It’s understandable that so many people are looking for methods to conceal their IP address in an age where news stories about hackers hacking into business and personal networks, websites monitoring online consumer activity, and other types of digital espionage and intrusion are frequent. But if you don’t know much about the internet, all this talk of hackers, cybercriminals, tracking, and IP addresses could make you anxious whenever you use the internet.
But don’t be concerned; there is a simple solution to increase your security and conceal your digital imprint from nosy people, and it isn’t as challenging as you may imagine. Both an advanced degree in computer coding and the installation of pricey programs on every device are not requirements.Simply learn how to conceal your IP address.
What is an IP Address?
The mechanism that makes it possible for data to travel across the internet is called Internet Protocol, or IP for short. The address assigned to a particular internet-connected device is referred to as its IP address. Every single internet-connected device, including desktop computers, smartphones, laptops, and tablets, has a special IP address.
The address of a device used to connect to the internet is used by Internet Protocol to determine where to transmit and receive data from. Yes, this activity is frequently monitored. Because of this, when you search for something like “kitchen tables,” immediately adverts for kitchen table businesses appear on other websites you visit.
Receiving customized advertising isn’t all that bad, and it might even improve your browsing experience. However, it’s not the major motivation for most people to learn how to disguise their IP address.
Learn what an IP address is, why it’s important, and how to secure it from hackers by watching the video below:
Reasons you might want to know how to hide your IP address
Not too long ago, the primary motivation for people to conceal their IP addresses was to enable them to download movies and music without being detected by websites that keep track of such activities. However, as time went on, many people came to understand that there are a lot more significant reasons to learn how to mask an IP address.
1. keep your physical address private
Using your IP address, a skilled hacker or cyber thief might be able to determine your general location or even your precise home address. This information is typically not accessible to just anybody; in fact, you typically need a court order to obtain it. However, it might be possible for someone to obtain a physical address unlawfully by using sophisticated IP lookup tools.
2. Avoid geographic restrictions
Many nations apply strict internet censorship policies that restrict the websites that can be accessed. One illustration of this is China. Other nations censor content with copyright that was created abroad. Videos from Netflix or YouTube that are accessible in the United States, for instance, could not be accessible in Germany or Ireland. By hiding your IP address, you may be able to deceive the servers into believing that you are genuinely accessing the internet from a different country and getting around the blocks.
3. Keep your searches private
You probably don’t want total strangers and unidentified companies looking through your search history either if you don’t want friends or other family members to. Major search engines like Google and Yahoo! automatically keep track of each and every search term you type in addition to the websites you visit, links you click, how long you spend on a particular web page, etc.
You can prevent the search engines from associating any searches you conduct with your specific IP address when you discover how to disguise your IP. You can take additional precautions by using the private browsing function that the majority of modern browsers provide.
If you frequently perform private and sensitive research for a certain vocation, such as law enforcement or investigative journalism, keeping your searches and internet activities private is particularly crucial.
How to hide your IP address
You can select between essentially two techniques to conceal your IP address. The other uses a virtual private network, while the former uses a proxy server (VPN). Either one will be adequate, but for many, VPNs are a better option due to a few drawbacks associated with proxy servers.
What is a proxy server?
Think of how the internet might flow along key thoroughfares. Consider starting a Google search as an example. Your journey will begin there. Your data travels along a path after you click a link in a search result until it reaches its next destination—the link you just clicked. This keeps happening until the session in which you are surfing comes to an end.
Different servers are used to route the data as it moves from one location to another. Think of them as a sort of internet checkpoint. Every server records both your IP address and your activities. As a result, numerous servers, websites, and other businesses keep a detailed record of your online activities. Read more about how to hide your IP Address in 2022