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Is it bad if someone knows your external IP?
However, if a hacker knows your IP address, they can use it to seize very valuable information, including your location and online identity. There are dangers to someone knowing your IP address, but they’re rarely discussed. Criminals can use your IP to launch various cyberattacks and scams against you and others.
The main risk of using a public IP address is the same as the advantage: It allows anyone, anywhere to connect to your device directly from the Internet — and that includes cybercriminals. If cybercriminals want to get hold of not just anybody’s, but specifically your IP, they can do it when you use Skype, for example.
Can a person access my computer if they know my IP address?
Can someone remotely access my computer via my IP address? It depends on the circumstances. As a rule, no. It’s not enough to know someone’s IP address to hack devices remotely.
Can a hacker, that knows my IP address?
Similarly, to exchange data or send messages online, your computer and the other computer or server must each know the IP address of the other. When you type in a web address, your browser first corresponds with an IP address it already knows, which is the IP address of a DNS server. Google’s DNS server has IP address ‘8.8.8.8’, for example.
What can someone do with your IP address?
While your IP address won’t give away sensitive information like your phone number or apartment position, hackers can still use your IP against you. If a cybercriminal knows your IP address, the consequences can be devastating:
What can a criminal do with my IP address?
A criminal can hack your router remotely and retrieve your IP address, especially if you’re still using the default one. Change the password of your router regularly and be sure to use a long mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.