How can I hide my IP address for privacy concerns?

Question

What I wanted to know is how I can hide my IP address for privacy concerns or if it's not possible. Also, if someone sees your IP address, does it give out a lot information (my location, etc) and also I have a very big confusion. When I look up my IP address, it says public IP address, so does that mean that's the IP address that a few others have as well? Or does everyone have a unique IP address even if they're in the same town. Do you have a private IP address and a public one? Sorry for the questions, I'm trying to keep my life private because someone is saying they're going to IP track my location and I really don't want my personal information to a stranger.

Answer 1

If you have a router and a modem, you have 2 IP addresses. Your router gives you a private IP, one that only people in your network can see, and 1 public IP address. The public IP address is one that is given to your modem by your ISP. It can be either Static or Dynamic. Static means it never changes. Dynamic means the ISP has a list of a bunch of IP's and will randomly give you one as a lease. They can and do change periodically. Only one public IP can be assigned to a network at a time. Any time you use the internet, whatever is on the other end can see your public IP. This means all websites see it. People can use software to find out your IP as well.



So does this mean that someone can track your IP address to your house? NO!! Since it is owned by the ISP, it will lead to the ISP. The ISP can look up your address if they get a court order to, but they do not give it to normal people.



As stated, you can use a VPN to change your IP address. You can subscribe to a VPN service that will route your traffic though their servers, encrypted, thus giving you the IP address of the web server.



This does not actually hide your IP but only makes it seem like you have a different one. Your actual IP can possibly be found even though you use a VPN so it is not bulletproof.



One last thing to keep in mind is that even though an IP leads to the ISP, it does connect to your network. If you have open ports, it is possible for a hacker who knows your IP, to hack into your computers. That is why a firewall is needed.

Answer 2

An IP address isn't the same thing as a home address. The location information is that of your ISP. So when they say they're tracking your IP address all their really doing is looking up the information of your ISP. To go any further they would have to call your ISP and without a warrant they're not getting your personal information.



The real risk is when you post your personal information to social media web sites for the whole world to see. They can learn where you live and don't need your IP address since most people hand out that info for free on Facebook etc.

Answer 3

Go any internet speed test site - like speakeasy speed test (google that) and you will also see a place where they tell you what your IP address is that their web site is currently 'seeing' for you. Now, if you leave your computer on 24/7 and never turn it off day after day - the number will normally stay the same. However, once you turn your computer off and back on - your internet provider will assign a new IP address - it will be close to what the first one was you saw.



Once I know your IP address - I can find who your provider is pretty easy - and nail it down to a city or area. Most folks - that is about as close as they can get to tracking you.



However, if you are paying extra a static IP address (static means is never changes - people who host web pages or game servers from home (Mindcraft) will do this) and I learn what it is - and - I figure out you never seem to change IP addresses ..... now I can attempt to attack you.



How do you protect yourself? Easy. Turn your computer off when not using it. There are also some internet and telephone 'joke' and 'spoof' web sites for a few bucks that will either scramble your IP or when you make a phone call give the receiver's Caller ID a phone number and name. Just google 'joke caller id' for these sites.



If you are interested in learned all about this kind of stuff - it can be fun - go put up a web. Couple of $$ a month gets you web hosting - there must be something you are good at that you can put up a site? Even the basic gui from a web host - has tons of tools that will let do interesting things to email and your browsing.



Was it windows 8 that boasted having a private browser in it's new web browser? IDK. I can tell you this - nobody is going to grab your IP address and show up on your doorstep the next day unless that person is a technical law enforcement officer - or a gifted hacker. And a gifted hacker, they don't show up at your door - you get 6 million emails from Asia - lol. I made the mistake a pissing one off - 8,000 to 9,000 spam per hour for days and days. LOL. But since I had my own web site it was easy to derail them - if I didn't - I would have had to give up that email address for good........ which is what most folks do.

Answer 4

Use a vpn

Answer 5

tor