Why Should I Hide My IP Address?
When it comes to browsing the internet, it’s important to take care of your private data and stay anonymous. When you are surfing the internet, you are given an IP. Your IP is used to track and provide all information about a computer that is linked to the web.
The information tracked includes your country location, state, region and even a city or town you live. Your IP will track not only your location but also your online activities such as what sites you are visiting while surfing the internet.
As an internet user, you may not be so happy to have your private information available to anyone in the world. Therefore the best way to protect this information and keep anonymous on the internet is to hide my IP address. Even if you aren’t up to anything that is illegal, you may want to be protected online. There are some reasons why you should hide your IP address:
Your IP will track not only your location but also your online activities such as what sites are you visiting while surfing the internet. As an internet user, you may not be so happy to have your private information available to anyone in the world. Therefore the best way to protect this information and keep anonymous on the internet is to hide your IP address. Even if you aren’t up to anything that is illegal, you may want to be protected online. There are some reasons why you should hide your IP address:
- On a public internet network in a cafe, library, restaurant or hotel. Your data is very readily available by any third party. This can cause serious security problems. Or you can be attacked by advertisers since your data may be sold to anyone who would be keen to pay for it.
- At school or work where the organization has restricted access to some websites or content. The most common ones are Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and other social media sites that you like to visit. By switching your IP, you will be able to unblock those sites in case of any blockages or restrictions.
- Hiding IP allows you to unblock content from other areas. If you travel abroad and you wish to access content from another country that is unavailable in your current location, then changing IP is the best solution. For example, if you are abroad and access Netflix in the USA then you can use a VPN service to change your IP and access Netflix collection from home.
- Use torrents to download movies and tv-shows online. In some countries, it’s fully illegal. Therefore it’s better to hide IP and make sure you are secure when torrenting.
- Don’t like to be continuously monitored? Wish to avoid the online censorship? You are all up for freedom on the net.
There are many reasons to hide your IP. Whether it is to take care of your internet security or access content online, you can choose the most suitable way to do it.
How To Hide My IP Address
This is another viral question that our users ask. There are few ways how you can protect and hide your IP address. Keeping your IP private is simple. However, to pick the right option for you, you will need to identify what is your primary function online. If your primary purpose is to browse websites and you would like to protect your IP and gain privacy, then we recommend trying an anonymous proxy. However, if you intend using other applications apart from surfing the web, then a VPN service is the best tool for you.
If your primary purpose is to unblock websites, then we recommend trying an anonymous proxy. However, if you intend to protect your IP and gain privacy, then a VPN service is the best tool for you.
An anonymous proxy works as a middle man between you and the website you access. It lets you access sites that otherwise you wouldn’t be able to access. Once you have found a proxy service that you trust, it is straightforward to use. Just navigate to the proxy site that you have found, it works as a separate portal to access other web pages online. While surfing the web using the proxy service, it makes sure to routes all your traffic through the proxy system, which means that all your connections and IPs are now masked leading to the proxy servers instead of coming from you.
Once you have found a proxy service that you trust, it is straightforward to use. Just navigate to the proxy site that you have found, it works as a separate portal to access other web pages online. While surfing the web using the proxy service, it makes sure to routes all your traffic through the proxy system. That means that all your connections and IPs are now leading to the proxy servers instead of coming from you.
On the other hand, VPN service is an entirely different beast. VPN also was known as Virtual Private Network. It works as a virtual network connection between your device and other remote “virtual” network. Once you connect to the VPN, you are entitled with a new IP from the virtual network. Your new IP now is not anymore associated with your ISP, but with a VPN service provider.
VPN service also works as an adapter for your internet traffic, it routes it through the virtual network and then back to your device. Most of the best VPNs for hiding IPs have servers all around the world, and it can make you appear to be in another part of the world virtually.
Your new IP now is not anymore associated with your ISP, but with a VPN service provider. VPN service also works as an adapter for your internet traffic. It routes internet traffic through the virtual network and then back to your device.
Most of the best VPNs for hiding IPs have servers all around the world. Moreover, it can make you appear to be in another part of the world virtually.
VPN service is the best way to protect your IP address and your online identity.
The best VPNs offer following features:
- Servers in locations all over the world.
- It has an excellent reputation.
- It provides thousands of IPs.
- Offers fast encrypted connection.
- Has a software for OS like Windows, Linux, and Mac iOS.
- Has mobile apps for Android devices and the iPhone, iPad & iPod.
- Allows file sharing so that you can stream and download torrents anonymously.
- Offers excellent customer support and technical help.
- Provide a free trials or money back guarantee.
Disadvantages of VPN to hide your IP address
Both, the VPN and proxy, will protect your online identity by hiding your IP. It is a great thing for your anonymity while surfing the web. However, both of these services have some disadvantages too.
One of the main drawbacks is that while sending your traffic through a remote computer system, it may reduce your connection performance. This may not be so apparent and important when surfing regular websites. However, it is more obvious and can even get annoying when using intensive media sites. You can experience severe latency issues.
You can experience severe latency issues. Most of the time latency issues happen when you have officially based far away from a place where you connect. For example, if you live in the UK and wish to unblock sites and services from the USA, then it may experience more severe latency and affect the quality of the service. The best way to avoid latency issues is to get a reliable VPN service. Important to have many server locations and different IP addresses.
How to check your IP
Now that you know what some of the advantages and disadvantages of using a VPN to hide your IP address are, you can test if your newly acquired VPN software does a good job.
IP lookup tools can identify following IP information: City, State or Region, Postal or Zip Code, Country, Country Code, Time Zone and the ISP. IP Lookup tools don’t provide information about one’s physical mailing address. The most you get is an actual city of the IP holder. Only ISP would know the physical mailing address, but without some legal document forcing the ISP to provide such information, it wouldn’t give out its users personal information.
You can test if your VPN works by clicking here. Verify your IP without a VPN connection. And try again after you have connected to a VPN server in another location.
Unfortunately, none of the IP lookup tools are 100% correct. There are many factors to consider when searching for your address. A few factors that come into place when checking your IP address includes where the owner of the IP is registered. Also, where is the agency that provides the IP located, cellular IPs and other things.
Conclusion
When you use the internet regularly, you are constantly at risk to be spied on or hacked. Hackers and third parties can easily access your data. They may want to take advantage of your private data. To make sure you are safe, secure and anonymous, choose a top IP changer. After you will never need to worry about your internet privacy. It is the easy way, the best way to stay safe and secure while hiding your IP from prying eyes.
If you do have any other questions on how to hide my IP address, you may contact us here.
Author: Inga
I’m a freelance writer living in Canada. Highly interested in topics on technology, online surveillance, and censorship. Love traveling and outdoor activities.