TL;DR: Someone with your IP address can usually see your approximate area (city or region) and your internet provider, not your street address. They can try to flood your connection (a DDoS attack) or probe your router for open ports, and websites use it to track you. Only your provider can tie an IP to your name and address, and it normally does that for police with legal process. Keep your router updated and use a VPN on untrusted networks.
What an IP address is
An IP address is the number your internet connection uses to send and receive data. At home it's usually shared by every device on your Wi-Fi and assigned by your internet provider. It changes from time to time on most home connections, and it's visible to every website, app and game server you connect to. You can't hide it from the services you use, only from others.
What someone can do with it
Security firm Keeper sums up the realistic risks:
- Estimate your location: IP lookup tools show a city, region or postcode area, often the location of your provider's equipment rather than your home. They cannot show your street address.
- Identify your internet provider: useful to a scammer who wants to phone you pretending to be your provider's support team.
- Flood your connection: a denial-of-service attack can knock your internet offline for a while. This happens most to gamers and streamers.
- Probe for weaknesses: scanning your IP can find open ports and exposed devices, such as an old camera or router with a default password. The IP alone doesn't let anyone in, but weak devices can.
- Track you across websites: ad networks combine your IP with cookies and browser fingerprinting to recognise you.
What they can't do
- Find your name and home address from the IP alone. Only your internet provider can link the IP to your account, and it generally does that for police or courts with legal process, not for members of the public.
- Read your messages or see your passwords.
- Take over your computer just by knowing the number.
Where IP addresses become dangerous is when they're combined with other leaks. A breach that exposes your email, IP history and username (like the Discord support-vendor breach) gives someone much more to work with than the IP alone.
Is my IP address personal data?
Under GDPR in the UK and EU, IP addresses can count as personal data. The ICO says online identifiers include IP addresses and cookie identifiers, which may be personal data. It also means you can ask a company what IP data it holds about you through a subject access request.
How to protect your IP address
- Secure your router: change the default admin password, update the firmware and turn off remote management. Our guide to securing your home Wi-Fi router walks through it.
- Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi and anywhere you don't trust the network. See what attackers can see on public Wi-Fi.
- Don't click unknown links in DMs or emails. IP-logging links are a common trick in gaming and dating scams.
- Use relay or proxy settings in messaging apps where offered, such as the option in some apps to relay calls through their servers.
- If you're being DDoSed, restart your router (it may get a new IP) or ask your provider for a new one.
Your IP changes; your email and phone number don't. Those are what follow you from breach to breach. A free email exposure check shows where your email has leaked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone find my address from my IP address?
Not on their own. IP lookups show an approximate area and your provider. Only your internet provider can link an IP to your account, usually for police with legal process.
What can a hacker do with my IP address?
They can estimate your area, identify your provider, try to flood your connection, or scan for open ports and weak devices. The IP alone does not give access to your device.
Should I be worried if someone has my IP address?
Usually not much. Keep your router updated, use strong passwords on connected devices, and restart your router or ask your provider for a new IP if you are being targeted.
Does a VPN hide my IP address?
It hides your home IP from the websites and services you visit by showing the VPN server's address instead. The VPN provider can still see it.
Is an IP address personal data?
Under UK and EU GDPR it can be, when it can be linked to an individual.