4) For iPhone:
> Get into your "Settings" menu
> Choose "WLAN" or "Wi-Fi" and enter
> Click the blue exclamation point icon next to the connected Wi-Fi network
> Check the Wi-Fi information and you can see the IP address at the bottom of the screen
III. How to find my IP address through phone number?
If you find the above methods of checking an IP address troublesome, or if you want to further track the geographical location of a device through a certain IP address , you can try some IP tracking tools on the Internet.
For example, IP Tracker, a tool that provides a very simple way to look up IP addresses. You can use this online tool to track IP address of a phone through the phone number . At the same time, IP Tracker also even provides an online map to tell you the specific geographical location of the mobile phone.
Steps to use IP Tracker:
(1) Search "gps-phone.net/ip-tracker" on your browser and enter the website of IP Tracker
(2) Provide the phone number of someone that you would like to get his/her IP address
(3) Wait for few seconds and you will receive an email that contains the target IP address
(4) You can even get a precise geographical location of the IP address on a map (as long as the phone number you search is vaild and the mobile device is connected to the Internet)
IV. How to protect my IP address?
1. Use a proxy server:
The proxy server acts as an intermediary between you and the target website. The target website can only see the IP address of the proxy server, but cannot obtain your real IP address directly. As a result, your IP address is safely hidden and cannot be viewed by others.
2. Use a VPN (virtual private network):
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the Internet, and the data transmitted through the tunnel is encrypted as well, to protect your IP address and other sensitive data.
3. Disable WebRTC:
WebRTC is a technology that allows your browser to communicate with the Internet in real-time, but it can also expose your real IP address. To stop this, you can find the relevant option in your browser settings and disable WebRTC to prevent IP addresses from being tracked.
4. Using the Tor network:
The Tor network is a global network run by volunteers designed to protect the privacy and freedom of Internet users. Through the Tor network, your traffic is encrypted and passed through multiple nodes, hiding your true IP address.
5. Regulate your online behavior:
Do not visit dangerous websites and do not share your personal information or sensitive data on public or untrusted networks. Also, avoid using unsecured Wi-Fi networks as they can be exploited by hackers to steal and track your IP address or other information.
6. Change IP addresses regularly:
If your IP address is static, changing it regularly reduces the risk of being tracked. However, please note that this may require contacting your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and may incur additional charges.
Noted: the above methods do not completely guarantee that your IP address will not be leaked, but they can reduce the risk of being leaked. When it comes to cybersecurity, the best strategy is to employ multiple layers of security measures to ensure your personal information and privacy are protected to the greatest extent possible.
V. Frequently Asking Questions:
1. Can someone use my IP address to control my computer remotely?
No, no one can directly control your computer remotely just by knowing your IP address. However, if there is malicious software (malware/spyware) installed on your computer, it could potentially allow remote access and control. Therefore, it's important to have a firewall or antivirus/antimalware software installed on your computer , and pay attention to every software you install on your computer.
2. How do I know if someone has tracked my IP address?
It's almost impossible to definitively know if someone has tracked your IP address unless you have specific tools or software that can monitor and detect such attempts. However, if you notice any unusual or suspicious activity on your computer, such as unexpected connections, slow performance, or unusual processes running, it could be a sign that someone might be trying to access your computer through your IP address.
3. Can I find someone's geographical location though IP address?
Yes, in most cases, you can approximate someone's geographical location based on their IP address. However, the location tracked by this method is generally only accurate to a certain city rather than a more specific street, and its accuracy is very low. After all, network conditions are ever-changing. If you want to get a more detailed location of the someone, it is recommended to search with his or her mobile phone number. I believe that Phone Finder can help you.
