What is my IP address?
Your IP address has been detected on the SpeedGeo server. To display the page with your IP, the browser created a connection to our server, where one of the pieces of information is the source address of the sender. This very address is visible above. If you have a router on the way to the Internet (e.g., via Wi-Fi), the address presented here will be different from the one set on the network card of the computer or smartphone due to the NAT mechanism.
Each device connected to the Internet must have a special address assigned, similar to how buildings have their postal addresses. IP addresses are divided into private (for most devices in homes) and public (for routers and servers). Just like with traditional mail, the sender of the message must know the recipient's IP address to enable communication between them. This communication takes place through optimal routes on the Internet which are selected by the routers.
IPv6 addresses were introduced because the IPv4 address range was not sufficient for all Internet devices that needed direct access to the Internet. There are approximately 4.3 billion IP - version 4 addresses, while there are 12 orders of magnitude more IP - version 6 addresses.
Version 4 uses decimal numbers in four groups separated by dots, e.g.:
172.255.0.106
Version 6 uses hexadecimal numbers in eight groups separated by colons, e.g.:
2001:0cf8:85a3::0010:8a2d:0390:1334
There are companies that specialize in creating databases of the geographical location of IP addresses. These databases are created based on information primarily provided by the international organization RIPE, which manages all addresses on the Internet. The databases contain coordinates and the accuracy with which the location has been approximately determined. Additionally, the creators of these databases use information from various mobile applications that have access to the user's current location and IP address at a time. Typically, this accuracy is better for fixed connections and worse for mobile connections. Above on this page, we determined your location based on your IP address using such a database.
You can change your actual IP address and location using several techniques. To conceal all your online communication, it is best to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or the Tor network (The Onion Router). Both require installing special software or setting up a separate connection on your device. In the past, Proxy servers were popular, requiring appropriate browser settings and only affecting web browsing. Each of these methods involves changing your IP address to the address of the server you connect to.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the simplest ways to hide your IP address. It is usually available as a paid service from companies that have servers in various locations around the world. A VPN creates a virtual encrypted network tunnel between your device and the private network provider's server. It is most commonly used to change the location determined by the IP address and to connect to the workplace to access e.g. company documents.
The IP address is often used to track user activity on the Internet and to profile advertising content displayed on websites and beyond. A VPN limits these activities by hiding your real IP address. VPN connections are usually encrypted and properly authenticated, thus protecting your privacy on unsecured Wi-Fi networks, particularly when using hotspots in hotels, restaurants, train stations, and airports.