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The Internet uses protocols and IP addresses to communicate between computers. An IP address is a unique number assigned to each computer, even if it has a domain name. ISPs assign dynamic or static IP addresses, which can be traced back to the user and used for tracking. To browse anonymously, some people use websites that substitute their IP address.
The Internet is a worldwide network of independent computers that can communicate successfully only by agreeing to incorporate a set of rules or protocols. One of the basic principles of the Internet is the Internet Protocol (IP) address.
An IP address refers to a unique number assigned to each computer on the Internet. The IP number is called an “address” because it serves the same purpose as a home address: It allows every machine on the Internet to be located by a number pattern. Even a domain name, such as www.wiseGEEK.com, maps to a numeric IP address. In this case, it’s 69.56.209.194.
Most people are familiar with the idea of getting an IP address from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Your ISP might offer a dynamic or static address. A static address is a permanent address, while a dynamic address changes with each new Internet session. Each ISP has a unique range of available IP addresses.
Unless you have a static IP address, a dynamic address is automatically assigned in the login process and will persist until the connection is intentionally dropped or otherwise disabled. When you log in again, a new one is assigned. Either way, machines on the Internet will accept requests and return data to your machine’s current IP address. This IP number becomes part of the “return address” on the “envelope” when your browser requests web pages, mail and other online data.
An IP address can be traced back to a specific user by requesting ISP registry records. In the event of illegal online behavior, for example, law enforcement agencies could sue an ISP for the name, address and other personal information of the customer who has been assigned a specific IP address associated with the criminal activity in question . Some ISPs don’t require a subpoena.
Websites typically track visitors based on their IP addresses to see which pages are of interest. Identities can be linked to the address when registration and cookies come into play. A cookie can “tell the site” who you are, despite a changing IP address. The site may contain true or false information, depending on what the visitor has provided.
While the Internet may seem anonymous, by default it is not an anonymous environment. The IP address is the first and last connection to the end user. To browse anonymously, many people choose to “hide” their address by using a website that substitutes their IP address for that of the user. Sites that provide anonymous browsing keep the user’s address hidden from the Internet, acting as an intermediary. Of course, the website providing this service still has a record of the end user’s IP address.
