When you connect to the Internet through your Internet service provider (ISP), they assign you an IP address. Your IP address is like a mailing address for your computer on the Internet; it tells Internet traffic where to go and how to connect. However, because your IP address is linked to a location and visible to others online, many wonder if they’re a security risk. Do I need to be concerned about someone finding me with my IP address? Fortunately, save for a few exceptions, that isn’t possible, though there are other ways to find someone online without an IP address. Read below to gain a better understanding of how IP addresses and IP address tracing work.
How IP address tracing work
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique string of numbers linked to an Internet-connected or network-connected device. It identifies the device and allows it to communicate with other devices on an internal or external network, or even across the Internet.
When you connect to the internet through your Internet service provider (ISP) you are assigned an IP address. Your IP address is similar to your mailing address, but for your computer, on the Internet. The IP address routes Internet traffic to your computer. All traffic is then linked to that IP address, which someone online can potentially view. To clarify, it does not reveal your location. If someone was able to get your IP address they could learn a bit about your Internet service, such as which provider you use to connect to the Internet, but they really can't locate you, your home, or your office.
Can someone track my IP address' exact location?
In short, no – you don’t need to worry about your exact location being found through your IP address. Though IP addresses, by design, can be tracked, the purpose is to indicate your location to Internet providers and other devices when you're accessing the Internet. Without this service, they wouldn’t be able to serve their purpose. However, this doesn’t mean that someone can track you by your IP address.
Your IP address doesn’t contain the information necessary to reveal your exact physical location to anyone who may attempt to trace your IP address and find you. In some circ*mstances, a person may be able to locate the city or general area you’re in. But they can’t get your physical address; though your IP address links to a geographical location, it’s not specific enough to find you. Anyone tracing your IP address could only get to your Internet service provider.
What an IP address does tell you
If you want to know how to find someone with IP address information, you'll still find helpful data from the address. An IP address does contain some geographical location information. In some cases, an IP address indicates the country, state, city, or zip code where a device is located. It also tells others the identity of your ISP. However, even with that information, your IP address doesn’t reveal enough to pinpoint your location, your personal information, or put you in any danger.
Your ISP, however, does know your specific location based on your account information. For your privacy, your ISP does not share your exact location with anyone else. You don’t need to worry about your ISP giving out your location unless you have committed a crime. In such cases, police can subpoena an ISP and require the ISP to turn over their information logs.
Even with this exception, though, you likely aren’t in any danger if you haven’t participated in illegal activities. However, this is a reason to make sure you secure your WiFi network – if you keep your WiFi unsecured, anyone within close proximity could use your network to commit illegal activities or crimes. In addition to potentially revealing your location to the police, this would cause you a host of legal issues as the owner of the network.
How to hide your IP address
If you’re still uncomfortable with the information that your IP address reveals, you have options to further protect your IP address. Disguising your IP address has several benefits. It secures your connection, which is especially helpful when using free WiFi networks. It allows you to evade filters or content blocks. Most importantly, it makes you more secure online.
Consider using a virtual private network or proxy to mask your IP address when browsing online. Both increase your privacy by essentially changing your IP address and protecting your online activity.
A proxy acts as a hub, or gateway, through which your Internet activity is processed. It hides your public IP address; the rest of the Internet sees your proxy server’s IP address. A VPN service works in a similar fashion, though it uses advanced encryption protocols and tunneling techniques instead to protect all data exchanges online. Using either of these hides your IP address and makes it so that even your general location can’t be found online.
How to find the IP location of someone else
If you want to find the location of an IP address, use the IP lookup tool. The results of the tool reveal where the IP was registered, the location of the controlling agency, whether or not the user has a proxy or VPN enabled, and the status of their connection.
Furthermore, the tool also provides available geolocation data for any given IP address. Though it can’t reveal the exact location of an address, you can find the country, state, city, and potentially even the zip code of the searched IP address. You won’t be able to find someone’s precise location or have yours shared. But you can get a general idea of where the IP is located, even if you can't know how to use an IP address to find someone exactly.
Frequently asked questions
Can you track a phone with an IP address?
Technically, you can track a phone with an IP address if you know the phone's IP. However, it's not easy; if you're trying to track a phone, tracking it via cellular towers will provide better results.
Can anyone find my address with my IP address?
People can find your general location which your IP address. However, they can't find your exact street address through your IP address.
