Expert answers to common questions about IP addresses, geolocation, VPN testing, and network troubleshooting
Your IP address is a unique identifier assigned to your device when connecting to the internet. It reveals your approximate geographic location and ISP information. Knowing your IP address helps with network troubleshooting, privacy checks, and verifying VPN connections.
Think of it like your postal address for internet traffic - it tells other computers and websites where to send information back to you.
Public IP Address: This is how the internet sees your connection. It's assigned by your ISP and visible to websites you visit. Only one public IP per household/business typically.
Private IP Addresses: These are used within your local network (like 192.168.1.100). Each device on your network gets its own private IP. These are not visible to the outside internet.
Our extension shows both types, giving you a complete picture of your network configuration.
IP addresses change for several reasons:
IPv4: The traditional format (like 192.168.1.1) with about 4.3 billion possible addresses. Nearly exhausted globally.
IPv6: The newer format (like 2001:db8::1) with trillions of possible addresses. Being gradually adopted worldwide.
Most networks run "dual-stack" supporting both. Our extension detects whichever your network supports.
Absolutely! This is one of our most popular use cases:
If your location changed to the VPN server location and shows the VPN provider as your ISP, your VPN is working correctly.
If you still see your real location after connecting to VPN:
Some VPNs have kill switches that prevent internet access if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly.
The extension itself doesn't provide privacy protection, but it helps you verify your privacy tools are working correctly. Unlike web-based IP checkers, our extension:
Knowing your IP address is just one part of privacy protection. Websites can still track you through:
Use our extension alongside other privacy tools like VPNs, ad blockers, and privacy-focused browsers for comprehensive protection.
Accuracy varies by location and provider:
Mobile networks and satellite internet tend to be less precise than fixed broadband connections.
Several factors can cause location inaccuracies:
No. IP geolocation typically shows city-level information, not your specific street address. The technology has inherent limitations:
Your exact location would require GPS data or other precise location services.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) information reveals:
This is highly accurate since ISPs are directly responsible for IP address assignments.
Our extension helps diagnose various network issues:
Multiple private IPs are normal and occur when you have:
Each represents a different network interface on your device.
Use IP information to troubleshoot connectivity issues:
Common private IP ranges and their meanings:
The specific range tells you about your network's size and configuration.
Partially. The extension can detect your local network information (private IP addresses) while offline, but requires an internet connection to determine your public IP address, location, and ISP details.
Local features that work offline include private IP detection, network interface enumeration, and basic network configuration details.
Browser extensions offer several advantages over web-based tools:
Currently, the extension displays all available network information in an organized, easy-to-read format. This includes:
We're considering customization options for future versions based on user feedback.
Refresh frequency depends on your use case:
The extension caches information briefly for performance, so refresh when you need current data.
No. The extension is designed for minimal resource usage:
You won't notice any impact on browsing speed or performance.
Yes, absolutely. Our extension is designed with privacy and security as top priorities:
Our extension requests only the minimum permissions necessary:
We specifically do NOT request access to browsing history, personal files, or other sensitive data.
No. We have a strict no-data-collection policy:
Each time you use the extension, it's like using it for the first time.
No. The extension operates independently of websites you're visiting:
The extension provides information to you, not to websites you visit.
We maintain the extension's security through:
Enable automatic updates in Chrome to receive security fixes immediately.
Install our Chrome extension and get instant access to your IP information and network details.
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