What is an IP Address?
Devices have assigned numbers called Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses. These number combinations are unique and represent the ID of any device. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority produces IP addresses mathematically. They are not random. Desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets have a specific IP address. Devices and networks communicate with each other through these addresses. They use a specific language, and we call this language IP address. They can send, receive, and exchange information and data through IP addresses. They can recognize each other by IP addresses.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns and attaches IP addresses to the online devices. IP addresses function as home addresses. That is how people can track their online activities through the Internet.
Your activities are not confidential. The IP address reveals the location information where data is sent and received. You can come across personalized advertisements because of IP tracking. You can consider IP addresses as online footprints of you.
Types of IP Addresses
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Static IP Addresses
Static IP address, as the name suggests, remains the same and does not change. Static IP is not common today. However, businesses still use static IP addresses to have personal experience. Static IP means that only your organization can use this address. It increases data security because static IP offers a reliable data exchange without compromising on speed. To have a private and self-user experience, organizations prefer static IP addresses.
Dynamic IP Addresses
Contrary to static IP address, dynamic IP address changes all the time. ISP assigns different IP addresses to the devices automatically. This re-assign continues regularly and automatically. Users can use several IP addresses from the IP pool. It is advantageous for security because it is hard for criminals to track user activities since IP addresses change all the time.
Security Shortcomings of IP Addresses
Cybercriminals can obtain your IP address by using several techniques. Social engineering and online tracking are the prior ones. They can reveal your credentials and capture confidential information. Criminals can disclose your location information through your IP address. On the other hand, you can fall victim to a malware or phishing attack. Check phishing attack's financial consequences worldwide https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319867/share-of-financial-phishing-attacks/
How to Conceal Your Online Activities
Users can conceal their online activities and IP addresses by IP masking. IP masking, as the name suggests masks your original IP address and assigns you a new one. Thus, cybercriminals can not track your online activities. The purpose of IP masking is to accelerate data security and cyber safety. Here, we will explain some tools to mask IP addresses.
Proxy Server
Using a proxy server is a good way for IP masking. The data travel across the tunnels in packets. Proxy servers conceal the identities of these packets and hide IP addresses this way. It is similar to VPN servers, but proxy servers do not encrypt data. The data packet that passes through the proxy server loses its real identity and is assigned a new identity.
Proxy servers route your Internet activity and keep your IP away from third persons. It offers an anonymous Internet experience and improves your security level. The prior advantage of a proxy server is it is easy to install and establish. Your remote workforce can benefit from proxy servers without the support of the IT team. Moreover, proxy servers are swift and never slow your actions down. However, proxy servers have some shortcomings too. For instance, your IP address can be seen between the local area and the proxy server. Proxy servers are not reliable enough to protect sensitive data. Despite all the drawbacks proxy servers are preferable and a good option for IP masking.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
VPNs are still the common method for IP concealing. Virtual Private Networks create a virtual tunnel and encrypt data. They assign different IP addresses to the devices and provide IP masking too.
VPNs protect their popularity because they fit into remote work too. Businesses switch their work models to remote models and their need for security is increasing. Here, VPNs offer a flexible and reliable protection environment for data security. Furthermore, VPNs do not slow down the network so users can run their operations without compromising on speed.
Whether you have a dedicated or dynamic IP address in your organization, you should adopt VPN solutions to conceal your IP address. It is vital for security and productivity. To avoid challenges, you can consider business VPNs or remote VPNs in your organization. They are specifically tailored to business requirements and minimize drawbacks.
TOR (The Onion Router) Browsers
TOR is commonly used as a gateway to the dark web. On the other hand, it is a great way to conceal IP addresses. TOR routed the online Internet traffic and hides IP addresses from the others. It is impossible to reach out user’s real IP address, location, and other information thanks to TOR routing. However, TOR has a significant drawback which is slowing down. TOR slows down activities and destroys productivity and user activity. We can say that TOR is not a good idea for business organizations since it is not a practical way to hide IP addresses.
IP Masking Outputs
IP masking is a vital activity for data security and network protection. Although there are several ways to conceal IP addresses, some of them are not preferable. We recommend you choose the IP masking method according to your organization’s needs. Virtual Private Networks and Proxies are preferable in terms of speed. These tools conceal your IP address and still offer swift usage. Regardless of the tool that you use, realize the importance of IP masking for your business’s data security and adopt the proper one.
