WhatIsMyIPAddress.com was founded in 2000 by Chris Parker. The site started as a hobby and has grown into a trusted resource for IP, data safety and privacy online.
There is a lot of talk about internet data privacy and data-mining schemes, especially on Social Media. However, the fact is that your data is freely available when surfing the web via your IP address.
An IP address is always required to surf the web. IP stands for “Internet Protocol” and it is your “online address”, a bit like your postal address, that tells the servers where to send the information. Your IP address is a unique string of numbers that broadcast information when you are online.
The IP address that is broadcasting is assigned to a computer, rather than a person and your IP address is used to locate your device and send the requested data (for instance the content of a website). WhatIsMyIPAddress discloses your IP address and various other pieces of information to give you more control.
Providing Resources to Protect Users Privacy
WhatIsMyIPAddress.com provides a viable solution to this issue (of your IP address being freely available) by offering a whole host of resources that help safeguard people’s privacy while browsing the web. Chris Parker saw a gap in the market back in 2000 for a website that told you everything about your IP address, and so WhatIsMyIPAddress was born.
Now a famous and widely respected authority on IP, WhatIsMyIPAddress has been featured on PCWorld, Huffpost, The Guardian, CNN and CBS News, to name but a few major global news channels that have covered WhatIsMyIPAddress.
The key functionality that WhatIsMyIPAddress provides is sharing your unique IP address with you (a string of 11 numbers). You can also find out your internet service provider (ISP) and the location of your IP. I was interested to find that my IP address came up as “Norfolk” when I actually live in Scotland. Therefore your IP location must actually be the location of your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
When would you need to know your IP Address?
People often require to find out their IP address when asked by a company if there are any issues accessing a website. This can lead to people finding out that their IP address tells a lot more about you than previously expected. For example alongside your ISP, your region (or the region of your ISP) you can also find out if a person is browsing the web on their phone or from a PC.
My IP address reveals that I am in the UK, however it does not have an accurate location, thankfully. However, in the majority of cases the location will be a lot closer to your actual location. For example, the Snap Maps on SnapChat give a very accurate idea of a person’s location from their IP. This can be a huge concern for parents.
Protect Your Privacy with WhatIsMyIPAddress
You can find out lots of ways to protect your privacy when surfing the web on the WhatIsMyIPAddress website. WhatIsMyIPAddress offers a variety of solutions, however, they do state that using a VPN is the best way to protect your IP address when online.
For many reasons, people may not want to disclose their IP address. For example, perhaps they are talking online about a personal or political issue. Even, if you are using the internet with an anonymous username, people may still be able to figure out who you are via your IP address. WhatIsMyIPAddress provides protection directly from their homepage for you to hide your IP address.
Using a VPN
A VPN or Virtual Private Network allows you to browse the internet as though you are from a different part of the world. It allows you to borrow an IP address so that you can stay hidden while online. This can be useful if you want to view websites that are only accessible in particular countries.
On the WhatIsMyIPAddress website, you will find a VPN comparison section and you can click through to purchase a VPN of your choice. Using a VPN allows you to hide your IP and show a different IP address from the one that you are actively using.
Get Around Censoring and Filtering
The WhatIsMyIPAddress website allows you to find out more about various locations and how much filtering is done online. Many countries around the world censor and filter what people can see when surfing the web. There are a wide range of informative articles on IP address’ and internet access worldwide on the WhatIsMyIPAddress website.
WhatIsMyIPAddress offers a range of tools to allow you to find out more about your IP address. For example, you can look up to see if your IP address has been blacklisted. This can happen if someone suspects that you are sending spam emails. You can also look up an email address and trace where it came from. All of the tools and information on the censorship and/or filtering in a country
Protecting people from online scams
There are hundreds of fraudulent online scams that are aimed at gathering data from unsuspecting users. WhatIsMyIPAddress has been created to protect users from such scams when surfing the web to keep users safe online. WhatIsMyIPAddress provides tools and easy to understand education that is all aimed at keeping people safer when they are browsing the web.
Educating people on IP Address’
IP Address’ and the privacy issues surrounding them is not a normal topic discussed online. However, it is critical to your safety when surfing the web. WhatIsMyIPAddress aims to educate people on the topic of IP address’ so that they have clear, accurate up to date information and can protect themselves when browsing the internet.
Can People find my address from my IP?
Your ISP knows your actual location and full name, however, they are obliged to keep this information private and confidential. They are not able to disclose your private information unless requested it from a law enforcement officer. Your IP address does not reveal any actual physical address or your name.
Your IP address is just a string of numbers that is used by computers to send information to you. People can get a general idea of where you are located (eg. I am in the UK) however the information is not accurate, therefore you don’t need to worry about people finding out your physical address via your IP.
Your IP address is used by advertising agencies, such as Facebook and Google to suggest adverts that might be of interest to you. This is done by tracking your browsing history via your IP address. If you want to hide your browsing history to show other data, then a VPN or other tool to hide your IP address could be a suitable option for you.
In Conclusion
WhatIsMyIPAddress is a fantastic educational resource that provides some useful tools to keep people safe online. The fact is your IP address alone cannot disclose your location. However, if people have a few pieces of information then they can track you down. Furthermore, your IP address can be used to filter and control what you see online. Therefore, it can be a good idea to protect yourself by using a VPN.
WhatIsMyIPAddress provides up to date information on VPNs and compares services available. All in all, WhatIsMyIPAddress is a fantastic resource that people can use to keep their identity hidden and allow them to browse the web anonymously.
