IP Address: 6 Basic Things You Never Knew

ip address

Having an IP address does not necessarily mean knowing anything about it. In fact, there are quite a lot of people using the internet who have no idea of what the IP is. As a quick re-introduction and reminder, the IP is an important part of your computer.  The “IP” stands for “Internet Protocol” while the address is a unique number that gets linked to all the activities you do online. You may consider it as a return address on a letter you’d sent out. Simply put, an IP address is an address or plausible location of your computer when it is connected to the internet.

Technically, without knowing your IP address, your networking software/hardware cannot connect you online. However, it does not require you to remember it as a password or enter it when you need to go online. If you need to know, however, you can click here to find out.

IP addresses are part of TCP/IP. These are protocols that networks speak that allows us to go online. You can think of it as a common digital language. It is no wonder Websites and networks also need to know your IP address, in the digital language that computers do. Every time we go online, an IP address is always working for us.  Now while this may seem like the totality of it all, it isn’t. Here are 6 basic things you never knew about IP Address:

IP Address: #1 It doesn’t go everywhere with you

During the periods you go on vacations and take along your laptop, your home IP address doesn’t go with you. This is because when you’re in another location, you will be using another network to connect to the internet. Technically, when you’re at a public place in another state, or even away from where you will normally be and you’re using their WiFi, you’ll be using a different (but temporary) IP address. Therefore, the address assigned to your laptop will most definitely be from the internet provider of the owner.

ip address

Likewise, when you travel, it changes. Whenever you move from one location to the other, your Internet Protocol address will change. All of these happens because of the internet protocols your computer uses. Think of it as a kind of personality you put up when you’re at different places.

IP Address: #2. You Have Endless Connections

When you go online to check your email, shopping or chatting your computer is always hooked to the internet. Every time you send in requests, they come back in the right destination. Your Internet Protocol address plays a big role in this.

An IP address plays a significant role in that. You connect first to a network that is already connected to the internet. This network then grants you access to the internet. The network can be your personal internet service provider, your office WiFi amongst others. Isn’t it interesting that with millions of devices connected to the internet, it doesn’t conflict in some way? This is why your IP address is a unique address to every computer.

IP Address: #3. Follows the Protocols

To make sure you can successfully do whatever you want on the internet, your computer’s networking software is hardwired to follow a list of networking rules. These networking rules and standards are in-built. Yes, your computer follows protocols to connect you to the internet and to pass information and data back and forth.

One of those networking protocols on your computer is the Internet Protocol. It is responsible for delivering, addressing and routing your online requests accurately. It embeds an “electronic return address” to all your online activity and requests for you. To achieve this, it uses the IP address for your connection.

IP Address: #4. It always Changes

Yes. You read that right. Your IP address always changes. Usually, at home, an IP address is assigned to your computer by your Internet service provider (MTN, GLO, and the likes). Because they are the ones giving you access to the internet, it is their responsibility to assign an IP address to your computer. Thus, whatever internet activity you do goes through them They route it back also by using your IP address.

However, try not to be so attached to it. Remember, it’s not a password neither is it a permanent memory. In fact, the address assigned to you isn’t really yours. Even when you do something as little as turning your router or modem on and off, your IP address can change.

IP Address: #5 It Reveals But doesn’t Reveal

Quite a lot of folks may be worried that their IP address may reveal their name, home address, physical feature, age and so on. However, that’s really not the case. It’s possible they may find some interesting information, but nothing so revealing like those intense details.

IP Address: #6 For Sourcing

It is needed for sourcing. It can also serve as a form of protection against fraudulent people. In instances when you have to do online business, the IP address can be your best friend. There are so many reasons why people lookup IP even though it doesn’t reveal a lot. Some of the people who do this include:

  • Retailers who want to avoid being defrauded. They often use IP Lookup to make sure someone who is charging a lot of money is at the mailing address linked to their card. This way, it makes it easy to know whether or not the card has been stolen.
  • Fraud investigators and Law enforcement agents make use of the IP Lookup as well. They use online tools to see which ISP is hosting a spammer.
  • Blacklist databases use the IP address to find violators and spammers and then block their access to email servers.
  • You can also use it personally. Especially for transactions, you’re not sure of. For instance, you can use the IP Lookup to check for the area where the person is in case they are lying about being where they are.

Now that you know about the Internet Protocol address, here are some other topics that may interest you.

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