Static IP vs dynamic IP: What is my static IP address
You can protect your IP address online with a VPN, regardless of whether it’s static or dynamic. VPNs hide your IP address from the websites and servers you interact with online, allowing you to operate under the address of a VPN server.
What is a static IP?
A static IP is a useful solution for remote access systems and can help to protect your security. In this article, we’ll explain how a static IP address differs from a dynamic IP address and explore some potential use cases for static IPs.
Nov 16, 2022
Время чтения: 7 мин.
- What is a static IP address?
- What is an IP address? Public vs. private
- Why would you use a static IP address?
- Static vs. dynamic IP addresses
- How to get a static IP address
- Advantages of static IP addresses
- Disadvantages of a static IP address
- How to protect your IP address, whether it’s static or dynamic
What is a static IP address?
A static IP address is an IP address that doesn’t change over time. IP (internet protocol) addresses are numerical signifiers that allow data packets to be sent and received from our networks and devices.
Most IP addresses are dynamic, which means that they change occasionally. A static IP, on the other hand, is always the same sequence of numbers.
How to find your static IP address
You can find your static IP address in several different ways. Assuming you have a static IP address, you can just check out our IP address finder or search for “ what is my IP address ” on any popular search engine.
This will show you what IP address is currently associated with your online presence, but it won’t tell you if you have a static IP address or not.
What is an IP address? Public vs. private
Before going further, let’s explain what IP addresses are. There are, broadly speaking, two types of IP address: public and private. Static and dynamic IP addresses fall into these categories and both can be either public or private.
A public IP address is associated with an internet gateway, like your home router, and it allows data from the rest of the internet to find its way back to you. Once that data reaches your router, it is sent on to whatever device you’re using (a smartphone, for example). Your device has a private IP address assigned by the router for use within your local network.
Why would you use a static IP address?
Static IP addresses can serve a number of useful functions.
- Remote access solutions. The most common use case for a static IP address involves remote access systems, like VPNs. A company can make access to its resources and databases dependent upon the user having a specific IP address. Users can then use a VPN application on their device to connect to a company server with a static IP address (the address needed for privileged access), and this will allow them to connect to and use company files and networks.
- Server hosting. If you’re setting up and hosting a server, using a static IP address can make it easier for devices to find and quickly connect to it.
- Faster data transfer from your internet gateway. If you set a device to use a static private IP address, data can be sent from your internet gateway (usually a router or modem) to that device a little faster. The boost to your speed will be minimal, however.
Static vs. dynamic IP addresses
The only difference between a static and a dynamic IP address is how often they change. A static IP address stays the same, while a dynamic IP address changes at semi-regular intervals.
In the early days of the internet, when dial-up connections were still widely used, dynamic IP addresses changed every time you connected to the internet. Today, most people keep their internet gateway on almost all the time — you don’t switch off your router when you’re not online, after all. As a result, a dynamic IP address won’t change as often now. If you don’t reboot your router, you may only get a new IP address once or twice a year.
A static IP address, whether public or private, doesn’t change. The device associated with it is configured to always connect to the internet using the same IP address. You can usually change it manually, however. For example, if you’re having problems with an IP address conflict on Windows, you may wish to change your static IP or switch to a dynamic address.
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How to get a static IP address
You can get a static IP address through the settings interface on most devices. It’s a relatively simple process that just involves switching your current IP address settings from dynamic to static and, in some systems, inputting your preferred IP address.
You can also configure your router to have a static IP address. In most cases, you do this by logging into your router’s admin panel and making some small changes to its default settings.
You can also get a static IP address through NordVPN, which offers static dedicated IP addresses in a variety of locations, including The United States, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, France, and Germany.
Online security starts with a click.
Stay safe with the world’s leading VPN
Advantages of static IP addresses
The main advantage of using static IP addresses relates to remote access solutions, as we discussed above. Being able to create an allowlist of permissioned IP addresses, which are then set as the static IP addresses on company gateways or VPN servers, is a good way to enhance company security.
However, it is worth remembering that having a dedicated IP address has few advantages for individual internet users. Most of the time, using dynamic IP addresses on your device or your router will work fine for your daily needs.
Disadvantages of a static IP address
There are no major disadvantages to having a static IP address. Having a static IP could, in theory, make it easier for hackers to target you, assuming they are able to find out what your IP address is. However, the dynamic IP on your router already changes so infrequently that the risk factor is not massively increased by using a static IP address.
The main disadvantage of a static IP is simply that it offers so few advantages to most everyday internet users. Unless you’re running a server, for example, you can probably stick with a dynamic IP address for now.
How to protect your IP address, whether it’s static or dynamic
You can protect your IP address online with a VPN, regardless of whether it’s static or dynamic. VPNs hide your IP address from the websites and servers you interact with online, allowing you to operate under the address of a VPN server.
What can someone do with your IP address? Quite a lot, actually! It can be used to target you with annoying ads, to ruin your internet experience with DDoS attacks, and even to find out your location information.
To protect your IP address, get a premium service like NordVPN. With one NordVPN account, you can protect up to six devices, including your router. As soon as you connect to the VPN, your data is routed through a VPN server. This means that any website you visit will only be able to see the IP address of the server, and not that of your own network. Your online activity will be much more private; even your internet service provider won’t be able to monitor your browsing habits.
NordVPN also provides additional security and privacy with Threat Protection. This powerful feature limits the risks of malware, stops intrusive online trackers, and blocks annoying adverts.
Online security starts with a click.
Stay safe with the world’s leading VPN
Также доступно на следующих языках: Dansk, English , Español, Norsk, Polski. и другие языки.
Malcolm Higgins
Malcolm — автор контента, специализирующийся на кибербезопасности и новостях о технологиях. Имея опыт работы в журналистике и увлекаясь цифровой конфиденциальностью, он надеется, что его работа даст людям возможность контролировать свои собственные данные.
Static IP vs dynamic IP: What is my static IP address?
Both static and dynamic IPs act as gateways to the internet, but is one better than the other, and how do I find my static IP address?
From wearables to smart home appliances, and maybe even your coffee machine, Internet of Things devices increasingly need to connect to the internet to work effectively. By 2023, it’s also predicted that 70% of automobiles will connect to the internet.
These devices are able to “talk” to each other using IP addresses, which can either be static or dynamic – but what’s the difference?
What is an IP address?
Similar to how a Social Security number in the US is used to distinguish citizens, an internet protocol (IP) address differentiates machines from each other across the internet. Every single device on a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) network needs an IP address, in order to send or receive data across the network.
TCP/IP is a widely adopted networking standard for exchanging messages over the internet.
As a general rule, IP addresses are usually displayed and written as a combination of periods and numbers. An IP address corresponding to internet protocol version 4 (IPv4), for example, would be 180.151.119.202.
As humans are ill-suited to remembering such long numbers, IP addresses have more user-friendly representations known as domain names. These are unique to each website, and far easier to memorise. For example, the domain name given to YouTube is “youtube.com.”
Assigning IP addresses to network devices is the job of a network administrator. They can assign a dynamic or static IP address, depending on the requirements of the network.
What is a static IP address?
As the name suggests, a static IP address does not change. It can remain the same for weeks, months, and even years.
Businesses offering dedicated internet services such as web hosting prefer static IPs for their unchanging nature. These are assigned manually by internet service providers (ISPs).
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| Pros | Cons | Header Cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| + Ideal for hosting computer servers | – Difficult to set up and manage | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| + Facilitates faster data exchange | – More vulnerable to hacking | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| + Supports remote desktop access | – Generally more expensive | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
What is a dynamic IP address?
A dynamic IP address is temporary and may change when you reboot your system or the router. ISPs assign dynamic IP addresses as needed via a dynamic host configuration protocol server (DHCP server).
Most machines have dynamic addresses, as they’re economical and secure. When a dynamic address is not in use, an ISP assigns it to a different device.
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| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Automatically configured; requires no additional setup | – Makes it nearly impossible to set up remote access |
| + Less prone to hacking | – Can cause downtime when disconnected |
| + Cost-effective | – Affects performance of geolocation services |
What is my static IP address?
This is an important question, and one that might especially affect your security protocols if you are working from a personal computer.
Luckily, whether you are using a Windows laptop or desktop, or a Mac, it’s relatively easy to find your IP address.
How to check if your IP address is static or dynamic: Windows
- Right-click on the “Start” button
- Type “Command Prompt” in the search bar and press enter
- Click “Command Prompt”
- Type “ipconfig/all” in the Command Prompt window and press “Enter”
- In the list of network information displayed, you should see your IP address listed
- Look for “DHCP Enabled”
If it says “Yes” next to “DHCP Enabled”, your system has a dynamic IP address. If it says “No”, your device has a static IP address.
How to check if your IP address is static or dynamic: macOS
- Click the “System Preferences” icon in the Dock or choose Apple menu > System Preferences
- Select the “Network” option
- Go to Advanced > TCP/IP
If you see “Using DHCP” next to “Configure IPv4”, then your system uses a dynamic IP address. If the section says “Manually”, you have a static IP.
If you prefer, you can always contact your ISP to get more information about your IP address and network type.
Static IP vs Dynamic IP: Which is better?
Businesses that require unwavering uptime will prefer static IP addresses. As mentioned earlier, they’re particularly favoured by organisations hosting websites and servers. Other big benefits of static IPs include reliable internet connection, faster data exchange, and convenient remote access.
Nevertheless, static IP addresses still present challenges that can quickly become security bottlenecks. For example, it is easier to track devices with static IP addresses, making them a prime hacking target.
A virtual private network (VPN) can alleviate the safety concerns of static IPs. Besides hiding your IP address, a VPN encrypts online traffic and communication, helping to make digital footprints less traceable.
Dynamic addresses change periodically, making them naturally harder to trace. However, keep in mind that the DHCR server failure can cause downtime across an entire network. Dynamic IPs are generally best for local networks and home users, as they feature much-needed security at reasonable prices.
To summarise, static IP addresses provide more reliability than dynamic IP addresses, but what they make up for in this regard they sacrifice in affordability and security. Unless you’re dealing with large volumes of data or work remotely, a dynamic IP address is your best bet.
How to protect your IP from identity theft, hackers, and prying eyes
IP addresses are akin to the return addresses on traditional mail. Bad actors can use your IP address to trace your location with surprising accuracy, gain access to your browsing history, passwords, and more.
To steer clear from cyber attacks, keep your antivirus software up to date and change your router’s default password. The default router password the ISP or manufacturer set is the same for all users that share the router type, and hackers can access this information easily online.
Firewalls are also a must to prevent unauthorised network access.
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