If I understand correctly, when I connect to my ISP, I’m given an IP that can identify me. Is the same true for a VPN? Does it depend on the VPN service I’m using?
This depends on the service.
Some offer dedicated IPs and others offer shared IPs. Some offer a dedicated IP that you will keep over a long period of time.
The most common type is the shared IP model.
Almost all VPN providers put you behind a common IP which is shared between 1000s of other users.
The advantage is simple. You cannot be singled out in the pack.
If your providers do not keep track of your connect and disconnect times, then its even better. There is just no way to tell who you are in the pack.
Of course, the downside is, Hulu and other providers can easily ban one of these IP addresses and all the users will be banned from watching Hulu behind the common IP. In this case, you will have to go for a dedicated IP.
the difference is while on a VPN your temporary IP is known to be part of a shared network, sort of like a business with 1,000 cubicle computers, and every time you reconnect through that VPN provider your temporary IP will change.
most VPNs are providing shared IP addresses. this means more users are connecting on same servers in the same time. if it’s not specified the ip address type, its most certainly shared.
Yes if it’s ipv4. Ipv4 has a diminishing address space and a vpn provider will serve private ip addresses to it’s clients.