An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical label assigned to every device on a network. It acts like a mailing address, allowing devices to find each other and communicate over the internet and other networks.
Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is the classic standard. It uses a 32-bit address (e.g., `172.217.14.227`), which provides about 4.3 billion addresses.
IPv6 is the next generation, using a 128-bit address (e.g., `2001:4860:4860::8888`) for a nearly infinite supply of unique addresses.
Exposing your IP address can create security and privacy vulnerabilities:
You can hide your real IP address and enhance your online privacy using several tools:
A Virtual Private Network encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through a server in a location of your choice, effectively replacing your IP with the VPN server's IP.
A proxy acts as an intermediary. Your traffic goes to the proxy first, which then forwards it to the destination. This is simpler than a VPN but often offers less security and privacy.
The Tor Browser provides maximum anonymity by routing your connection through multiple volunteer-operated servers, making it extremely difficult to trace your traffic back to you.