IPv4 and IPv6 perform the same basic job: they give internet traffic an address to reach. The formats look very different, and IPv6 solves a real shortage of addresses, but everyday privacy and security depend more on configuration than on which version appears in your browser.
Why IPv4 ran short
IPv4 uses 32 bits, which provides about 4.3 billion possible addresses. That sounded enormous when the protocol was designed, but phones, home routers, cloud servers and connected devices exhausted the easy supply. Network operators extended IPv4's life with address sharing, private networks and careful reuse.
What IPv6 adds
IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, creating an address space large enough for networks to assign globally routable addresses without the same pressure to share. It also modernizes address configuration and network discovery. The benefit is operational scale, not a promise that every connection will be faster.
Why you may have both
Many networks run dual stack, meaning a device has IPv4 and IPv6 connectivity at the same time. A website can choose the route that works best. One checker may show IPv6 while an older service sees IPv4, and both observations can be accurate for the same device.
Privacy and firewall reality
Modern systems commonly use temporary IPv6 addresses to reduce long-term device correlation. A router firewall should still block unsolicited inbound traffic. IPv6 does not remove the need for updates, sensible firewall rules or careful sharing of diagnostic information.
Practical checklist
- Check whether both address families work on your network.
- Keep the router firewall enabled for IPv4 and IPv6.
- Update old devices that handle IPv6 incorrectly.
- Do not disable IPv6 only to hide an address; fix the actual privacy setting.
Keep the result in context
Network tools provide useful evidence, not a complete identity or security verdict. Record what you tested, compare results before and after a change, and use several independent signals when a decision matters.
Browse all 25 KiwiVPN guides or return to the public IP checker.