IP address security

Are there any security issues with the type of IP address you use, which is the more securer the dynamic or the static type.

James

Not really no. If you are static, you would be slightly easier to track, but web sites don't track via IP anyway (they use cookie, flash cookie etc)

In theory, a static IP is less secure since that's the one you always have, but to be honest either are equally insecure if there's a lack of security at the user's end of things.

It's not the IP as such, so much as the presence. If you have a NAT router between the IP and the PC (so to speak), it's far more difficult for nasties to probe up to the PC. On top of that, a software firewall on the PC is a must.

When I first got connected on 56k, I had a software firewall and no NAT. My firewall had regular probes. Since getting a NAT router, there are next to no nasties appearing on my software firewall.

A static IP is good for certain things. See here:

http://www.zytrax.com/isp/faqs/static.htm

As far as I know, some speedtesters log your tests by IP, so keeping a record of your tests might be a problem with a dynamic one. If you reboot the router the dynamic IP will probably change (but not always).

If you are static, you would be slightly easier to track, but web sites don't track via IP anyway

So who does/can track and how can you avoid it if the tracking is covert?

In such a scenario is dynamic really any more secure?

Not really.

If someone was targetting an IP, a static one would be 'always there', and said owner of the IP would be targetted. If someone targetted a dynamic IP it would change owners periodically, so the owner of a dynamic IP would be difficult to target by IP.

That wouldn't stop an authority from tracing someone using a dynamic IP for illicit purposes though.

If you have reason to believe your IP is being / will be targetted, consult with your ISP.

Thanks for your views

f you have reason to believe your IP is being / will be targetted, consult with your ISP.

There is no reason but then there is no way of knowing for any of us if it was.


James

I suppose you know that it isn't just probes?

Every website you visit gets to see your IP address at that time. No escape from that as the internet system needs it to work.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

No escape from that as the internet system needs it to work.

So no point in worrying.

In reply to a post by camieabz:

So no point in worrying.

I think a lot depends whether you're worried about tracking or snooping... ignoring cookies, both should be reasonably covered if you stick to IPv6 sites, with inherent IPSec.

Might limit your choices a bit though

I'd like to emphasize that IPv6 is not more secure, but less used, so therefore less used by nasties. Kind of why MACs are considered more secure.