Anonymization of IP addresses

CookieHub is committed to protecting user privacy by minimizing personal data collection. A key part of this commitment is the anonymization of IP addresses, helping ensure compliance with privacy regulations such as GDPR.

Why anonymize IP addresses?

Under GDPR, IP addresses are considered personal data because they can identify a specific user. CookieHub anonymizes IP addresses to:

  • Reduce privacy risks
  • Comply with data protection laws
  • Prevent linking browsing activity to individual users

How CookieHub anonymizes IP addresses

CookieHub anonymizes IP addresses by partially masking or truncating them:

  • For IPv4 addresses, the last segment is replaced with a zero or removed.

    Example: 192.168.1.123 → 192.168.1.0

  • For IPv6 addresses, a similar approach is applied, truncating the last portion.

This method ensures that only general location data (region or country) can be detected, without revealing a user’s exact location or identity.

Where anonymization is applied

  • Consent logs: IP addresses stored in consent logs are anonymized to keep records of user consent while protecting privacy.
  • Analytics and tracking: Any IP-related data processed for non-security purposes is anonymized by default.

Exceptions for server logs

Full IP addresses may be temporarily retained in server logs for security purposes, such as:

  • Detecting and preventing malicious activity (e.g., DDoS attacks)
  • Performing security audits and investigations

These logs are kept only as long as necessary and then deleted according to CookieHub’s data retention policy.

Compliance with privacy laws

IP anonymization aligns with GDPR’s principle of data minimization, ensuring that personal data is processed only when necessary. This reduces privacy risks and supports compliance with global privacy regulations.

Benefits of IP anonymization

  • Enhanced privacy: Prevents IP addresses from being linked to individual users.
  • Regulatory compliance: Supports GDPR and similar data protection laws.
  • Balanced security: Maintains privacy while allowing essential security monitoring.