Advice Request What happens when you type your own IP address into a browser?

[MuzzMelbourne]

When I connect my VPN it reports my current IP address. Curious, I typed it in to Safari and DDG a few times with and without a VPN to see what would happen.

On each occasion it pretty well disappeared up its own backside and timed-out. Disappointing but at the same time, slightly reassuring.

Currently bored out of my tiny little mind, I was wondering what other folk’s expectations vs. reality were.

 

[blackice]

That's because your firewall dropped the unsolicited connection request.

By default most router firewalls and Windows firewall will drop all inbound connection attempts if they are not a response to an outbound connection.

 

[kC77]

unless you are running a service you expect, the answer should be something like

 

[MuzzMelbourne]

Ok, repeated the same exercise but, this time using my iPhone on 4g, no VPN to buzz my iPad on wifi with VPN. Same result. I would have expected at least some sort of connection as, technically, they are independent devices, net’wise.

Leads me to the question, what use is it to naughty people knowing my IP address and why the need for secrecy?

 

[blackice]

Ok, repeated the same exercise but, this time using my iPhone on 4g, no VPN to buzz my iPad on wifi with VPN. Same result. I would have expected at least some sort of connection as, technically, they are independent devices, net’wise.

Leads me to the question, what use is it to naughty people knowing my IP address and why the need for secrecy?

Because they can hammer you with traffic to cause denial of service. Or constantly hit you with known exploits until they find one that your equipment is vulnerable to. If you keep your networking equipment and operating system up to date the second is a low risk, but not impossible. And lastly you can be geolocated by your IP address, to some extent. It doesn’t need to be secret, but nobody you aren’t already connecting to really needs your IP address either.

 

[MuzzMelbourne]

Because they can hammer you with traffic to cause denial of service. Or constantly hit you with known exploits until they find one that your equipment is vulnerable to. If you keep your networking equipment and operating system up to date the second is a low risk, but not impossible. And lastly you can be geolocated by your IP address, to some extent. It doesn’t need to be secret, but nobody you aren’t already connecting to really needs your IP address either.

Excellent explanation, thanks. Makes perfect sense now. Well, that’s my lesson for the day.

 

[blackice]

Excellent explanation, thanks. Makes perfect sense now. Well, that’s my lesson for the day.

Glad to help. I’m sure there could even be things I’m missing, I like networking but I’m far from an expert.