IPv4 in 2021

[Teacher]

The cost of IPv4 addresses has reached an all-time high

Companies that own or manage blocks of IPv4 addresses are advised to monitor the increased risk of hacking attempts in the coming months. Since the price of an IPv4 address has reached an all-time high, attackers may try to steal unused or unprotected IPv4 addresses.

"Back in 2020, prices peaked in the summer at around$ 23 - $ 24. But in the first quarter of 2021, prices hit$ 32 in February, almost 30% higher than the 2020 peak. In fact, the minimum prices this year are about the same as the highest last year — $ 23 - $ 26, " experts from IPv4.Global explained.

Currently, prices for IPv4 addresses continue to rise. Today's peak in the IPv4. Global market has reached a new high of$ 36 per address.

While some trading platforms provide owners of IPv4 address blocks with a legitimate way to sell or lease unused addresses, there is also an underground market for these operations by cybercriminal groups that take control of IPv4 addresses from companies that failed to provide them with proper security.

Although IPv4 theft is not as common as other forms of cybercrime, it has been occurring continuously for many years. Criminals register expired domains for companies that once owned a block of IPv4 addresses, or create new companies with similar names, and then contact organizations such as ARIN, APNIC, RIPE NCC, AFRINIC or LACNIC to intercept legitimate IPv4.