Sorry about this week’s title. It’s a shout out to my daughter…who can’t read yet. That’s ok, she’ll laugh when I tell her. I’m sure we’ve all gotten one of those e-mails notifying us that an unrecognized device signed into an app or service that we normally use. Typically the date, time, location, and IP address is given. If we know that we’ve done this at the given date and time, there’s no reason to worry. Things get a little confusing though when the location doesn’t match. So, how can you be sure? Check your I.P.
I.P. stands for Internet Protocol. This is the foundation for the Internet that Al Gore invented (cough, cough). An IP address is the number assigned to every Internet connected device in existence. Every computer, smartphone, printer, tablet, router, etc., etc. has its own IP address so it may be identified in a home network, as well as on the world wide web. To be clear, the IP address of a computer connected to a local area network (LAN) in a home or office is different than the IP address of the same computer that is broadcasted on the Internet or wide area network (WAN). Think of an IP address as a phone number. Each Internet connected device receives a unique number that distinguishes it from another when it joins a network, though there will be numbers in common for devices on the same network. Confused yet? Don’t be. Again, think back to a phone number. Numbers in the same area will (usually) have the same area code and prefix, and only the line number or last four digits will be different. The same formula is true with an IP address.
Now, remember the example we gave in the opening paragraph about the e-mail discussing an unrecognized device? Now that you know more about IP addresses, you can see how the IP address can tell the tale definitively whether it was you who signed into the website or not. But, how can you tell what your IP address actually is? It’s as easy as going online and visiting https://whatismyipaddress.com/. You don’t actually have to do anything. Simply look for the series of numbers in blue to the right of “IPv4” and you’ll have your answer. The website also provides you with your Internet Service Provider (ISP), City, Region, and Country, along with your location on a map. In my case, the city given for me is not correct. It’s close though, a lot closer than the store that Lowe’s website tells me is my local store believe me! Obviously, you don’t want to take the location you’re supposed to be at as gospel.
While your home address doesn’t change very often, your IP address can change every time you turn on your device. There’s no need to memorize your IP address, but it is important to remember WhatisMyIPAddress.com should a security question ever arise. Really, what could be better than knowing the IP address of your device anywhere in the world… freely?