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What is an IP address?An IP address is a unique number assigned to every device on a TCP/IP network. Just like your physical home address lets people know where to send your birthday card, IP addresses identify computers and devices and lets them communicate with each other. Internally, IP addresses are stored as numbers. While computers are happy to use numbers, humans prefer names. The Internet uses the Domain Name System (DNS) as an internet address book so you can use use words (such as www.avast.com) instead of numbers to navigate the internet and to address the devices on your network. Those devices might be anything that connects online: computers, TV, smart speakers, perhaps even your refrigerator. These days almost anything electronic in your home could have an IP address. When you type a URL into your web browser, it uses DNS to look up the IP address for that domain. For example, if you type www.avast.com into your browser, DNS returns one of several IP addresses, including 77.234.41.52. There are two versions of IP addresses in common use: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 has four hexadecimal numbers separated by periods – such as 192.168.0.1 – while IPv6 has six hexadecimal numbers separated by colons – such as 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334. There are almost 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses, and we've used almost all of them. There are far more IPv6 addresses. We'll not run out of IPv6 addresses anytime before the heat death of the universe. What is a static IP address?A static IP address is simply an address that doesn't change. Once your device is assigned a static IP address, that number typically stays the same until the device is decommissioned or your network architecture changes. Static IP addresses generally are used by servers or other important equipment. How to set a static IP address?To get a static IP address, you need to contact your ISP (Internet Service provider) and request it from them. Then, you can change your regular IP address and set up a static IP address in Windows settings. Note that creating a static IP address is an advanced networking function, and it requires a basic knowledge of TCP/IP protocols. With the static IP address assigned to you by your ISP, here’s how to enter your IP address manually on a Windows 10 device:
Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to enter your IP address manually on other devices. Static IP addresses are assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Your ISP may or may not allocate you a static IP address depending on the nature of your service agreement. We describe your options a little later, but for now assume that a static IP address adds to the cost of your ISP contract. A static IP address may be IPv4 or IPv6; in this case the important quality is static. Some day, every bit of networked gear we have might have a unique static IPv6 address. We're not there yet. For now, we usually use static IPv4 addresses for permanent addresses. What is a dynamic IP address?As the name suggests, dynamic IP addresses are subject to change, sometimes at a moment's notice. Dynamic addresses are assigned, as needed, by Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers. We use dynamic addresses because IPv4 doesn't provide enough static IP addresses to go around. So, for example, a hotel probably has a static IP address, but each individual device within its rooms would have a dynamic IP address. On the internet, your home or office may be assigned a dynamic IP address by your ISP's DHCP server. Within your home or business network, the dynamic IP address for your devices -- whether they are personal computers, smartphones, streaming media devices, tablet, what have you -- are probably assigned by your network router. Dynamic IP is the standard used by and for consumer equipment. Static vs. dynamic: Which is best for me?There is no perfect IP address solution for all people and all occasions. Sometimes, it is better for a computer or device to use a static IP address; sometimes a dynamic IP address works best. Deciding whether dynamic or static IP addresses are better for you also depends on the nature of the connection. A static IP address is more likely to be relevant for a business, while a dynamic IP address is appropriate for a home network. Advantages of a static IPThere are numerous advantages to using a static IP address. Among these benefits are:
Disadvantages of a static IPA static IP address isn't ideal for all situations.
Advantages of a dynamic IPDynamic IP addresses are easier to manage and cheaper to deploy than static IP addresses.
Disadvantages of a dynamic IPDynamic IP addresses are not ideal for all situations. They don't work well for internet-facing services such as the web or email.
ConclusionTypically, static IP addresses are best for businesses, which host their own websites and internet services. Static IP addresses also work well when you have remote workers logging into work via a VPN. Dynamic IP addresses are usually fine for most consumers. They are cheaper and typically pose a bit less of a security risk. Which type of IP address do you have?Now that you understand the differences between static IP and dynamic IP, you may realize that it never mattered before which kind you are using. One quick way to find your IP address and its type is to use a free online tool like Avast's IP checker. Is it difficult to change your IP address?If you get your internet service through an ISP or cable company, in most cases they assign you a dynamic IP address. Within your own network, by default your devices are assigned dynamic IP addresses. It is usually not much of a problem to switch to a static IP address. You do this by going to your router's interface, finding the device for which you want to assign a static IP address, and then assigning it one (usually by manually typing in a number). The details vary from router to router. On a network with an administrator, you need to have the system administrator do this for you. How to protect your IP address, whether it's static or dynamicNo matter whether your internet IP address is static or dynamic, your ISP -- and tech-savvy bad guys -- can tell approximately where you're located and what you're trying to do on the internet. You may want to hide your IP address -- no matter what kind -- from snoopers. A VPN, such as Avast SecureLine VPN, can help protect both your security and your privacy. What is NAT explain with diagram?NAT stands for network address translation. It's a way to map multiple local private addresses to a public one before transferring the information. Organizations that want multiple devices to employ a single IP address use NAT, as do most home routers.
What is NAT and its advantages?A Network Address Translation (NAT) is the process of mapping an internet protocol (IP) address to another by changing the header of IP packets while in transit via a router. This helps to improve security and decrease the number of IP addresses an organization needs.
What is the most important security advantage to NAT?The main advantage of NAT (Network Address Translation) is that it can prevent the depletion of IPv4 addresses. NAT (Network Address Translation) can provide an additional layer of security by making the oringinal source and destination addresses hidden.
What is NAT in security?Network address translation (NAT), a feature found in many firewalls, translates between external and internal IP addresses. With NAT, a private network can use internal, non-routable IP addresses that map to one or more external IP addresses.
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