How to Protect Your IP Address in Windows

The acronym “IP”, in computing terminology, refers to an “Internet Protocol address.” It is number that identifies your computer or network and separates it from all other computers or networks on the Internet. It allows other computers and networks to identify your own connection and initiate communication, which is the basis of how the Internet actually operates. Because of the important job of an IP address, it is equally important that you take steps to protect your own, especially if you own and operate a business. If your IP address is used in the wrong way by a person with malicious intentions, it could potentially cause irreparable harm to your network, your computer or even your business.

A number of different things can potentially happen to your business if your system’s IP addresses are compromised. Because of its importance and the precise way in which it operates, someone with questionable intentions could use the IP address to gain access to your network from the outside. This puts all connected computers, and the sensitive data stored on them, at risk. Someone with advanced technical knowledge could also potentially use your business’ IP address to hide their own, covering their own tracks while performing illegal activities and pinning the blame on you and your company. This makes protecting your IP address of the utmost importance.

In addition, certain websites may install malicious software on your computer that uses your IP address to glean additional information. This information could be small, like what websites you browse to be used for targeted advertisement purposes. It could also be large, like those whom you frequently e-mail or communicate with. Protecting your IP address not only protects your business, but it protects your clients as well.

Peer Block is one program capable of protecting your computer’s IP address by blocking specific connection attempts. It is an open sourced utility that is available free of charge at Peer Block’s main site. Peer Block operates using a series of IP address “block lists,” similar to the virus definitions that your business anti-virus software would use. If any of the IP addresses on the block lists (which are typically malicious programs, computers and users) attempt to make connection with your business computer, the connection is denied. Peer Block can also block outgoing connections to the same addresses. This can be especially useful if your business computers have been compromised, and malicious software is attempting to make contact with its original source.

BeeThink IP Blocker is another program available for Windows that operates similar to Peer Block. It is available at BeeThink’s main page. In addition to offering “block list” protection from IP addresses, the program is also capable of preventing specific types of attacks from outside sources. A DDoS, or “denial of service” attack is just one such example. If your business server experiences a DDoS attack, the server itself is overloaded with so many simultaneous information requests that it can no longer function. This could send your business, or at least its ability to communicate, grinding to a halt.

You can also use most standard firewall software, like the program that comes natively installed in the Windows operating system, to block specific IP addresses or entire ranges of addresses. This, however, requires you to know the specific IP addresses that you are trying to block and input that information manually. Windows Firewall in particular does not have block list capabilities that rival that of other programs. It is, however, already installed on your computer so no additional downloads are required.