What Can You Do with Someone’s IP Address?

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique identification number that helps web apps to recognize you online. Access to someone’s public IP address lets you see their online activity and more. Hackers are constantly looking for vulnerable devices on the internet that they can target.

Having an individual’s IP address means their personal information is obtainable. This could include physical location and network details. Several other things can be done with a person’s Internet protocol address. In this article, we will uncover what can be done with someone’s IP address, including the actions taken by cyber criminals.

How Can I See My Own IP Address?

Whether you want to see your or someone’s else IP address, it is essential to note that every device has its id. Google lets you see it by searching “What is my IP address?” However, you can find your routers or device’s IP address from the device setting.

All operating systems have distinctive methods for viewing Digital addresses. The procedures might also change based on the specific device you’re using.

Find IP Address on Android, iOS, and Windows

Different methods for finding IP addresses On Windows, Android, and iOS are followed.

For Windows:

Here are steps to see the IP address on Windows OS:

Step 1) Hit the Windows logo on your PC’s taskbar.

Step 2) Type Settings and open the app.

Step 3) Navigate to the Network & Internet tab.

Step 4) Go to WiFi or Ethernet, depending on your connection.

Step 5) Hit on the Network name to open its properties.

Step 6) Scroll down to the bottom; the number next to IPv4 is the IP address assigned to your device.

For Android:

Here are steps to view the mobile IP address on Android OS:

Step 1) Open system Settings on your Android phone.

Step 2) Scroll and find the System option in the list.

Step 3) Navigate to the About phone.

Step 4) Tap on the Status settings at the bottom.

Step 5) Number looks like this 203.0.113.0; next to the IP is your device address.

For iOS:

Here are steps to see the mobile IP address on the IPhone:

Step 1) Start your iPhone’s Settings application.

Step 2) Go to the WiFi tab from the list.

Step 3) Select the Network you are currently using for the internet.

Step 4) At the bottom, under the IPV4 section, you will find your IP address.

What Can Be Done with Another Person’s IP Address?

Acquiring another person’s IP address can provide opportunities to perform different actions. With this valuable information, one could find a lot about the target or use it for other purposes.

Here is what people can do with your IP address:

Phishing Attacks and Spam Emails: With advanced online tracking, advertisers get access to your online activities. It allows them to send you personalized emails. Cybercriminals also use it for phishing attacks and spamming.
Reveal Personal Information: IP address contains information regarding the city you are located in. Moreover, it does not directly reveal your data but can lead to it. You can get the internet provider information through an IP address.
Some evil-minded persons can use phishing attacks to extract your name or credit card information.
Sell Your Information on the Deep Web: One’s IP address may not be valuable, but advertisers eagerly seek them in bundles. Hackers commonly steal IP addresses and other information to sell them online.
Falsely Implicate You in Criminal Activities: Government and security institutions use IP addresses to monitor your online activities. However, if someone gets access to it, they can reroute online traffic while downloading illegal content.
Hack Your Device: Devices use IP addresses and ports to establish a connection. A port can be described as an entry point that an application or program employs for communication purposes. After getting the IP address, the port scanner lets you reach the apps. Vulnerable apps will helps you hack the device.
Apply Access Restrictions: Geo-restriction is not possible without the availability of an Internet Protocol Address. After learning your location, Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services show local content. Paid services may also impose charges depending on your geographic location.
Carry out a Doxing Strike: An IP address can be utilized for carrying out DoS (Denial of Service) strikes. These attacks involve sending an overwhelming number of server requests. This results in a computer system failing to perform the basic operations.
The Distributed Denial of Service: It includes more extensive network of machines. DDoS attacks allow you to send more traffic to the target system.
Track Browsing: Your internet provider has access to your IP addresses. It allows them to know the device you are using, online activity, and physical location. ISP can even sell this information to advertisers if you are in the US.
Ban From Playing Games: When you visit a website or register for a game online, server owners can see your digital address. If you make the admin unhappy, they may ban you from playing games or accessing the website.
Legal Action for Copyright Violation: Online activities like torrenting are strictly banned in countries like the United States. If you download torrents, authorities may get your private IP address and use it to take legal action against you.

How Hackers Obtain Someone’s IP Address

Locating anyone’s IP address is not that difficult for hackers if they do not take precautions. Several methods are there to obtain someone’s IP address.

Spam Emails: Cybercriminals can use phishing techniques in spam emails to deceive you into clicking on malicious links. It may not only allow them to get your IP address but also access to your private data.
DNS Spoofing: Domain Name System (DNS) spoofing redirects network traffic to a malicious server posing as genuine. By intercepting DNS requests, hackers can obtain the IP addresses of devices connecting to a specific domain or website.
Vulnerable Connection: Getting a secure internet connection is very important. A hacker may find a vulnerability in your connection through the router.
You could be using the router without changing the default password of the management portal. These passwords are standard and very easy to guess.
Online ads: An ad does not have to be fake to obtain anyone’s IP address. Advertising agencies are very openly using ads to collect people’s information. When you click these links, they will take you to web pages that require an IP address to open.
P2P File Sharing: During P2P file sharing, peers can see your IP address. Peers are those people who are downloading the same torrent file. Hackers can be one of those peers stealing others’ IP addresses.
Loan Your Device: Loaning the device is a simple but potential way to obtain someone’s IP address.

How can I prevent hackers from obtaining my IP address?

In this digital era, where hackers are relentlessly searching for easy targets, security over the internet is crucial. After learning what someone can do with your IP, check out the preventive measures to stop hackers:

Activate Firewall: A firewall is a security feature that comes built-in with your computer to check the connection. Activating the firewall from network settings lets you block any unidentified traffic. Moreover, it provides a security layer from malware.
Reset Router: Resetting the router will allow you to get a new IP when your ISP has enabled dynamic IP addresses for your connection. The dynamic IP is an alternative feature of static IP addresses that remains the same. After the reset, change the password to a hard-to-guess combination.
Update Privacy Settings: Make sure the privacy on your messaging apps is strict. You should avoid opening messages from unknown numbers, mainly if they include web links. Furthermore, you should restrict these apps to known contacts if they have a calling feature.
Avoid Connecting to Open WiFi: In public places, your phone may catch signals from a WiFi that is not protected by a password. Such internet connections could be planted to lure people into the trap. It is wise to turn off the “auto-connect to Open WiFi” feature on your phone.
Protect Your Device from Strangers: A stranger may randomly ask you to lend your phone for an emergency call. Letting someone use your mobile for a call is not harmful. However, you should do that under strict supervision.
Employ VPN: Finally, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a fantastic tool for internet security. Several service providers are available that can hide your original IP. A VPN enables you to browse the internet through a proxy server. No website can know your location when using a VPN server.

FAQs

It is legal as far as it is not used for illegal purposes. The whole online network works based on tracking people’s activities. Online addresses are accessible to internet service providers (ISPs).

Even the website you visit or the app you use can legally collect your IP address. Keeping your Internet Protocol (IP) address hidden from everyone may not be possible. Therefore, only when someone uses it unlawfully, it becomes illegal.

Here are steps to reset and get a new IP address on a Windows computer:

Step 1) Hit Windows and R keys simultaneously to open Run.

Step 2) Type cmd and click on OK.

Step 3) Copy and paste this command ipconfig/release and press Enter.

Step 4) Next, input IPconfig /renew, and tap Enter.

Step 5) Insert the Exit command and enter to complete the process.

Yes, the police can ask your ISP for your IP address under a legal order. Your internet service providers can have users’ personal information, but they can only share it in case of a legal matter.

No, possessing an IP address is insufficient to get inside someone’s computer. However, it can play an essential role in hacking your system. A device requires both a port and an IP to connect to the internet. With a digital address, hackers can target vulnerable ports on your system. Such ports can let cybercriminals access your information or implant malicious software.