BY VERONICKA

The internet has always been a medium for facilitation of daily personal as well as business activities. It has a vital role in dissolving borders between nations and people. Thanks to the spread of the internet, the world is now known as a global village. However, we are now beginning to realize that there is a cost to all this convenience; a cost that we didn't know about earlier. Exposed.

The downside of the internet is a collective loss of privacy. From corporations to individuals, everyone is suffering the curse of having their lives displayed in front of the whole world. Government agencies and marketing companies were pivotal in this process but now, cybercriminals are taking over from all other entities.

Every user has a public IP address, which is unsecure and is the primary source through which cybercriminals gain access to their systems. Therefore, it is very important for you to know, how you can secure your IP before gaining a deeper understanding of IP addresses and their fundamentals:

Securing your IP: How you can do that?

There are numerous ways to obtain a private IP address but unfortunately, they are all a little too complicated for average users such as you and me. For us, the most effective way to hide the IP address is, to use a VPN. VPNs are designed to mask the original addresses and replace them with predetermined ones that can't be tracked back to the real location.

Moreover, you can even unblock the most popular streaming service in the world – Netflix's US version, which is not available to the rest of the world, with a VPN.

1. Download Ivacy's Netflix VPN
2. Install it on your device
3. Launch the application
4. Enjoy your favourite show on American Netflix with amazing speed

These easy steps will let you binge all your favorite TV shows and movies. Additionally, a VPN also makes all your data traffic anonymous because of the hidden IP address. This is an added benefit when it comes to cybersecurity. As users surf the internet, nothing about their activity is leaked to anyone on the outside, granting them a peace of mind while they use an unsecure network connection.

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What is an IP address?

An IP or Internet Protocol address is a unique code specific to a device, website or server. The device you are using to connect with the internet is assigned a new Ip address every time a connection is established. Think of it as your home address. The IP address provides the exact location for any person or entity on the internet.

By default, all IP addresses are public. This means that ordinarily our IP addresses are visible to anyone who wants to view it.

If you want to check your IP address, the easiest way is to go to Google and type "what is my IP address" in the search bar. The page that loads next will display your public domain address. Alternatively, a device's IP address can also be checked by going to the Control Centre on your PC or the settings in your smartphone.

How does IP tracking work?

Once you've understood the analogy of an IP address being like a home location, it is easy to understand how someone can track you using it. Just like if a thief knew where you lived, it would be simple for them to show up and break in, it is a walk in the park for hackers to gain entry into your computer if they know your IP address.

The IP provides a trail of all data traffic that is flowing from a certain device. Not only can it help a cybercriminal tell which websites you are visiting and what information you are typing there, it is also the way by which internet service providers keep a log of your online activities. All these factors together show the vulnerabilities that arise as a result of a public IP address.

Threats from a public IP address

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As part of our earlier discussion we pointed out that the IP address is a source for all cybersecurity risks that exist these days. Hackers begin by tracking a user's address. Once they have it, they can devise a number of techniques to either sneak into the system or try to extract sensitive information through other sources. Here are a few common cybercrimes involving public IP addresses:

• Phishing: This is a broad term which encompasses various methods like man-in-the-middle attacks. The basic idea is that a cybercriminal lays out some traps in the form of fake surveys or web pages that look identical to the real ones but aren't. The intention is to fool the victim into entering their private information there that can be picked up and used by the hacker,
• Malware: Again, this is a term which includes almost every type of virus that a hacker can plant into your computer through the use of a public IP addresses. These bugs like ransomware for instance, are sent through email attachments or random links that initiate a download as soon you click on them.

These are just a few leading threats that users face because of public IP addresses.

Conclusion

Although all IP addresses are public normally, there are a number of issues that come with these. Primarily, they are giving away your precise location which becomes a way to gain access to a load of private information. Using a VPN is the most affordable yet efficient way to protect yourself from misuse of the IP address. However, it is important to make sure that you choose a credible service like Ivacy to get the job done.