# Visitor IP address anonymisation

Reduce the precision of visitor IP addresses when INSIDE saves visitor records.

*Release 3.3 · admin, visitor*

**Settings › General Settings › Admin**

## What it is

**Anonymize IP Addresses** reduces the precision of visitor IP addresses saved by INSIDE. It is a website-level option and is off by default. Powerfront can turn it on for you.

## Who uses it and why

Administrators request the setting when their organisation wants less precise visitor IP information retained. Visitors do not need to change a browser preference or take any action for the website setting to apply.

## Where to find it

Powerfront manages **Anonymize IP Addresses** under **Settings › General Settings › Admin**. There is no visitor-facing switch for this setting.

## How it works

When enabled, INSIDE reduces the IP address before saving visitor creation or update information.

- For IPv4, the final part of the address becomes zero.
- For IPv6, INSIDE keeps the first three colon-separated parts of the supplied text and appends a double colon.

The setting reduces address detail. It does not remove the visitor record, clear names or email addresses, or end a conversation.

## Configure it

Ask Powerfront to enable **Anonymize IP Addresses** for the website concerned. The default is **Off**.

If you also need older information addressed, include that requirement in your request. Turning on the switch does not start a documented bulk conversion of historical records.

### Settings

| Setting | Where | Applies to | Default | Who can change it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anonymize IP Addresses | Settings › General Settings › Admin | website | Off | Powerfront, on request | Reduces visitor IP address precision during visitor record creation and saved updates. |

## Limits and good to know

- The confirmed scope is saved visitor IP information. Do not assume the same rule applies to operator sign-in records, download activity or hosting logs.
- A full address may still be available during live request handling before visitor information is saved.
- IPv6 shortening depends on how the address was written. It is not a promise to retain a consistent fixed network prefix for every IPv6 representation.
- This setting does not restrict which networks operators may use to sign in. Operator access has separate controls.
- Reducing IP precision does not by itself anonymise all personal information associated with a visitor.

## Depends on and works with

### This feature uses

- **Configured in** Admin settings and feature switches (managed by Powerfront): Powerfront manages the website switch in Admin.

## FAQ and troubleshooting

### Why does a saved IPv4 address end in zero?

That is the expected reduction when **Anonymize IP Addresses** is enabled.

### Why can I still find an older full address?

The switch applies during visitor creation and saved updates. It does not provide a bulk historical conversion. Ask Powerfront to review the particular record and the scope of older data you need changed.

### Does this hide an operator's sign-in address?

No such coverage is established by this visitor setting. Operator access and security activity records are separate.

### Will it delete the visitor's name and email too?

No. Use the separate personal-data retention or deletion processes for those details.