When an IP address is exposed, or visible, it means that people on the internet could potentially find out what the IP address of a device is. Your IP address can then expose other information, such as your location. This is totally normal, as IP addresses are not hidden or masked by default. If a pop-up warning pops up on your device, then it is likely that it is from security software, recommending additional software to provide an extra layer of security.
An IP address is the address of an online device that is needed to allow the device to send and receive data on the internet. In other words, it is similar the postal service, but for data. If you want to send a letter, you need to know the address of the person that you want to send the letter to. The same will apply if the person want to send a letter back to you. Luckily, the internet is much faster than the postal service.
How big are the risks if your IP address is visible?
If your IP address is exposed, it generally only poses a limited risk.
Personal information
Your personal information is not attached to your IP address, so your IP Address by itself cannot expose this. This information will only be known by the internet service provider.
Internet Service providers generally have a strict privacy policy in place. Your service provider’s privacy policy should be available on their website, if you did not get a copy of this when you signed up with them.
Location
Your approximate location can be exposed by your IP address.
This location is not your exact location. It can only narrow it down to your country and the town, or city that you are in.
This location information is often used by websites, or services that are regionally locked. An example of this is movie streaming services where the movie selections available are based on the country or region that you are in.
User locations are also used by advertising agencies to display adverts only to people in pre-determined regions.
Your ISP
Your IP address will show which Internet Service Provider (ISP) you use.
Security risks
Cybercriminals could attempt to use the IP address to gain access to a device and attempt a brute force attack. Attacks can also be conducted by IP Spoofing, or a denial-of-service attack.
A brute force attack occurs when a hacker attempts to gain access to a device by trying different ports on an IP to gain access to a device. There are thousands of ports on each IP address, so the hacker will have to keep on trying until he finds the right one. Apart from facing this challenge, a hacker would also have the firewalls of the internet service provider to overcome.
A Denial-of-Service attack occurs when an IP address is flooded with traffic, with the intent to disrupt normal traffic. This type of attack is usually directed at servers and service providers and are rarely aimed at private individuals.
IP Spoofing is when an attacker masks their own IP address and replace it with the IP address of a legitimate user. The device or server that it is communicating with will then be fooled into thinking that it is communicating with the legitimate device.
IP spoofing can also be used for Man in the middle attacks whereby hackers will insert themselves between two communicating parties and spoof the IP addresses. All data will then be directed via the hacker where data can be manipulated.
Does my IP address always stay the same?
If you have a Dynamic IP address, your IP address will change relatively often. If you have a Static IP address, then your IP address will always remain the same.
Private individuals generally have a dynamic IP address that will not remain the same all the time unless a static IP address was specifically requested from the internet service provider.
Internet service providers can rotate IP addresses. It will depend on the internet service provider how often they will rotate it. When a device is switched off, a different IP address may be assigned to it when it is switched back on.
Because IP addresses are assigned by internet service providers, IP address will also change if you switch between Internet Service Providers. An example of this is when you visit your local coffee shop. On your way there, you may be using your mobile data through the service of your own internet service provider. During this time, your IP address will be assigned to you by your service provider. When you get to the coffee shop and you use their W-Fi, you will have a different IP address, assigned to you by the coffee shop’s Internet Service Provider.
Should I hide my IP address?
If you are an average person with average browsing habits, and there is nothing in your life that could cause hackers to specifically target you, then an exposed IP address is not an imminent treat.
With that said, multiple layers of online security are always a good thing, even if it is just for extra peace of mind.
The way to hide an IP address is by using a VPN service. VPN services also have other security benefits because it provides a secure connection. This is especially beneficial if you are using public Wi-FI.
You can read about this in more detail in our articles How does a VPN Connection work and Is free public Wi-Fi and Hotspots safe to use.
When should I hide my IP address?
Assuming that you are not wanting to hide your IP address because you are doing something illegal on the internet, there are also other reasons why you may want to hide your IP address.
These can include, but are not limited to the following:
- As mentioned before, by hiding your IP address, you could add an extra layer of security to your internet browsing. A good VPN service will not only hide your IP address, but will also provide other security features. If you do want to get VPN, then I recommend NordVPN. If you are on a tight budget, then ProtonVPN, may be more suitable for you.
- Your IP address can be used to profile your online searches and activity. This information can then be used by advertisers to display targeted adverts to you. This is often used in conjunction with your social media activity. By hiding your IP address, you can prevent this profiling. You can read more about this in our article – My privacy on the internet.
- You may have reason not to want to reveal your approximate location. One of the most common reasons why people choose to hide this information is to bypass Geo blocking on things like movie channels, where the selection of available movies is based on where you are in the world.