All devices on a network, and especially on the Internet, have an IP address. This allows them to communicate with each other, both locally and on the Internet. Each public IP address is used to uniquely identify a device, making it traceable..
Composed of a series of numbers or a series of numbers and letters depending on its version, the IP (Internet Protocol) is an address assigned to each device on a network. It thus serves as an identifier and facilitates communication between these different devices.
IP addresses can be classified into different categories. They are distinguished in particular by their version (IPv4 and IPv6), their scope (private or public) or by their allocation method (static IP, dynamic IP).
What are the differences between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 and IPv6 are the two current versions of the Internet Protocol. The more recent version aims to replace the first, which has reached saturation point. For the moment, the two coexist relatively well.
IPv4: IPv4 is a set of addresses represented by four blocks of decimal numbers (0 to 255), separated by periods. Ex: 192.168.1.1 and 203.0.115.78. Machines only interpret the binary encoding of IPv4, which is 32 bits long. Theoretically, there are just under 4.3 billion possible combinations and therefore available IPv4 addresses.
IPv6: this is the most recent version of the Internet protocol. IPv6 was introduced to compensate for the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. It is presented in a format of 8 blocks of hexadecimal numbers separated by colons. Ex: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.
The number of available IPv6 is almost infinite: 3.4*10^38 possible combinations. This is more than enough to cover our needs in the future.
IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are not compatible. In other words, a device or server with only an IPv4 address cannot communicate directly with other IPv6 devices and vice versa.
For now, the two versions of the IP protocol coexist thanks to transition mechanisms. Eventually, IPv6 will completely replace IPv4.
Private or Public IP Addresses
Private IP addresses are used only in a local network (home network or corporate network). They are used for communication between different network devices (computers, printers, smartphones, etc.) without needing to use the Internet.
Certain IP ranges are reserved solely for private networks by convention: 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 and 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 for the IPv4 standard and the fd00::/8 range for IPv6.
Public IP addresses are used for routing and identifying devices on the Internet. Each public IP address is unique on the web, but different devices on a local network can share the same public IPv4 address due to limited availability of addresses.
Static and Dynamic IP Addresses
Most ISPs assign dynamic IP addresses to their customers. In other words, your address can change every time you reboot your box/router or periodically when you reconnect to the network, for example.
Static IP addresses, on the other hand, are fixed and do not change. Most ISPs allow their customers to configure a static IP address, but this depends on the contract. Usually, you have to accept an additional cost.
Using a static IP address has its advantages, but it is not without risks. In particular, you expose yourself to an increased risk of targeted hacking (DDoS attacks, brute force attacks, intrusion attempts, etc.) or even to greater traceability on the Internet, since your unique address is linked to a single identity. However, you can circumvent these risks by using a VPN.
What your IP can reveal about you
With a static IP address, you are easily identifiable and are more exposed to privacy issues. However, even a dynamic IP address can reveal a lot about you and your online activities.
Indeed, at any given moment, your ISP knows exactly who is using which dynamic IP address. In the event of illegal activity, a judge could force your ISP to make your online activity data available.
Your IP address can provide various types of information. It can reveal your approximate geographic location, or even your exact address by associating your IP with your identity (ISP), your online activities (websites visited, searches, connection history, etc.), etc.
This is what is driving more and more Internet users to use a VPN. This type of service allows you to change your IP address (and location), which makes it difficult to trace you. VPNs also encrypt your traffic, preventing your ISP and other third parties from knowing what you're doing.
Full features of Surfshark VPN.
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