7 privacy risks of using a public IP address in your browsing activity
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When you connect to the Internet, you are actually using an IP address provided by your ISP. The IP address can be static or dynamic depending on which internet plan you have subscribed to. But, whether it is static or dynamic, the IP address assigned by your ISP is called the public IP address. This public IP address contains information about you as an Internet user subscribing to a particular Internet service. This public IP address is also the one that is logged by the websites you visit and logged by various third parties while you are browsing the Internet.
If you want to keep your online privacy safe and secure, you should always hide your public IP with a private IP address as provided by your VPN service provider. why are you doing that? Here are 7 privacy risks of using a public IP address for your browsing activity:
1. Unscrupulous third parties can locate you easily
Just like your home address, if you expose your public IP address, you are essentially revealing your physical location. Although it may not be accurate, unscrupulous third parties can combine information from your Internet Protocol with other information such as your GPS movements and browsing history to determine your true location. With a static IP address, this can be done easily because your IP address will not change.
2. Hackers can get important information about you
Not only does it set your location, hackers or online attackers can reveal a great deal of important information about you just by knowing your IP address. Of course, when used as a source of information only, it may not be able to disclose anything important other than your country, ISP and other basic information. But efficient hackers have many tools that will combine your IP tracking information with other monitoring information to discover a great deal of important information about you, including your personality.
3. You are subject to various government and ISP restrictions
When using a public IP address, remember that you are exposing yourself to many government and ISP restrictions. Without encrypting your network connection, the government can spy and monitor your online activity very easily. This is because your ISP will be the one controlling your internet access, and therefore, since the government can order your ISP to follow their regulations, they will do exactly what the government wants them to do, including restricting internet access and risking your privacy on the Internet.
4. Your network system can be hacked
When you reveal your public IP address, it is as if you are browsing the Internet barefoot, with no protection at all. You will not have any protection against cyber attacks and you will not be able to protect your device if you encounter some malicious websites along the way. Your ISP cannot protect you when this happens. This is why encrypting your network connection with a VPN is so important to keep your online privacy and security protected.
5. Your data transmission may be spied on by unscrupulous third parties
Another concern is the data transfer you make between devices over the Internet. Whether you’re moving your data from device to device or from your local device to cloud storage, you won’t be able to protect your data transfer if you’re using a public IP address. Again, some unscrupulous third party may find a way to locate the network, compromise your system, and circumvent the data transmission process. In other words, it is not safe to transfer important files over the Internet while using a public IP address.
6. Your browsing activity can be monitored
By default, your ISP will log your online activity as long as you are using their internet network. Since your ISP records your online activity, the government can request this information at any time from your ISP. This means that your browsing activity will always be monitored by both your government and your ISP. This includes the websites you visit, the videos you watch, what you buy online, or even your online chats. This makes encrypting your connection very important.
7. You are setting yourself up as a target for cyber attacks
When you surf the Internet without having any protection for your connection, meaning you use the IP address provided by your ISP, it’s like letting people know your primary phone number or email address every time you meet them. Of course, it’s fine to do this if you meet your friends or people you can trust, but the Internet can never be completely trustworthy. There are thousands of malicious websites, and if you reveal your public IP address to every website you visit, you are setting yourself up as a target for cyberattacks.
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