Justice Is On Its Way
An introduction
IP addresses are given by your Internet service provider (ISP) when you access the Internet. An IP address is the Internet equivalent of a street address; it instructs Internet traffic where it should go and how and when to connect.
Since your IP address is connected to your physical location and is viewable to others online, several questions if it poses a security risk, should one be concerned with someone locating them using their IP address? A few circumstances notwithstanding, that is not possible. Read on to gain a better knowledge of how IP addresses work.
How does an IP address work?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a number string of digits associated with an internet-connected device or a network. It enables the gadget to communicate over a network on an external or internal network or the Internet.
When you access the Internet, you are issued an IP address by your ISP. Similarly to your mailbox, your IP address identifies your device to the Internet. The IP address is responsible for routing Internet traffic to your machine. To add, your location is kept a secret. If someone obtained your IP address, they might discover some information about your Internet connection, such as the provider you are using to access the Internet. However, they need help finding you, your residence, or your workplace.
How can an IP address help you find someone?
The IP addresses of smartphones at the time of site allow cybersecurity specialists to pinpoint users in a manner analogous to that used by telecommunications providers to monitor customers through phone numbers. Nevertheless, the location of an IP address is typically only approximated in databases that are freely accessible to the public. Therefore, it is still difficult to pinpoint a person’s physical location using only their IP address. An IP geolocation search tool is often more accurate, albeit it can still be within a few miles.
For example, a mobile data connection user frequently has an IP address assigned to them by their cellular service provider. In addition, there’s a corporate headquarters associated with that IP address. So how does it function, exactly? When a user connects to or disconnects from a mobile network, the person’s IP address is dynamically assigned from a pool of IP addresses owned by the carrier. This method makes it extremely difficult to pin down a single user.
Although it may be possible to correctly identify the city where a mobile phone is located, pinpointing a specific street location is more problematic. This caution applies even more strongly when users attempt to protect their privacy by employing a virtual private network (VPN) or another routing technology.
Using static IP addresses tied to a physical router is a more secure method of pinpointing a user’s location. However, it would be preferable to check the restaurant’s IP logs if you’re following a gadget around the premises, for instance.
Conclusion
You now know the answer to your question, “How can someone be located using only their IP address?” Taking the required precautions to hide your IP address online is now easier for you to do. Knowing what information can be gleaned from an IP address and how to mask one can be helpful.
After all, the greatest way to safeguard your privacy when using the Internet is to arm yourself with knowledge.