Plain-English answers to the questions our readers actually ask. No jargon walls. No SEO filler.
IP Basics
Understand the address first
Start here for public IPs, private IPs, IPv4, IPv6, CGNAT, assignment, and geolocation accuracy.
FAQ
What is an IP address?
A unique number that identifies your device on the internet, similar to a postal address but for network traffic.
FAQ
IPv4 vs IPv6: differences explained
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (about 4.3 billion possible); IPv6 uses 128-bit (effectively unlimited). Most networks now run both side by side.
FAQ
What is a public IP address?
A public IP is the address your router presents to internet services — assigned by your ISP or network and visible during normal browsing.
FAQ
Private vs public IP addresses
Public IPs route on the internet. Private IPs (10.x, 192.168.x, 172.16.x) only route inside your home or office network.
FAQ
Static vs dynamic IP addresses
Static IPs never change; dynamic IPs rotate when your router reconnects. Most home users have dynamic IPs, while servers usually use static ones.
FAQ
What is a shared IP address?
When multiple users present the same public IP — common with VPNs, CGNAT, and corporate networks. It adds privacy by mixing your traffic into a crowd.
FAQ
What is CGNAT?
Carrier-Grade NAT lets ISPs put thousands of customers behind a single public IP. It is common on mobile networks and some home connections.
FAQ
How IP addresses are assigned
IANA delegates ranges to RIRs (ARIN, RIPE, etc.), which delegate to ISPs, which assign to your router via DHCP.
FAQ
IP geolocation accuracy
Country-level: ~99% accurate. City-level: 60-80%. Street-level: not possible. Mobile and VPN connections shift further.
VPN & Privacy
Hide, route, and interpret exposure
Use these when you are comparing VPNs, proxies, Tor, shared IPs, and what an IP can or cannot reveal.
FAQ
Can someone track me by my IP?
They may estimate country, city, and ISP from public IP data. Names, addresses, and activity require other records or signals.
FAQ
Can hackers use my IP to access my device?
Not directly. Knowing an IP is not enough by itself; risk depends on exposed services, router settings, and device security.
FAQ
How to hide your IP address
Common options include VPN, Tor Browser, and proxies. Each changes visible routing signals in different ways and has limits.
FAQ
What is a VPN and how does it hide my IP?
A VPN can route tunnel traffic through a provider server. Sites usually see the VPN exit IP for traffic that uses that tunnel.
FAQ
Proxy vs VPN vs Tor
Proxy, VPN, and Tor Browser change routing scope differently. Accounts, cookies, DNS, and browser signals still need review.
Security & Leaks
Find leaks and troubleshooting paths
Use these when DNS, WebRTC, IPv6, blacklist, local network, or VPN mismatch details need a focused explanation.
FAQ
What is a WebRTC leak?
A browser API for calls can expose network candidates that differ from the VPN route. Test the current browser session.
FAQ
What is a DNS leak and how to prevent it?
When DNS queries use an unexpected resolver, that resolver may see domain lookups even when page content is encrypted.
FAQ
VPN connected but IP still shows
Find out whether the visible IP is your VPN endpoint or your real ISP route, then check DNS, WebRTC and IPv6.
FAQ
DNS server differs from VPN country
Learn when DNS country mismatch is normal and when ISP, router, browser Secure DNS, or VPN settings need review.
FAQ
How to find your local IP address
Mac: System Settings → Network. Windows: ipconfig in cmd. Linux: ip addr. Local IPs start with 192.168 or 10.
FAQ
How to check your IPv6 address
Open the What Is My IP page: if an IPv6 address appears, your network supports it. You can also use IPv6-only test endpoints.
FAQ
How to check if your IP is blacklisted
Run your IP against MXToolbox or Spamhaus. On a residential dynamic IP, a blacklist hit usually points at the previous holder of that address.
FAQ
What's My IP — complete guide
A complete walkthrough of what your IP shows, how to read leak tests, and how to verify your VPN is working.