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What is an IP address?
Every device connected to the
public Internet is assigned a unique number known as an Internet
Protocol (IP) address. IP addresses consist of four numbers
separated by periods (also called a 'dotted-quad') and look
something like 127.0.0.1.
Since these numbers are usually assigned to internet service
providers within region-based blocks, an IP address can often be
used to identify the region or country from which a computer is
connecting to the Internet. An IP address can sometimes be used
to show the user's general location.
Because the numbers may be tedious to deal with, an IP address
may also be assigned to a Host name, which is sometimes easier
to remember. Hostnames may be looked up to find IP addresses,
and vice-versa. At one time ISPs issued one IP address to each
user. These are called static IP addresses. Because there is a
limited number of IP addresses and with increased usage of the
internet ISPs now issue IP addresses in a dynamic fashion out of
a pool of IP addresses (Using DHCP). These are referred to as
dynamic IP addresses. This also limits the ability of the user
to host websites, mail servers, ftp servers, etc. In addition to
users connecting to the internet, with virtual hosting, a single
machine can act like multiple machines (with multiple domain
names and IP addresses).
Knowing your IP address can allow you (and others you tell) to
access services running on your machine such as online games,
servers (FTP, web, mail), and remote access utilities (PCAnywhere,
GoToMyPC, MS Remote Desktop.
What is a Proxy Server?
A proxy server is a computer that offers a computer network
service to allow clients to make indirect network connections to
other network services. A client connects to the proxy server,
then requests a connection, file, or other resource available on
a different server. The proxy provides the resource either by
connecting to the specified server or by serving it from a
cache. In some cases, the proxy may alter the client's request
or the server's response for various purposes. The use of a
proxy server can help to hide, conceal, otherwise make your
identity anonymous, by not showing your IP address.
To achieve strong anonymity, intermediate services may be
employed to thwart attempts at identification, even by
governments. These attempt to use cryptography, passage through
multiple legal jurisdictions, and various methods to thwart
traffic analysis to achieve this. Examples include anonymous
remailers, Anonymous P2P systems, and services of the Anonymizer
company, among others. There are a wide variety of software
packages available that allow you to hide/conceal your IP
address by using proxy servers. These packages include:
Anonymizer, Anonymous Surfing, Proxify, NetConceal, Privacy Pro,
Ghost Surf, Hide IP, Stealth Surf, and many more.
Visiting a site such as this one, when using a proxy server,
will show the IP address of the proxy server, unless the proxy
server passes along the original/real IP address of the user.
How do I change my IP address?
Before trying any other methods to change your IP address, try
turning off (or unplugging the power of) your Cable/DSL modem
for five minutes. In many cases this will change your IP
address. However, if that does not change your IP address,
repeat the process for 8 hours (overnight works well) instead of
5 minutes. Hopefully this will result in an IP change.
If the above does not result in your IP address changing, please
look through the below for the situation that best matches yours
and attempt to change your IP address that way. Unfortunately
you are not able to get your IP address to change in all cases,
as it is ultimate determined by your ISP's DHCP configuration
(when you've got a dynamically assigned IP address, that is.)
Windows - Computer connected directly to the modem
Get to a command prompt. (START, run, cmd).
Type "ipconfig /release" (without the quotes, on the command
line by itself).
Type "ipconfig /renew" (without the quotes, on the command line
by itself).
Windows (second option) -
Computer connected directly to the modem
Get to a command prompt. (START, run, cmd).
Type "ipconfig /release" (without the quotes).
Shut down computer.
Turn off computer.
Turn off all ethernet hubs/switches.
Turn off cable/DSL modem.
Leave off overnight.
Turn everything back on.
Network with Router
Log into the router's admin console. (Often http://192.168.1.1/)
Release the IP address. (Method varies by router manufacturer)
Turn off router, ethernet hubs/switches, and the cable/DSL
modem.
Leave off overnight.
Turn everything back on.
If you are using a cable/DSL
modem and a router, you may wish to connect your computer
directly to the cable/DSL modem. Please note that this could
significantly impact your system security. This allows your
ISP's DHCP to issue you a new (hopefully changed) IP address
based of the (hardware) MAC address of your computer's ethernet
card.
If all the above has not worked to change your IP address and
you have a router, check and see if there is a "Clone MAC
Address" option. Using it should change your IP address,
however, you'll only be able to do it once (in most cases).
These will not work in all cases. If all else fails contact your
internet service provider (ISP) and ask them if they are able to
change your IP address or how long your connection needs to be
off for your IP address to change.
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