It’s no secret that IPs are at risk of being hacked. IPs can be compromised in many ways, but there are some steps you can take to protect your IP from hackers. In this blog post, we will go over seven simple best practices for safeguarding IP addresses.
What Is An Internet Protocol Address?
Every device that connects to the internet has a unique string of numbers and decimals known as an IP address (Internet Protocol) that identifies it. Each device connected to a computer network has its own, distinct IP address. However, if you have numerous devices linked to one WiFi router, their IP addresses will be the same.
Your device sends a request to the website’s server using the website’s IP address when you visit a website. The information you requested is returned, using your IP address, in response to the request.
Don’t Open Suspicious Emails
Simple email malicious campaigns are a common method for launching cyberattacks. Because you may send anything to anyone using email, it has the potential to be a significant security risk. The Phishing attack, for instance, sends victims phony emails that appear to be from reputable companies and claim to require them to change their personal confidential information.
The safest approach for IP protection and to avoid being fooled by fraudulent emails is to make sure the sender is who you believe it is. To be extra safe, check the IP address of the sender.
You may do this by examining the email’s source information and scanning for the (Internet Protocol)IP address that matches the line “Received: from.” You may also use Google to discover the source of an IP address.
Avoid Using Public WiFi
Consider whether you want to buy a plane ticket or check your bank account while sitting at the coffee shop. You might want to reconsider that because you have no way of knowing how secure the connection is.
The same may be said for hotels and conference centers, to name a few examples. Researchers recently discovered a vulnerability in Wi-Fi network traffic at some of the world’s biggest hotels, allowing attackers to access information. There is no chance for a person to determine whether or not this is taking place, so it’s important to exercise caution when surfing online.
It’s a good idea to use services such as virtual private networks (VPNs) to encrypt your traffic so that the Wi-Fi network can’t see where you’re surfing when you must access private information on these networks. Alternatively, if you have mobile data, set up a hotspot using this.
Don’t open email attachments
Never open any type of attachments unless you are one hundred percent sure where they originated from. Vulnerability assessments, for example, may result in attacker-controlled files being uploaded to your computer as attachments.
One unassuming employee downloading malevolent software that infects the network is one of the most typical methods businesses are hacked. The most hazardous file extensions are PDFs, Word, and .exe.
Use Tor Browser
Tor is a great way to stay completely anonymous online without paying anything. It’s made up of a vast network of volunteer-operated servers around the world, each with its IP address.
When you utilize Tor, your traffic is sent via numerous of these servers and encrypted several times, making it very difficult for anybody to identify where it originated from.
Tor, on the other hand, is not very fast for streaming or downloading. Its creators warn against utilizing it to torrent since all of that encryption and decryption make it slow. You may use Tor Browser or download the Firefox plugin to just browse. Use Tor in conjunction with a VPN if you want the greatest level of privacy possible.
Unplug Your Router
This may seem odd, but unplugging your router for a while might alter your IP address. When you disconnect from your ISP, the connection between you and the current IP address is terminated—but only if your ISP uses dynamic IP addresses (which is most likely).
Leave the routing device unplugged for as long as you can, since this raises the likelihood that your IP address will be changed. When you reconnect it, you should get a brand new one. however, this isn’t the most certain approach, so it shouldn’t be your first choice.
Be wary of the cloud
If you don’t want somebody to have access to your information, don’t share it. Cloud storage is one of the exceptions. No matter how strong a platform claims to be, you should make sure that you’re entrusting it to somebody else. While companies have an incentive to keep things safe.
Is it possible that you shouldn’t save anything in cloud storage? Not certainly, but it’s good to be conscious of where your data is going.Â
Moreover, to understand the norms of a cloud service. Also, keep in mind that if you remove files from your SmartPhone or computer, they are also removed from any backups on the cloud you have.
Other Tips ( Use 2- factor authentication)
The more megacorporations are hacked, the more likely it is that your password will be revealed. When hackers have access to passwords, they look for ways to exploit the information they obtained to gain entry into personal accounts.
2-Factor Authentication – which entails not just entering a password but also successfully confirming access using another item, such as a code emailed to a mobile device – is an excellent method of preventing attackers who have stolen passwords. Login procedures are increasingly being made standard.
For example, when Slack discovered a data breach, it implemented two-step verification. This meant that if hackers stole Slack user information, they would still need to have another personal item belonging to the victim to access the account. If two-factor authentication is available for your accounts, you should use it.
Final Thoughts
Well to be honest there is no such solid way to protect your IP address from hackers. But certain measures can be taken in order to decrease the risk of being hacked. Above mentioned tips are shared by people in tech industries, especially by the professionals working in cyber security firms.
