Posted by Nowadays, hackers are everywhere on the internet. They can expose your identity, private data, and other information to the public, leaving you vulnerable.
The worst aspect of this situation is that hackers utilize your IP address, which is essential for internet connectivity, as a key element for their work. Although the address doesn’t contain any of your private information, it can be exploited in many ways to gain access to vital data.
To counter this, we have ways in which you can stay hidden online and surf anything you want undetected. Curious to learn more? Let’s uncover everything in today’s post.
What is an IP Address?
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numerical label that uniquely identifies every device that has Internet access. It allows smartphones, laptops, computers, tablets, and other IoT devices to communicate and transfer data with each other smoothly and efficiently.
In the world of the internet, there are mainly two types of IP addresses, their details are listed below for your convenience.
IPv4: IPv4 is the most common format of IP addresses. It consists of four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.32.1).
IPv6: This is a newer format of IP address that was designed to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices using longer alphanumeric sequences (e.g., 1030:0000:0000:0000:0002:0400:300d:326c).
An IP address can either be static (fixed) or dynamic (changing over time). Static IP addresses are often used for servers or devices that need a consistent address for the stability of the connection. In contrast, dynamic IPs change each time you connect the device to the internet.
Furthermore, IP addresses are assigned to devices both in public and private networks. While these two types of networks can be static and dynamic, the most vulnerable to cyberattacks are public networks like free Wi-Fis in cafes, restaurants, etc.
How Hackers Can Obtain Your IP Address?
The first step toward safeguarding your online identity and data is knowing how hackers gain access to your IP address. This can be done in a few ways mentioned below.
Clicking & Accessing Malicious Sites:
Every time you click on a link or ad, your IP address is sent to the server hosting that content. The same goes for a website that is accessed from your device.
Although servers use it to track where the traffic is coming from, if the link is made with malicious intent, then your IP address will land straight into the hands of a hacker.
A quick way to know if a link is malicious or not is to see the data that the website requires you to enter and the URL it follows.
For instance, if a website with the link (www.stopify/register) redirects and opens to an interface of Spotify asking to enter an email address and password. Then, you should know that it is a phishing site because of the difference in spelling of the domain name. The spelling mistakes are often subtle (like the example) and confuse the user. So, if you open such a link, please know that any entered data will be taken and, of course, your IP address.
Peer-to-Peer Networks:
P2P file-sharing programs (e.g., torrents) expose your IP to anyone you connect with. That is the reason why cybersecurity specialists and companies worldwide discourage pirating content (sure, their monetary benefits are also involved.)
But the main takeaway is that P2P file sharing does make you a potential target for cyberattacks.
Public Wi-Fi Networks:
Connecting to unprotected networks like Wi-Fi in public places exposes your IP address to anyone else on the same network. This gives hackers a slick opening into hacking into your system, allowing them to brute-force passwords for accounts, leaking private data on the internet, and more.
What Hackers Can Do with Your IP Address?
So far, we have discussed how hackers can gain access to your IP address. We’ve also slightly hinted at the things they can do to your data and device if they manage to gain access to the IP address. Now, we’ll explore this aspect in more detail.
- Track Your Location
Your IP address reveals your general location including the city or region where you live. Hackers can use this information for various malicious purposes, such as sending life threats, stalking, or robbery, after combining it with other pieces of information scavenged from your social media handles and other platforms.
- Launch Cyberattacks
Well, hackers don’t need to personally visit your office or home. They can simply launch cyberattacks over the internet and gain everything they want from you just by using the IP address.
The main types of attacks that hackers can depend on the device you’re using and your geolocation. However, if we are to broadly categorize them into the most common ones, these are listed below.
- DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service): These attacks flood your network with excessive traffic, slowing it down or completely knocking it offline.
- Port Scanning: Hackers can scan for open ports in a public network and find your device. Then, they can exploit it to access your system files, deploy malware, etc.
- IP Spoofing: Cybercriminals may attempt to impersonate your IP address, masking their identity while conducting illegal activities. This could lead to false accusations or legal trouble for you or your brand name.
- Sell Your IP Address on the Dark Web
Although an IP address alone might not hold much value, cybercriminals often bundle it with other stolen data like usernames, passwords, browsing habits, etc. These pieces of information are normally stolen once they get access to your device through a public network (as discussed above.)
Then, the hackers will sell the accessed data on the dark web, which opens more possibilities for advanced attacks and identity thefts.
- Send You Targeted Spam and Ads
Cybercriminals can use your IP address to flood your inbox with targeted spam, phishing emails, or unwanted ads. This can lead to unwanted promotional messages that often disrupt your online experience and even trick you into revealing sensitive information.
How do you know if your IP address is Hacked?
Till now, we have covered the basics of IP addresses, review how they’re revealed, and the things hackers can do with this information. Now, it is time to learn how you can know if your IP address is hacked or not.
Unexpected Network Activity:
If your IP address is hacked, your network will see unusual activity. These may include increased bandwidth usage or excessive data being sent from your network to other devices.
Slow Internet Speeds:
This indicator is linked to the first one. If your network is relaying unusual amounts of data to unauthorized systems, it is likely to slow down. This may also be a factor in determining whether your network is compromised by a DDoS attack.
Unauthorized Access to Accounts:
You might’ve noticed that you get emails from websites or services saying that you tried to log in from a new location or device.
This message is harmless if you did attempt to log in from a new device or location… However, if you don’t remember doing so, then it means that someone has access to your IP address and is trying to conduct malicious activities.
Security Alerts from Your ISP:
Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) worldwide provide a feature to their users that detects suspicious activity or potential security breaches in the network. This informs you about IP address-related thefts. Keep an eye out for any communications from them regarding your account and immediately take action to resolve problems (more on this later).
Unusual Device Behavior:
Sometimes, devices on your network may show abnormal behavior, such as crashing or running slow. This can be an indication that your IP address was leaked to the public, which may have resulted in a security breach.
To determine this, you must check whether any unknown apps or software are installed on your network. You can also monitor irregular activities by looking at system and network logs.
How to Protect Your IP Address from Hackers
Now, for the main part: how to protect your IP address from hackers. Take the mentioned steps to ensure that you are out of trouble.
- Change Your IP Address
First things first, note your current IP address from any online tool like What’s My IP Address. Then, change your IP address by either restarting your router or contacting your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to request a new one. This will break the connection between the hacker and your device and will help you start anew after a compromising event. However, please note that this method only works if you have a dynamic public IP address, as it won’t work with a static IP address.
- Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
VPNs are used to hide your real IP address as they route your internet traffic through a secure server. This not only masks your location but also encrypts your data, preventing hackers from tracking your online activity or using your IP address for performing illegal activities.
Some good options include TunnelBear, NordVPN, etc. However, you are free to explore and not limited to these options alone.
- Update Your Router and Firewall Settings
An outdated router or firewall is a prime target for cybercriminals. Ensure your router firmware is up-to-date. Also, use a strong, unique password for your Wi-Fi network so that hackers have a hard time cracking the system open.
Furthermore, enable your firewall to block any incoming traffic from unauthorized sources. If you don’t know how to do it, then you can follow this guide by ElevenForum here.
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi
While it is convenient to get free internet, our recommendation is to avoid public Wi-Fi as much as you can. If you have to use it, then it is better to stay behind a VPN or shield your IP address with a proxy server. Also, avoid conducting sensitive activities like banking or logging into private accounts when on such networks.
Final Words
Hackers utilize your IP address in many ways to expose your identity, launch attacks, and steal private information, amongst many other things. To secure your online identity, use a VPN alongside updated router and firewall settings and stay away from public Wi-Fi as much as possible.
Staying alert while utilizing the mentioned security strategies will secure your personal and digital presence while minimizing potential cyber threats.
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