Comprehensive Guide to Hiding Your IP Address

                  Ensuring your safety online is a huge concern for many people today. Finding ways to ensure your safety when downloading content or performing other functions online is not hard to do, once you learn how to do it. If you are surfing the web, there is a possibility that you could open a malicious site and a hacker could take over your computer or use your data for all sorts of things. It could leave you with a huge mess and a lot of problems, so hiding your IP address is very important.

                  The idea behind hiding your IP address is to protect yourself from a wide variety of problems that may occur. There are a few ways to protect yourself, but there is no way to be 100 % sure that your information will not be compromised. Having as much security measures in place as possible can prevent many issues and help put your mind at ease when working online. Hiding your IP address is a great way to start protecting yourself from malicious hacks and data theft, and here’s how to do it.

What’s an IP Address?

                  IP stands for Internet Protocol and it is a number string that is received when connecting to the internet. It acts as an online signature and when you access a server, website, or network, your IP address is scanned.

                  There are several reasons why this is done. But it is most important that it is being used to record where you go on the internet. Therefore, it is easy for you to be tracked by the websites you visit, which was designed to create a better user experience. However, you can also be tracked by hackers.

Why Do People Hide Their IP?

                  Your IP address is your online signature and provides data regarding your computer, location, and other types of information. The string of numbers is not randomly selected, but instead act as a code to provide detailed information about your computer and your network.

                  The IP holds various types of information about the user. It includes information about your location, Internet Provider, and other important information that can be obtained by individuals that can use it to your detriment. It leaves your information open to hackers and cyber criminals.

                  Additionally, your IP address can be part of a Bit Torrent file distribution system, which means that your information is part of a huge list that can be distributed around the internet and used for various purposes. Have you ever noticed an ad about something that you just looked at online on another website? It is a marketer’s dream, because you are continually exposed to the same product that you were inquiring about.

                  If your IP address is left wide open, it won’t be hard for a skilled individual to use this address to track you down and learn a lot about you in no time at all. This is the main reason why many people choose to hide their IP Address. It has the potential to expose many things about you that can be used in various negative ways.

How to Hide Your IP Address?<

                  With a good idea of the dangers associated with an unprotected IP address, it is time to find some ways to hide it or change it, so that your information will not easily accessible. You can change your IP address and use a proxy to view blocked websites or hide your identity. If your IP address is static, you can ask your internet provider to change your IP address.

This is one of the easiest ways to better protect yourself, but although your activity will not be recorded at the same address, it won’t help you bypass geo-restrictions, which is used to protect access to various content online from certain locations. So, you can use proxy to open blocked sites. People open blocked sites using proxy, because there is no way to know the real location with a proxy. Therefore, sites that are blocked to certain countries can be seen when using a proxy. Plus, your IP may change every time youconnect to the internet, so it may not work to really protect your information.

                  Therefore, masking or hiding your IP address is usually the better option. Your IP address can use a Virtual Private network or an Anonymous Proxy Server to mask your location. Virtual Private Networks were designed essentially to do just this. It is a simple way to mask or hide your IP and reap the overall benefits associated with your safety and security.

What is a Virtual Private Network?

                  A Virtual Private Network or VPN is a private network with a lot of servers on it that are scattered around the world. The VPN provider has a set that is placed in different locations, so that when on the network, the location of the user cannot be identified and used for malicious purposes. When you connect to the internet via your VPN network, you are connected to one of these and this is the location that would read if a hacker was to try to obtain your location.

                  The VPN covers your entire connection, so that your location can be secured the entire time that you are on the internet. Additionally, the VPN encrypts the data and sends it through a secure tunnel, so that it will be more protected from cyber-attacks or hacking. Therefore, they can protect your actions online completely, so that what you are doing online cannot be tracked.

                  VPNs usually include a kill switch, so that if it breaks down, the connection is cut, so that you remain anonymous and safe. Therefore, it is a great way to access a safe and secure connection that is protected, even when the network itself may be compromised.

Hiding Your IP with a Proxy

                  Another great way to hide or mask your IP address is to use a proxy. This is not as effective as using a VPN but can help protect your safety and security online. Proxies are not as effective as the use of VPNs, because they do not cover the entire connection. The work with one software piece and may not encrypt the data. But, they offer an easier option for protecting your information and may prevent the slowing down of your network when using a VPN.

                  VPN’s encrypt all the data and that can slow down the speed of your network. A proxy doesn’t completely protect all your information, but it does hide your IP address and allow you to access content that is protected by location. It provides a quicker and easier method for masking your IP, but doesn’t fully protect your data, because it doesn’t encrypt it.

                  You can access a proxy website to gain access to the website of your choice. It will provide a layer of protection and is easy to use. However, many of the free proxy websites have a lot of traffic and that means that you will likely have to deal with tons of ads and may be subject to your browsing history being sold or stored.

                  There are ways to make  your internet searches more protected and to ensure that you are protecting your data online. These are the two most popular options to choose from and work to protect your IP address and information from being hacked or used for malicious purposes. These options can protect you from cyber-attacks and may ensure that information that you don’t want accessed stays hidden and safe.