In 2022, most people of all age groups cannot imagine their lives without the internet. Smart devices and information systems that enrich the fabric of our society create a strong dependence on the digital world. While younger generations enjoy the convenient, fascinating, and sometimes even addicting features of the web, seniors may have a harder time adapting to the life engulfed by information technologies.
Be it out of excitement or frustration, most of us seek to build the essential technical proficiency to use digital devices without difficulties. While modern applications and browsers try to simplify the experience for everyone’s enjoyment, understanding the basic principles of internet connection and our interaction with the web can help us alter settings and utilize external technical tools to achieve better results.
In this article, we will focus on a unique identifier that determines your identity on the internet – an IP address. Our goal is to educate readers on the origins of internet protocol, the structure of an IP, and the different ways you can change your identity on the web. IP addresses are important for accessing sites in different countries, and proxies can help with acquiring unique IP addresses from all over the world. For example, imagine a situation where you want to connect to a local website in Australia, but your connection does not go through. With an Australian proxy, you can change your IP to bypass blocking and establish a connection with the desired web server. You can also use the same Australian proxy server to hide your real network identity. If you already know enough about IP addresses and want to learn more about proxy servers, look up top proxy providers and you will be able to get an Australian proxy together with information on how to use them. For now, let’s discuss IP addresses and their functionality – we will return to proxy servers later.
Understanding Internet Protocol (IP)
Every device on the web receives a unique identifier – your internet protocol address. It consists of sequences of numbers divided by periods in separate intervals. Internet Protocol has two standards: IPv4 and IPv6. The prior version is the most recent and supplies new computers and phones. The IPv4 standard came first, and it supplied 32-bit addresses for the first devices on the public internet.
However, this format can only service about 4,3 billion devices on the web. IPv6 six uses a 128-bit address composed of four sections of hexadecimal numbers, ramping up the number of available IPs to 340 undecillion (that’s 36 zeros!).
Digital devices need these addresses to send and receive data between computers on the internet. Each laptop, pc, or other device has to have a unique network identity that distinguishes it from others on the web. IP stands for both the address and the set of rules that ensure that information packages follow strict guidelines and each finds its destination.
As we connect to a web server that hosts a website we want to see, the device uses internet protocol to establish a connection and return point to ensure fluent communication.
Information in an IP address
Okay, let’s skip the technical aspects and go over the data contained in an IP address that worries users concerned about internet privacy. Your network identity is supplied to you by your Internet Service Provider, which they receive from an internet registry for your region in a block of IPs provided by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
An assigned IP address carries a lot of personal information about the user behind the device. When establishing connections, a party that has your network identity can know the city where you reside, your internet service provider, and to some extent, an approximate radius of your physical location.
The matters can get worse if hackers and cybercriminals get a hold of your IP address. This can happen when malicious third parties lure unsuspecting users to unsafe websites and get a hold of your IP address by monitoring connection requests. Hackers can have many unique weaknesses to target your computer, but most of them need technical knowledge for effective results. Most petty criminals choose to carry out a DDoS attack – bombard the recipient with so many data requests that it crashes their internet connection.
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Protect your connection with proxy servers
Proxy servers give internet users the safety and freedom we were looking for. With a good provider, you can get thousands of unique addresses that will mask your real identity and reroute your connection through a server in a different location. Once you have a good, lawful provider, you can use proxy servers without any legal consequences and even access otherwise banned or geo-blocked websites across the country. You can find better prices for travel tickets and other services by altering the location attached to an IP address. If you plan to use proxy servers, we strongly recommend finding a respected provider with affordable pricing instead of choosing free proxies that put your computer in danger. Choose a reliable product that will enrich your browsing experience.
