Smartphones and other electronic devices that connect to the internet need a unique identification number. An IP address can be easily determined and even changed if necessary. Mobile Vikings does not offer a static IP, so it's worth knowing how to check your current one. How to do it?
Proper communication on the network is not the only task where identification numbers play a key role. IP addresses are also assigned to website servers that host hundreds of thousands of domains. However, such a situation negatively impacts the ability to rank websites in search engines and their visibility online. Therefore, hosting providers then offer the purchase of a separate IP address service to prevent drops in website rankings.
Why is an IP address assigned?
Everyone has a home address, defined by a postal code, street name, and house number. You can think of an IP address as its equivalent on the internet. Thanks to the IP, it's possible to locate that one, single device amidst a sea of billions of others connected to the internet. Quickly and without intermediaries like a postman. While we can recite our home address even when woken up in the middle of the night, it's not so obvious with an IP number. Its representation as a string of numbers is a bit harder to remember. An IP address (Internet Protocol Address) is recorded in the IPv4 standard as a string of four numbers from 0-255, separated by dots. IP addresses from this pool are slowly running out, which is why the new standard for their notation is IPv6.
So, what are the reasons why it's worth knowing a device's IP, or at least knowing how to find it? In a home setting, this knowledge allows, for example, setting speed limits for individual devices and blocking access to specific websites. For instance, to prevent a little Viking from accidentally accessing sites not meant for their eyes, or from spending more time streaming movies with unlimited data than studying. In short, one of the reasons to know your IP address is to implement sensible parental controls on tablets or laptops used by children.
How to check MyIP, the device's identification number?
Alright, if this is such valuable knowledge, how can you access it? On Android phones, the path is similar, although it may vary slightly depending on the hardware manufacturer. The sequence is as follows:
- Settings,
- System,
- About phone,
- Phone status,
- IP address.
The IP address information is found in the last item.
On phones running iOS, go to Settings, then Wi-Fi. Clicking the blue 'i' symbol next to the name of the network you're using will take you to information about your device's IP address, as well as the Wi-Fi network.
You can also find your device's IP address by visiting the WhatIsMyIp.com website.
When configuring or changing your router's password, knowledge of its IP number will also be necessary. Finding it differs depending on the operating system used. On macOS computers, follow this sequence:
- System Preferences,
- Network,
- Advanced.
Next to the word "router," you will find the IP address.
On Windows 10 computers, on the taskbar, select the Windows icon, then Settings. Open Control Panel, then the Network and Internet section. Open Network and Sharing Center, click on the name of your connection. In the new window that opens, select the Details button – the router's IP address will be displayed next to the IPv4 Default Gateway field.
What else is worth knowing about IP addresses?
Knowledge of your identification number can be important for another reason. Sharing IP data online, with every website you connect to, as you travel through the seas and oceans of the internet, can get you into trouble that even Odin can't save you from. A public IP means a loss of anonymity online and even a security risk. What's more, it can cause you to pay more for a trip or an airplane ticket. This is because some websites change prices based on your IP location. To circumvent these issues, it's worth using the internet via VPN, or a virtual private network.
The phrase commonly known from internet forums or social media, "I'll track you by your IP!", is a common boast online, but it's not straightforward. Firstly, using a VPN effectively prevents such "tracking." Secondly, even if you use a public IP address, your internet provider or the website administrator has data about your connections. It's not available to unauthorized individuals. Unless the comment you just published breaks criminal law. In that case, it's possible that in the early morning, some uniformed individuals might knock on your door (but not your IP address). But that's a whole different story…
