Which is more secure Static IP address or Dynamic IP address.

Hi ONisarg,

If you choose the option “Obtain the IP address automatically”, then you are choosing the Dynamic IP address and on the other hand, when you choose to enter it manually, then you are choosing Static IP address for the computer.

As the name implies, Dynamic IP addresses are temporary IP addresses which changes each time the computer access the Internet whereas, the Static IP address does not change over time unless it is changed manually by the user.

The dynamic addresses are actually borrowed from a pool of IP addresses that are shared among various computers and is very commonly used by most Internet Service Providers. Here, the automatic IP address assigning is done by the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). The Static IP address will be provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and that will be the permanent for your computer, unless you change it in the future. This type of address is generally used for the use of VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), online gaming, or any other purpose where users need to make it easy for other computers to locate and connect to them.

People may think that the Dynamic IP address is more secure than the Static, as it changes with each session on the network and it becomes difficult for the hackers to find the computer. In contrast, a static IP address can become a security risk, because here the address is always the same and it is easier to track the computer for data mining purposes or someone who is really determined to find your computer and cause damage to it has a better chance of doing so or has more time to work on getting past your security. But, according to me, the type of IP address assigned has nothing to do with the security of the computer when you have a good security program or a firewall installed on it.

So, no matter what you use - a Dynamic IP address or a Static IP address, following safe Internet practices and using a good and updated security program on the computer keep your computer secure and protected from the Internet threats.

Hope this is helpful.

Static or dynamic addressing has little implications for security. The initial stage of the connection is the wireless security authentication which sets up the encrypted link between your computer and the wireless base station. Only once that secure connection has been established is TCP/IP traffic initiated. If the WiFi security is broken almost every data packet contains the IP address in the header and makes no difference whether that address has been assigned or not.

It is very unlikely that your DHCP address is assigned by your ISP, most often it originates from the network of the WiFi base station and in the majority of domestic networks the router itself. Also in those home networks the DNS server is the router as well. The router accepts requests from the client PC and it is the router that actually makes the request to the internet DNS server and relays the response back to the client but at this level the security is primarily the point to point nature of the connection, only the WiFi link is encrypted.

The main different network type is what is labelled public and on a public network the services which your PC advertises as available to devices on the LOCAL network are very limited. With proper firewall security nothing on the local network is accessible from outside anyway. The sort of locations you should really use the public option is cafés, libraries etc., inside your own home network you should know what devices are in use.

Dynamic IP addresses are fine unless you are using a network communication utility which requires that computers on the network retain the IP address first given.

Home, Work or Public? See here..

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Choosing-a-network-location