How accurate are IP address locations

There’s nothing as terrifying as realizing that someone you don’t want to have your information knows things about you that you didn’t give up willingly.  If you’re nervous because your IP address is out there or you clicked an unfamiliar link, these are the top things to keep in mind.

What Information Does an IP Address Hold?

Your IP address is an awesome tool that allows every device to connect to the internet.  Unfortunately, there’s an exchange of information that has to happen for that to work.  Your IP address is a string of numbers that tells everyone where the local server is and what provider you use.  It can also tell trackers what sites you’ve visited and if you’re in a region that can access various types of information.

How Accurate Is This General Location?

Thankfully, your IP address isn’t going to give out your home address or even your zip code.  Instead, it can tell people where the nearest server is.  This geolocation is very general and only offers 55 percent to 80 percent depending on your region and how many servers are in your area.

Where things get complicated is that it also tells them who your ISP (internet service provider) is.  If this company only offers services in a small portion of your city or area, then there’s a chance people could narrow down where you live from that.

It still would be a large swath of land and nearly impossible to track down anyone’s home from this information, but it’s dangerous for more reasons than that.

What Can People Do With My Information?

The very least amount of harm they can do is simply know what state or general area you’re in.  Although this doesn’t sound like a lot, it can be scary for someone who’s being stalked or simply doesn’t want others to know where they’re based.

The worst they could do is impersonate you by spoofing your IP address and stealing your identity.  Nobody wants to deal with the stress and horror of being framed for a crime you didn’t do, and it’s extremely easy for someone who knows what they’re doing and has your IP address.

How Can I Protect Myself?

To protect yourself, it’s important to understand how people usually get tricked.  The most common way people give up their IP address information is by accidentally clicking links they don’t recognize or by going onto websites they didn’t previously use.  This is you allowing them to have your information whether you want them to do an IP address lookup or not.

This means that in order to protect yourself, you have to change your behaviors first.  Use the internet defensively, and be aware of who you’re talking to, what sites you’re visiting, and who has access to what you’re doing online.

IP Address Locations Are Useful Information to Protect

Whether you’re researching this to increase your personal security or you’re curious about how much information you’re storing online, it’s vital that you understand how much data is in your IP address.  Follow some of these safety tips and protect your information. 

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