Internet Protocol Address (IP-address)
An IP is the second most essential thing you need next to computer, modem and power, to use the net. It's a unique number, identifying you, or rather, your computer on the net. The value can range from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255, though several ranges are reserved for special purposes. To give an example the 192.x.x.x range is reserved for internal networking.
So, why is it necessary to have an ip? The IP, as said before, identifies a certain machine on the net, sort of like a big addressbook. If you want to go to this site you enter www.surfing-safe.com in your addressbar and there you go, you see the site. But, since we only use ip's nothing, or noone is connect to www.surfing-safe.com but rahter the request for this domain is processed by a Domain Name Solution server (DNS) and turned into a number. (Dns-servers hold databases containing addresses and the corresponding ip's). After requesting the site data is sent back, but to where? Exactly, to your IP, the server cant send out data to random ip's, It's you who requested the data so the data should end up at your screen.
So, why all the fuss, what has this got to do with surfing safe? When your computer is compromised and part of, for example, a botnet, your IP will show up in the logs of the attacked system. Your IP can be 'read' and can be traced back to your provider, the last, simple step, for your provider is to take a look at it's logs to see who had the specific IP when the attack was taking place.
Specific IP when the attack was taking place? Yes, there are two types of IP's. The first being static IP's, when you connect to your ISP you always get the same IP. The second being dynamic IP's, everytime you connect to your ISP a new ip is issued . This is mostly done by provider who haven't got enough IP's to give-out, and since not everyone is online at the same time, why give everyone a static ip... Compare it to overbooking in the world of air-travelling.
To conclude: you IP is your ID whether you have a static or dynamic IP. The only way to mask it is by using high anonymous proxy servers though there is a lot of trouble involved in using them. To give a small summary of how a proxy works. Instead of internet traffic going this way: you->ISP->backbone->server it will go this way you->ISP->backbone->ISP->proxy->ISP->backbone->server
- Your connection can be slowed down due to the 'longer'connection
- Most high anonymous servers are cracked/hacked servers containing viruses, spamming people or eveng athering logs about your activity
- Your ip shows up in proxy logs, so your never really anonymous
Your current ip and host:
Your IP Address is [38.103.63.16]Your Host Address is [38.103.63.16]