Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

I simply wish to change my IP.

How can I do that please without creating any problems ?

A web link gave this -
"Click Start->Run, type cmd and press Enter. Type ipconfig /release at the prompt window, press Enter, it will release the current IP configuration. Type ipconfig /renew at the prompt window, press Enter, wait for a while, the DHCP server will assign a new IP address for your computer."

Is this correct, easy and safe ?

I cut the power to my computer for 10 minutes - same IP

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

The only way is to change to Modem Mode if you are in Router Mode but you will require to invest in your own router.
Why do you want to change anyway?

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Security - I have had my current IP long enough.

If its not as easy as that method I gave in my OP - forget it. I don't intend to buy anything.

"If it works OK, don't fix it"

If the power is turned off overnight, the modem will allocate a new IP.
True or false ?

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Unlikely. VM's IP numbers are quite sticky and it usually needs something like a re-segmentation to change the numbers. The IP numbers are allocated by network DHCP to specific modems when they request one rather than the other way. Normally the IP number has a "lease" period. At the end of the lease period the number is dropped and the modem requests a new one. Usually the one that is available is the one that the modem just dropped. Hence the "stickyness"

As above switching to modem mode from router mode will change the IP. I suspect that switching back will just retrieve the original one unless a significant period is involved.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

I did manage to change mine doing that but that was over 15 years ago, so as heero_yuy says it is probably unlikely now.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

What's the security risk you think having the same IP is causing?

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Changing your IP has a near-zero impact on security.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Exactly.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

I suspect a different reason for a new IP address.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

I think you may be right even though @beaker17 said it was for security.

If he was that bothered about security he'd have a VPN.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

This won't work.

As others have said, the *best* way to get a new IP address is to switch to Modem mode (if you're not already IN modem mode). If you're in Modem mode it's trivial, just change the Mac address of the router plugged into it.

This is harder if you're in router/gateway mode as the Mac address is the router side of the Hub itself and you cannot change that. However, this *might* work, this technique is a little-known one that fixes an issue whereby you've changed the Mac address too many times and the UBR is no longer handing you new IP's - it flushes the DHCP cache for your CPE (in other words, you should get a new IP). I haven't tested it on a hub, but it used to work with the modems. Follow the steps exactly.

Power off the hub.
Unscrew the coax cable.
Power the hub back on.
Leave it alone for a few minutes (give it a good 5mins).
Without powering off the hub, screw the coax back in.
Leave it another few minutes (it will eventually come back online).

Check your IP.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Does that still work Kush?

Still want to know what the OP's security concern is though if it actually exists.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

This is a myth, changing your ip will have zero effect on your "security".

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

You know that, I know that 99.9% of other forum members know that.

The OP doesn't though, if that is the true reason he wants to change it.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

just to provide some clarification because it hasn't been explained yet. There are different types of ip addresses and the one everyone is referring to above is the globally routable ip address which the modem/shub receives from VM and is the address the world gets to see when you are on the internet. Because you only get one address from VM and people usually have many internet connected devices such as pc's, laptops, phone, tablets and more, the router does something called NAT and gives the devices on your home network (lan) a different type of address called a local address and on your pc you will be something like 192.168.0.100. When you do what you have described above on your pc all it does is send a request to the router serving the pc (the shub) to renew the address for the pc. What everyone is referring to above is how to renew the routable address the shub gets and as already stated the only way to do it is to either buy a proper router (I won't go into detail why that works) or leave your shub disconnected for several days and hope your ip address gets leased to another shub before you bring yours back online.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Very simple, all the world knows my home address after 40 years living here.
If I moved - all the world would no longer know my new home address, only those I choose to let have it.

Same with my IP - thousands of sites know my IP. If I changed it only those sites I then contacted would know my new IP. A fresh start.

Sound sensible to me.
If I had a dynamic IP supplied, it would change frequently.

It should be my choice whether I have a new IP every single day or keep it for life.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

...but why would you move after 40 years?

Perhaps you have fallen out with somebody.

Is that why you want a new IP address?

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Please don't be frivolous.
Try this -
My reason ?
Its as obvious as apple pie to me.
If the whole world knows it is ME by a 9 digit number, some sites good, bad or ugly, then if I change my 9 digit number - I disappear from their radar and appear as a perfect stranger.
What is the problem with that as a security measure ? Sounds elementary to me.

My motive is MY business. I asked a specific question, please concentrate on that, not my motives.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Well when you are asking to do something as pointless as changing your IP for "security" reasons then yeah people will start asking questions.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Please forget the whole thing. I will find the answer elsewhere.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

as an fyi the ip address you get from VM as a residential customer is a dynamic address. The only time you'll get a static address is if you subscribe to the business service as things like servers like static ip addresses.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

You've been given chapter and verse here, by those who know, good luck.

I'm sure the mods and admins will see you coming.:D

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

This would work for about 30 seconds, given how internet connected everything is.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

I have no idea. I was hoping OP would try it and find out.

Well I've given you an answer for how to do it. You seem to have ignored it. Do try it and feed back as we're all dying to know if it'll work.

Though be aware, the reason for what you're trying to do is actually futile. Let's say you're correct, you're being tracked by a nefarious site via your IP address. Let's say it's something really insidious, like a rogue ad vendor that's tracking you through even legitimate sites, watching your every move. Here's the rub: There are other ways of tracking you than just your IP address. Take a look at https://amiunique.org/ and have a play around with it. Better yet - got a smartphone? Visit that site on wifi, then swap over to network data and notice that your fingerprint is identical

Every single time you visit a site, you're sending it all that information. They can use that to create a fingerprint of your device, regardless of the IP it has. This is even more relevant today, with sites seeing most of their traffic from smartphones - smartphones that often hop from network to network (Wifi, coffee shops, 4G, etc.) and rarely have a consistent IP. All the effort in tracking is down to fingerprinting devices. You can change your IP, but they'll figure out your fingerprint and log any historical IP addresses against it anyway, which they can cross-reference against a whole host of other information.

But go ahead, change your IP if it makes you feel better.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

By mac address is a favourite or at least is one of multiple ways.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

I'm sure you will.

The fact remains that you are wasting your time. :sleep:

Having a paddy about it when people point out your wasting your time wont change that. :dozey:

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

Truly, the best way of changing IP, apart from switching to or from modem-only mode, is to get VPN. This won't cost you huge amounts. $8.00 a month ain't that bad if it's important to you.

Re: Virgin Media Broadband - Change IP ?
 

what a super idea, I hadn't thought of that