Learn About IP Addresses & Online Privacy
Understand how the internet identifies you, what your IP address reveals, and how to protect your privacy online. Free guides written for everyone.
What is an IP Address?
Learn what IP addresses are, how they work, and why every device on the internet needs one. Understand public vs private IPs and how websites see your location.
Read Guide →IPv4 vs IPv6
Discover the differences between IPv4 and IPv6, why we're running out of IPv4 addresses, and what the transition to IPv6 means for the internet.
Read Guide →How to Hide Your IP
Learn the different methods to hide your IP address including VPNs, proxies, and Tor. Understand the pros and cons of each approach for privacy.
Read Guide →Online Privacy Guide
A comprehensive guide to protecting your privacy online. Learn about tracking, cookies, fingerprinting, and practical steps to stay anonymous.
Read Guide →The Basics of Internet Addressing
Every Device Has an IP
Your computer, phone, smart TV, and even your fridge all have IP addresses that identify them on networks.
IPs Reveal Location
Your IP address can reveal your approximate geographic location, ISP, and sometimes even your neighborhood.
Public vs Private
Your router has a public IP visible to websites. Devices at home use private IPs only visible on your local network.
Dynamic or Static
Most home connections use dynamic IPs that change periodically. Businesses often pay for static IPs that never change.
Common Questions
Can someone hack me with my IP address?
Your IP alone isn't enough to hack you, but it can be used for targeted attacks, DDoS, or combined with other info for social engineering. Using a VPN adds a layer of protection.
Why does my IP address change?
Most ISPs assign dynamic IPs from a pool of addresses. Your IP may change when your router restarts, your lease expires, or the ISP rotates addresses.
Is my exact address visible from my IP?
No. IP geolocation typically shows your city or region, not your street address. Only your ISP knows your exact location, and they require legal process to share it.
What's the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (like 192.168.1.1) with ~4 billion possible addresses. IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses with virtually unlimited combinations for our connected future.