Public vs. Private IP Address: What’s the Difference

A unique numerical ID, known as an IP address, is assigned to each device on the Internet. There are two types of IP addresses: public and private. Public IP addresses are used on the Internet, while private IP addresses are used in a local area network (LAN).

Understanding the distinction between a public and private IP address and comprehending their functionality is crucial for maintaining the privacy and security of your internet activity.

This article will give you a comprehensive understanding of the distinction between a public and private IP address.

What does a public IP address mean?

A public IP address is an address given by your internet service provider (ISP) to your network. It allows you to identify your device on the Internet. Your router’s public IP address allows you to access the Internet. Due to their global accessibility, public IP addresses are frequently utilised by publicly accessible enterprises like websites, DNS, and VPN servers.

Having a public IP address allows users to configure a server for various purposes, such as VPN, FTP, and more. It also enables remote access to the machine, among numerous other advantages.

Typically, when opting for a public IP address to offer services on the Internet, it is necessary to implement extra security measures. Implementing security measures involves involving a firewall to close off unused ports and protocols and segregating public services from the local area network by employing a DMZ network segment, among other strategies.

Having a public IP address is essential for accessing the internet. In a typical home network, your router mediates between your computer and the internet.

How do you define a private IP address?

A private IP address, also called a local IP address, is the IP address your network router assigns to your device. This address is only visible within your network, making it inaccessible online. Every device connected to a network is given a distinct private IP address, enabling communication with other devices. Your home device can share the same private IP address as devices belonging to your neighbors or anyone else worldwide. This is due to the use of private IP addresses. This is because private addresses are non-routable.

Internet access from a private IP address requires routing the connection through NAT, which substitutes the private IP address with a public one. Therefore, NAT conceals the private IP, enhancing network security.

The network and router assign a device a private IP address. Once data is transmitted or received via the public IP address, the router directs the traffic to a particular device using its distinct private IP address.

By considering the use of private IPs, the router effectively manages network traffic and facilitates seamless communication between devices within the network.

Ways to determine whether an IP address is public or private

Examining the IP address against the ranges designated for public and private IP addresses makes it possible to determine whether a specific IP address is public or private. Private IP addresses typically start with 10, 172, or 192. However, it’s worth noting that certain public IP addresses can also begin with 172 and 192.

Public and private IP addresses share many similarities. Both use the TCP/IP model for data transmission and reception. The distinction lies in the exploitation of an address, either within a network or across the vast expanse of the internet.

Below is a concise table outlining the main distinctions between public and private IP addresses.

Public IP Ranges

Public IP addresses outnumber private ones due to the requirement for every Internet network to have a distinct public IP.

Public IP addresses are categorized into specific ranges.

• 1.0.0.0-9.255.255.255
• 11.0.0.0-100.63.255.255
• 100.128.0.0-126.255.255.255
• 128.0.0.0-169.253.255.255
• 169.255.0.0-172.15.255.255
• 172.32.0.0-191.255.255.255
• 192.0.1.0/24
• 192.0.3.0-192.88.98.255
• 192.88.100.0-192.167.255.255
• 192.169.0.0-198.17.255.255
• 198.20.0.0-198.51.99.255
• 198.51.101.0-203.0.112.255
• 203.0.114.0-223.255.255.255

IP ranges starting with 10.x.x.x fall within the private IP address range.

Private IP Ranges

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) assigns private IP addresses to specific ranges for their intended use. They cannot access the Internet and are limited to the local network.

Private IP addresses remain confined within the local area network (LAN) and can be reused across different private networks as long as they are unique within each network.

Private IP addresses are categorized into different ranges:

Class A networks cover a wide range, from 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255. These networks are designed for large-scale networks, with 8 bits allocated for the network and 24 bits for hosts.

Class B networks, which span from 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255, are typically employed for medium-sized networks. These networks allocate 16 bits for the network and 16 bits for hosts.

Class C networks span 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255, are designed for smaller networks. They allocate 24 bits for the network and 8 bits for hosts.

Private IP addresses are reserved for private networks and must be unique to that network. As a result, their ranges are considerably smaller compared to public IP addresses.

Understanding the Distinction Between Public and Private IP Address

There is a significant distinction between a public and private IP address. The public IP address is visible to other devices on the Internet, whereas the private IP address remains hidden. Public IPs are utilized for online interaction and communication, whereas private IPs function within a local network.

Here is a table that outlines the main distinctions between a public and private IP address:

What is my public IP address?

There are multiple methods available to locate your public IP address. If you’re curious about finding out your public IP, one simple method is to consult Google.

Go to www.google.com and search for “what is my IP address.” Google will display a snippet as the initial outcome revealing your public IP address.

Retrieve your public IP address using Google.

If you’re a Linux user, you can easily find your IP address by following our tutorial. You have the option to use either the hostname or ifconfig command, or you can use the graphical user interface (GUI). For a broader range of capabilities compared to ifconfig, consider using the ip command instead.

What is my private IP address?

Understanding the private IP address can be quite beneficial for troubleshooting internet connection issues or configuring advanced network settings. Here are the steps to locate your private IP address:

Users of the Windows operating system

1. Open the Start menu and search for PowerShell. Select the Windows PowerShell result.

Launching the Windows PowerShell.

Execute the given command:

ipconfig

The private IP address falls within the IPv4 Address range. 

Users of Mac computers

1. Access the Apple menu and navigate to System Preferences.

2. Choose the Network option from the app list.

Accessing Network settings on macOS.

3. Select the connection you use to connect to the Internet from the left pane.

Finding the macOS private IP address.

The private IP address can be found under the Status section.

Can a private IP address be hidden?

Ensuring the confidentiality of your private IP address within a network or LAN is equally important to safeguarding your identity on the public internet. Fortunately, you can ensure that your PC remains hidden from other devices on the same network by designating your network as Public instead of Home in Windows or MacOS.

Typically, malicious attacks originate from external sources, emphasising the importance of securing the public IP address. Our Secure VPN ensures that your connection is encrypted and your network is concealed behind a different IP address located in another part of the world. This provides an extra layer of security, keeping your public IP address protected by robust servers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Public and Private IP Addresses

Here, we provide answers to commonly asked questions regarding public and private IP addresses.

Difference between Public IP Address and External IP Address

A public IP address, also known as an external IP address, operates beyond the confines of a local network. It empowers users to establish connections with the vast expanse of the Internet and engage in communication with other public IP addresses across the globe. The addresses you are connecting to are referred to as remote IPs.

A public IP is also known as an outward-facing IP.

Differences Between Private, Local, and Internal IP Addresses

Each device in the local network is assigned a private IP address by the router it is connected to. Private IP addresses facilitate device communication and enable routers to efficiently manage local network traffic.

When switching between public and private IPs, the router utilises NAT (network address translation).

The terms “local IP address” and “internal IP address” are simply different ways of describing a private IP address.

How to Change Your Public IP Address

Given that an ISP assigns a public IP address, users are unable to modify it. Nevertheless, there are methods to acquire an alternative IP address or conceal it with a different one.

Here are various methods to modify your public IP address:

Consider opting for a VPN. A VPN service conceals your public IP address by using a different one. VPNs are commonly utilised to access online services that may be restricted in certain countries. Users can bypass these restrictions by connecting to a VPN server in a location where the services are accessible.

Some well-known VPNs are NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, IPVanish, PrivateVPN, and more.

Consider involving a proxy. Proxy servers and VPNs have similarities, but proxy servers tend to be less secure due to their lack of encryption. By routing the internet connection through a middleman server, the website you visit picks up the proxy server’s IP address instead of your own.

Proxy servers come in various varieties, such as:

HTTP/S proxies. typically made available as websites that function as browser extensions or browsers inside browsers. They only alter the IP address when information is sent between browsers.

SOCKS substitutes. servers with a general purpose and application configuration.

SSH intermediates. SSH proxies route traffic over an SSH connection. The speed of SSH proxies is their greatest drawback.

3. Open the Tor web browser. By changing the public IP to a different one, the browser reroutes all of your traffic through the Tor network. The network consists of thousands of volunteer-run server nodes and uses several encryption levels to hide your identity.

However, surfing speed is given up for anonymity because Tor’s robust encryption technology makes transmitting and receiving traffic lengthy.

4. Unplug the old IP to release it. Your Internet service provider allocates a public IP address to your modem each time you connect to the Internet. If you unplug the modem and leave it turned off for a long time, the ISP may recycle the IP address and give it to someone else. If the IP was recycled, you get a new public IP when you reconnect.

However, as the IP given is entirely up to the ISP, this procedure might not work and you might end up with the same IP again.

5. Kindly request a different IP address. Certain ISPs offer users the option to request a different IP address. If your ISP’s policy allows, you can request a new one.

However, many ISPs utilize dynamic IP allocation systems, which recycle and assign IP addresses among connected users. With a dynamic IP, the likelihood of your IP changing in the future remains high, even if you specifically request a new one.

To acquire a constant static IP address, you need to submit a formal request to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). It’s important to remember that obtaining a static IP typically requires going through an application process and incurring an additional fee. Once you have acquired a static IP, simply input it into your device’s network settings, and it will remain unchanged unless you decide to modify it.

6. Switch to a different network. Switching to a different network allows for acquiring a fresh IP address. For instance, you can obtain a fresh IP address by transitioning from a WiFi network to a mobile data connection or by switching between different WiFi networks.

Does my private IP address change?

Given that a private IP address is allocated to each device on the network by the router, it has the potential to change whenever a new connection is established. The local IP address of the device remains constant as long as it stays connected.

Take, for instance, connecting a phone and a laptop to a network. Please disconnect both devices and reconnect them in reverse order – start with the laptop and then connect the phone. The addresses have been updated.

How can I modify my private IP address?

Typically, when multiple devices are connected to a single network, they tend to have the same public IP address. Nevertheless, every device in the network possesses its own unique IP address. Modifying the private IP address is often necessary when dealing with a malfunctioning device or configuring the functionality of devices on a home network.

You can easily update your local IP address either through the router’s admin panel or directly on your device. As an illustration:

Users of the Windows operating system

Follow these steps to acquire a fresh private IP address:

1. Open the Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt with administrative privileges:

Opening the Windows PowerShell with elevated privileges.

2. Execute the following command to release the current IP:

ipconfig /release

Releasing the current private IP address on a Windows system.

3. Execute the given command to acquire a fresh local IP address:

ipconfig /renew

Renewing the private IP address in Windows with PowerShell.

The device is assigned a new local IP address.

Users of Mac computers

1. To begin, locate and click on the Apple logo situated in the menu bar. From there, select the option to open System Preferences.

2. Choose the Network option from the app list.

3. Choose the network you are currently using and click on Advanced…

Setting up advanced network configurations in macOS.

5. Click on the Renew DHCP Lease button located under the TCP/IP tab.

How to renew the IP address in macOS.

There’s a new private IP address for your Mac.

Linux users

Use the ifconfig command on Linux to modify the local IP address.

Note: The networking toolkit net-tools includes the ifconfig command. Use sudo apt-y install net-tools to install it if it’s not already installed on your machine.

This is the syntax:

ifconfig 

As an illustration:

ifconfig 192.168.178.32 enp0s3

Please note that you need the necessary privileges on Linux to change your IP address.

Modify the IP address on the router

Modifying the router’s local IP depends on its specific manufacturer and firmware version. To update the address, you can access the router’s admin dashboard through a browser using its IP address, typically 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1.

As an illustration, the router admin dashboard can be accessed from the IP address 192.168.0.1:

Locating the admin dashboard of a router.

Once you’ve successfully logged in with your administrator credentials, navigate to your admin dashboard to locate the settings for modifying the local IP address.

Why is a Private IP Address Necessary?

Devices can communicate with each other on a local network using private IP addresses. Private IPs provide an added layer of security by being invisible on the Internet, making it challenging for users to establish connections to devices.

In addition, each device on a LAN is assigned a unique private IP, while they all share a single public IP address. There is a significant disparity between the number of devices requiring Internet connectivity and the limited availability of public IPs. This is why all the devices on a single network share one public IP but have different private IP addresses to ensure that traffic is routed accurately.

What is the Importance of Having a Public IP Address?

Every device that is connected to the Internet requires a public IP address. Understanding the public IP is crucial for connecting devices to the Internet and retrieving the desired data.

If a device lacks a public IP, it can utilize network address translation (NAT). For devices with private IPs, it is necessary to utilize NAT to convert the address to a public one. This enables them to access the Internet and extend their reach beyond their personal network.

Who has access to view my IP address?

Whenever a remote server is accessed, such as when you visit a website or access something online, there is an exchange of information. The exchange provides the necessary information for the remote machine to send messages back to your device. This can be accomplished using a public IP address.

Without sharing a public IP, the website you’re accessing won’t be able to respond to your request.

To protect your IP address, you can utilize a VPN, a proxy server, or a machine with a publicly accessible IP address.

What kind of information can be obtained from an IP address?

Your IP address does not disclose any specific personal details, like your home address, name, or phone number. It discloses information about your city, ISP, ZIP code, and area code associated with your Internet connection.

Given that all devices connected to the local network have a shared public IP address, the physical location is not disclosed by the address. It provides information about the geolocation of the nearest server of the ISP.

Does the IP address change when using WiFi?

The public IP address is determined by the current network connection. All devices connected to a single network share the same public, outward-facing IP address. Thus, when connecting to a different WiFi network, the public IP address will also vary.

It is highly unlikely to obtain the same IP address on a different network. If both routers are using the same IP range, there is a possibility of receiving duplicate IP addresses from the DHCP of both access points.

Is it possible to conceal a private IP address?

Both public and private IP addresses can be concealed. When concealing the public IP address, it typically involves placing it behind another public IP. On the other hand, concealing a private IP results in other devices on the same network no longer being able to detect or communicate with that particular device.

While it is uncommon for malicious attacks to originate from within a local network, there may be instances where you wish to conceal the private IP address of a specific device from other devices on the network. One simple solution is to switch the network type from Home to Public.

In summary

This article provides an overview of the main distinctions between a public and private IP address, as well as answers to common questions on the subject.

Understanding the distinction between public and private IP addresses is crucial for maintaining the privacy and security of internet activity. A public IP address is a unique numerical ID assigned to a device on the internet, used to identify the device and enable communication outside a private network. On the other hand, a private IP address is a non-unique numeric code assigned to a device within a private network, used to communicate with other devices within the same network. Public IP addresses are assigned by internet service providers and are globally accessible, while private IP addresses are assigned by a router to a specific device and are only accessible within the local area network. It is possible to determine whether an IP address is public or private by examining its range. Public IP addresses are categorized into specific ranges, while private IP addresses are assigned to specific ranges by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) for their intended use. By understanding the difference between public and private IP addresses, users can take necessary security measures to protect their online activity and ensure seamless communication between devices.

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