How to Check Your IP Address for Security
The IP (Internet protocol) address is a unique combination of numbers separated by dots. Every item connected to a network is assigned its own IP address. Two computers cannot have the same IP address. The IP address can often be used to determine the location your computer is connected to the Internet from. It is important to know your computer's IP address for troubleshooting and security purposes when connected to a network.
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Instructions
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Windows Computers
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Click the Windows "Start" menu and click "Run" (Windows XP) or "Start Search" (Windows Vista and 7).
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Type "cmd" (without quotes) and press "Enter" to launch the command prompt. Type "ipconfig /all" and press "Enter." You should see a series of information pertaining to your network connection.
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Locate the IP address section. You should see a series of numbers such as 192.160.1.1. This combination of numbers is your IP address. The IP address is not the same for every computer connected to a network.
Mac Computers
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Click the Apple logo located on the top left corner and click "System Preferences." Click "Network" under "Internet and Wireless."
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Select "Network Status" from the "Show" drop-down field. Select the network connection that you are using to connect to the Internet.
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Locate your IP address on the right panel. You should see a combination of numbers that looks like this, "192.160.1.1." This is your computer's IP address.
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References
- Photo Credit network cable image by .shock from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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can a computer have more than one active ip address... min is saying i have two. i check the first one and it comes back saying unidentified... this is the local address.. the foreign address it is connecting to is the name of my computer?
