I tried accessing a website and received a message saying "Our system detected unusual activity from your IP address." The issue is that the IP it mentioned is definitely not the one I'm using. I know my actual IP, and it's not what was displayed. I ran malware scans that found nothing and checked for any suspicious activity with TCPmanager, but no issues there either. Is this a sign that my computer might be compromised, or could it just be a mistake? I'd appreciate any insights!
5 Answers
This happens all the time to people, so don’t sweat it! It’s rather normal, and often just a hiccup with how IPs are reported by different sites.
Typically, your computer’s local IP isn't the same as the public IP that sites see. If you go to Google and type "what is my IP," that’s what you should be looking at. It’s common for multiple households to share an IP, so don’t panic!
If this website isn’t one you regularly visit, it might just be a scam trying to get you to click through and install something malicious. Be cautious! If you use this site often, check your router settings to confirm the IP assigned by your ISP.
You're probably fine! Just to clarify: when you refer to your IP, are you talking about your internal IP (like 192.168.1.x) or your external one? Most home networks use dynamic IPs, so even if you think you have the right external address, it might have changed. Also, some ISPs use CGNAT, meaning you share your public IP with others, hence the confusion.
When you see that message, it usually shows your public IP, which your router uses to connect to the internet, while your local IP can be different. Check your public IP by Googling "What’s my IP?" If you’re on CG-NAT from your ISP, multiple users might share an IP, complicating things even more.
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