There are two categories of IP addresses: the static and the dynamic. In most cases, people don’t really need to use a static IP. With a few exceptions, both can benefit from the use of software used to hide IP addresses.
The IP address is that magic number that tells the internet where you are and where to send data to, so you can browse the web without any problem. For security reasons, there are a lot of people who choose to mask IP trails. This is done to prevent people from accessing that potentially sensitive information. This is not a common practice, though, and is arguably is even less well-known than the fact that there are actually two types if IP addresses. Any given computer can potentially have either a static or dynamic IP address. One type is more likely to need a proxy IP system in place.
A static IP, as its name implies, is a constant one. It does not change each time the user connects to or disconnects from the internet. The only way to do so is to change it manually, which can have a number of results. Most web servers actually have a static IP, making sure that all websites hosted on their machines remain accessible. This is because if the IP changes or goes through some sort of anonymizer that changes it, other users will be unable to connect to it. For a website that wants to be publicly accessible, a static IP is a necessity. However, the average user that has a static IP can benefit from software used to mask IP addresses for security purposes.
A dynamic IP, on the other hand, is one that is constantly changing. The computer is assigned an IP address when it connects and loses it when it disconnects. This is fairly common among commercial internet users, since it is slightly more secure. Since the IP is constantly changing, it minimizes the risk of someone catching on to the IP and using it to hack a computer. Dynamic IP addresses don’t generally affect a person’s ability to connect to the Internet, though some online games might require further identification if the IP address it is being accessed from constantly changing proxy IP addresses. For those who truly want a secure computer, anonymous surfing to mask IP addresses is still a viable option.
Most users will likely be given a dynamic IP unless they specifically request a static one from their internet service provider. It is entirely their choice to mask IP trails, regardless of what type of connection they have. For web hosts or servers, there may be a need to avoid using anonymous IP systems because of the connection issues involved. People who run POP3 e-mail servers would also need to use a static IP instead of a dynamic one, again to ensure constant accessibility. The average consumer, however, probably doesn’t need a static IP in most cases, and software used to hide IP data can add to the security that dynamic IPs provide.
Barring certain circumstances, there is no inherent advantage to having a static IP over a dynamic one. A dynamic IP might actually be slightly more secure, though those who truly want to be safe should mask IP information anyway.
