Plain-English answers to the questions our readers actually ask. No jargon walls. No SEO filler.
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 (4.3 billion possible); IPv6 uses 128-bit (effectively unlimited). Most networks now run both…
FAQ
What is a public IP address?
A public IP is the address your router presents to the internet — assigned by your ISP and visible to every site you vis…
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; servers usually h…
FAQ
What is a shared IP address?
When multiple users present the same public IP — common with VPNs, CGNAT, and corporate networks. Adds privacy via a cro…
FAQ
What is CGNAT?
Carrier-Grade NAT lets ISPs put thousands of customers behind a single public IP. Common on mobile networks and some hom…
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.
FAQ
Can someone track me by my IP?
They can learn your country, city, and ISP. They cannot learn your name, address, or what you do online — that requires …
FAQ
Can hackers use my IP to access my device?
Not directly. Knowing your IP isn't enough — they'd need an open, exploitable service running on it. Most home routers b…
FAQ
How to hide your IP address
Three options: VPN (replaces your IP with the VPN's), Tor (routes through 3 random nodes), or proxy (similar to VPN but …
FAQ
What is a VPN and how does it hide my IP?
A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through their server. Sites see the VPN's IP, not yours.
FAQ
Proxy vs VPN vs Tor
Proxy: app-level, no encryption. VPN: device-level, encrypted, single hop. Tor: 3 hops, slowest, hardest to deanonymize.
FAQ
What is a WebRTC leak?
A browser API meant for video calls can expose your real IP even through a VPN. We have a test for it.…
FAQ
What is a DNS leak and how to prevent it?
When your DNS queries go to your ISP instead of your VPN, the ISP sees every domain you visit even if traffic is encrypt…
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
Visit /what-is-my-ip. If we show an IPv6, your network supports it. Or check IPv6-only test endpoints.…
FAQ
How to check if your IP is blacklisted
Run your IP against MXToolbox or Spamhaus. If you're on a residential dynamic IP, blacklist hits usually mean the previo…
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.