How You Can Hide Your IP Address on Any Device
Do you want to hide your IP address, location and identity from websites, hackers, and other potentially malicious third parties? Read on! VPNs or Virtual Private Networks can help you do just that.
The IP (Internet Protocol) address is a code that identifies a device on the internet or local network. When two devices, routers, or websites are identified, only then can information be sent and received between them via the internet.
Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) gives your device an IP address when you browse the internet. An IP address is specific to the device and is expressed as a string of numbers separated by periods. It identifies your network provider. It does not reveal your exact location but only the city you live in.
Websites track the IP addresses of all their visitors and use them for targeted advertising. And when hackers or malicious third parties track down your IP address, they can easily narrow down your exact location and even your identity. There are many different methods to hide your identity online. But using a VPN to do it is probably the easiest way to do so. A good VPN is your best solution, whether you want to enjoy browsing without being targeted for ads or simply hate being tracked.
Why Do You Need to Hide Your IP Address?
To Avoid Being Tracked and Targeted
You will not leave any digital footprints behind when you access the internet using a VPN. Your digital footprint is one way for advertisers and hackers to identify and track you. Whether it is to show you a personalized ad or to snoop and steal your personal data, both are easy to accomplish, even when they only have access to your IP address.
Targeted ads seem innocuous, but they can dramatically slow down your internet connection and significantly disrupt your browsing experience. This invasiveness can be easily avoided by using a VPN. With a VPN, ISPs, government agencies, digital marketers, nor hackers can gain access to your actual IP address.
Some of the best VPN services have strong encryption protocols and no-logs policies. These features are sure to keep your internet traffic and data secure.
To Securely Access your Local Network of Another Country
Geo-blocking has become incredibly popular across streaming platforms, and it gatekeeps content from international audiences. Educational institutions often limit access to their resources as well.
One of the easiest ways to access your content securely is to use a VPN service. You can use a VPN in order to connect to a country of your choice via the VPN secure server.
To Work Remotely
With many workplaces all over the world going remote, the need for a VPN service has increased exponentially.
A VPN can make it easier for remote employees to connect to their workplace server. This will allow them to access the internal company network and resources from out of the office. Using a remote secure server via a reliable VPN service is highly recommended especially when accessing the Internet vie free WiFi.
To Use Public WiFi Safely
Public WiFi networks—even those that are password-protected—are not entirely safe. When dozens, or even hundreds of users in the area access the same public network, all data from all parties are vulnerable to hackers and malware.
However, public WiFi networks are incredibly convenient, and it would not be practical to advise everyone to avoid them entirely.
You can keep your data secure when you access public networks using a VPN. The VPN will encrypt your data and disguise your IP, so your device bypasses the public WiFi ISP.
Connecting your computer or mobile device to a VPN comes with many benefits, and you should integrate it into your daily browsing habits.
How Does a VPN Work?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows its users to hide their information and secure their network whenever they go online. It essentially takes all your data and routes it through an encrypted virtual tunnel to keep your data private and inaccessible to other parties.
When you use a VPN to disguise your IP address, parties outside the private network will see another IP address from a location of your choice. This makes it appear as if you are browsing from a different city or even country.
So if you don’t want a website, hacker, or even your own ISP to track your online activity, the solution is simple: change your IP address using a VPN.
How to Hide Your IP Address in 3 Easy Steps
- To begin, connect your device to a VPN provider.
- Connect to a server location of your choice. This will change your IP address and disguise it to make it look like you are browsing from somewhere else. In this case, the city or country of your choice.
- You’re now ready to browse the internet with your false IP address. You can browse all websites that are accessible from your country of choice and change your IP address whenever you want!