How to hide your IP address (and why you might want to)

What is an IP address?

“IP” stands for “internet protocol.” An IP address is a unique string of numbers that help identify a device. Any device that can connect to the Internet gets its own IP address—this includes computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, or even your Xbox. Your IP address reveals your location, including your ZIP code, city, or the area code of your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Any time you view something online, your IP address is shared with the website.

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What can somebody do with your IP address?

Again, the only thing that your IP address will share is your location. However, your IP address is important to:

• Marketers, who want to use your location to advertise products or services specific to your area
• Law enforcement, who may use IP addresses to locate criminals or build a case against them
• Employers, who may use your IP address to track your online activity
• Cybercriminals, who can hack into your devices if they have your IP address

The list goes on. There are dozens of third-party groups who may want to track your IP address and use the information that comes with it.

How to hide your IP address

There are three main ways Internet users choose to hide their IP address.

VPN services

A VPN (virtual private network) is a popular and easy way to hide your IP address. VPN services allow you to access the web through a secure private network connection. This essential security tool encrypts your data, making it extremely difficult for third parties to track your online activity.

VPNs work by redirecting your Internet traffic through a VPN-owned server, which encrypts your information and sends it off to the internet. Incoming data also must pass through encryption before it arrives at your device. Because of this intense encryption, your real IP address will not be discoverable.

It’s difficult to find a completely free VPN, and the ones that are free are usually selling your data, which defeats the point of using a VPN. For this reason, it’s better to pay for a VPN that guarantees complete online anonymity. Typically, VPNs will cost $3 to $25 per month.

Anonymous web browsers

Your web browser is what enables you to search the Internet, so choosing an anonymous web browser is a simple way to hide your IP address. Anonymous web browsers are different from using incognito mode or private browsing mode. However, when you use incognito mode or private browsing mode, your IP address will still be visible.

Anonymous web browsers like Tor are different in that they encrypt your traffic by sending it through multiple random servers, making your search history and IP address completely hidden. Luckily, anonymous web browsers like Tor are free to download and use.

Proxy servers

Using a proxy server is another technique to hide your IP address, although most prefer using an anonymous web browser or VPN over a proxy server. A proxy server is a web server that acts as a middleman between the server that hosts the website you are trying to visit and your Internet-connected device. This system conceals your IP address by making it seem like your Internet activity is coming from somewhere else. However, a proxy server does not encrypt your information, it only hides your IP address. This makes proxy servers the least secure option compared to VPNs or anonymous web browsers.

There are free proxy servers out there, but they can be slow and unreliable since so many people are using them. Free proxy servers may also sell your information to third parties, so they should be avoided. It’s better to pay for a proxy server instead—paid proxy servers are much faster and more reliable. Proxy servers are generally more affordable than VPNs and only cost around $2 to $4 per month.

You deserve privacy while browsing the Internet. Now that you’ve discovered different ways to hide your IP address, you can surf the web with confidence.