Internet, Privacy, Security

In the future, people will work more self-determined with information technology. They build their own networks.

A reflective guide to setting up a fixed IP address including benefits and vulnerabilities.

Information technologies are an integral part of our lives. Our smartphone is familiar to us. At the same time, more people are using IoT technologies in the home. The WLAN coffee machine or washing machine, the refrigerator – everything is networked. A self-determined approach to one’s own personal data is becoming socially more important.

A fixed IP can be used to operate home servers and enable VPN access. A fixed IP address is important for business customers and companies . Employees access the network’s data via their home offices.

A static IP address also offers many advantages in private life! In the home network you need, in some cases, a fixed IP for printers and computers.

What is a fixed or static IP address?

An IP address is your address on the network. They are divided into static and dynamic IP addresses. With a fixed or static IP address, you communicate with an address. This is used to dial into the data network.

The static IP address is initially assigned automatically by the Internet provider. For an additional charge, this is permanently registered with the Internet provider. For a corporate network you need a fixed IP for web server, email and FTP server.

The majority of private households use dynamic IP addresses. Why?

By default, Internet providers obtain an IP address from the so-called DHCP server (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). The DHCP server regulates the access of various end devices.

Dynamic IP address means that the IP address is redistributed for each new Internet session . It is reassigned every 24 hours. This type of dynamic distribution is useful for private users. You surf the Internet more anonymously.

For companies, the dynamic IP address is not suitable for dialing into the network from the outside. Without a fixed address it is difficult to find the way!

5 reasons why a fixed IP address brings advantages – private and business.

Avoid legal disputes! On the Internet, the majority surfs with a dynamic IP without a fixed address. A fixed IP protects against blame. Illegal downloads and fake purchases from online stores are averted. If you have a fixed IP address, you can prove it.
Organization via its own home network. When using data from a wide variety of end devices, a fixed IP is necessary. The IP is used to dial in and access the data of other devices. Smart TV, printer, media server – they all run over one IP.
Access to own data abroad. When you travel, you can access the devices and data on the home network. Your static IP address is unique.
Smarthome Budget. The WLAN washing machine can be started on the move. With your smartphone, you can still operate your coffee machine in your bed. A home network works with a static IP.
You want to offer services on the Internet? To create your own network, you need a static IP.

Conclusion: If you mainly surf the Internet anonymously, you should ideally work with a dynamic IP address. What is at stake here is basic anonymity. Those who operate devices from the outside work with a static IP.

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Set up static IP address on Windows and Mac – How to do it

A fixed IP address is usually ordered from the Internet provider. Few providers assign a fixed, free IP address upon request when dialing in for the first time. However, most Internet providers charge extra for this.

Then all devices are switched to the fixed IP address. Smart TV, router e.g. the Fritz!Box, laptop, printer now run via one address.

5 steps guide: Setting up a fixed IP on Windows

Go to the network settings and to the network of your choice.
Right-click and select “Properties” to access the network card.
Place a check mark next to Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Click Properties again.
As a rule, “Obtain IP address automatically” is checked here. This is the DHCP procedure. It is a dynamic assignment of the IP. For a fixed IP address, select “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
In the number field you can store the fixed IP address.

5 Steps Guide: Setting up a Fixed IP on Mac

Go to the network settings and to the network of your choice.
Right click on “More options”.
Go to the TCP-IP tab. In the drop-down menu next to “Configure IPv4”, select “DHCP with manual address”.
Enter the fixed IP in the “IPv4 address” field. No changes are made in the other fields “Subnet mask” and “Router”.
With a click on the “OK” button the IP address is adjusted.

VPN with dedicated IP: Disguise the static IP with a VPN. Really more privacy?

A static IP can be established via a VPN provider. It is called a dedicated IP address.

As a rule, you share an IP with other users. Shared IP are shared IPs of a VPN provider. Accordingly, the same IP is used multiple times by other users with the same location. The data traffic runs over exactly the same connection.

With a dedicated IP, you keep the IP exclusively for yourself. The price for a dedicated IP is often higher with traditional VPN providers. The VPN connection also disguises the location. That is, in addition to the actual IP address, you get a second one. The activities are not traceable. Privacy is more strongly protected.

How anonymous are dedicated IP addresses?

Each VPN provider knows which static IP address has been assigned to the respective customer. Anonymity on the Internet is therefore not 100% guaranteed.

Your data will be stored at the VPN provider. The server logs are partially forwarded to investigative authorities.

When ordering the VPN product, you already disclose sensitive information. The IP, time of VPN use and the volume of transferred data are stored in server logs. Depending on the server location, VPN providers are required to forward the server logs to investigative authorities.

IP obfuscation is only one method of anonymization.

Tracking methods are advanced today. Users are identified by other characteristics such as cookies, browser add-ons, and screen resolution. IP address obfuscation only obfuscates one feature, i.e. the IP.