Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Every Internet’s description should begin with these words. Sure, the Web provides us with instant access to information, and it’s hard to mention all its advantages. Nevertheless, it took one significant thing from us – our anonymity.
That is, of course, unless you hide your IP address. You’ve probably heard about it, but if you don’t exactly know what it is, a little explanation first. In a nutshell, Internet Protocol (IP) is a unique address used to identify your device and location every time you log into the Internet.
It doesn’t sound so bad, you say? Well, what if we told you that your IP address could be used to track you and block you from region-locked content? A little bit unjust, to say the least. Fortunately, there are many ways to hide your IP address. You’ll find them all in the guide below.
Why Hide Your Real IP Address?
Okay, but before we get to the main point of the article, let’s discuss why you should even consider hiding your IP address. There are actually plenty of reasons for doing it, more on that below.
First of all, it increases your online security and hides your sensitive data. Bear in mind that the number of cyber threats is constantly growing, and with your IP hidden, you can significantly lower the risk of a hacker attack.
Combine it with other defense solutions, like the one from www.bulletproof.co.uk, to make sure you stay safe when going online.
The second reason for hiding your IP address is that it will ensure you stay anonymous when browsing the Web. It may come in handy, especially when you enter the “gray” area of the Internet.
It will also prevent sites and third parties from collecting your information, ensuring you won’t be bombarded with targeted ads and content.
And last but not least, once you hide your IP address, you’ll get access to new online possibilities. Getting anonymity will allow you to bypass geographical and government blockades.
That means that with your real IP address hidden, you’ll be able to unblock streaming content and sites originally unavailable in your location.
Ways to Hide/Change Your IP Address
Now that you know why you should want to hide your IP address, let’s find out more about how you can do it. Basically, there are three main ways to make it happen; you can either:
Use a VPN
Use a Tor Browser
Use a Web Proxy
All of them have their pros and cons, which we’re going to discuss further below.
VPN
Using a VPN, which stands for a virtual private network, is the best and safest way to hide your IP address. A reliable VPN service will provide you with security, privacy, and user-friendliness, all for a reasonable price. But let’s talk more about what a VPN is exactly.
In a nutshell, it’s a software that encrypts your online data and sends it through a VPN server located somewhere else. As a result, it changes your real IP address to the server’s one.
But that’s not all. A VPN will also provide you with a wide range of other online security improvements.
Check out the lists of best VPN services and find out how you can enhance your Internet experience.
Tor Network
The Onion Router, otherwise known as Tor, is a worldwide network that runs data through multiple servers to ensure privacy. Every time you connect to the Internet using Tor, it encrypts your traffic and hides your IP, giving you the anonymity you seek.
But while the Tor network is a useful tool, it has some drawbacks that make it less appealing than a VPN. First of all, it requires you to use the Tor Browser to access the network.
Secondly, since it sends your data through various servers, The Onion Router network can be slow. That makes it unsuitable for streaming or torrenting.
Web Proxy Server
Web Proxy works similarly to a VPN. It acts as a middleman between your device and the Internet connection. Web Proxy removes your IP address and replaces it with the server’s one so that websites can’t track your real IP.
It sounds almost like a copy of using a VPN server, but Proxy comes with many more disadvantages. First of all, it doesn’t provide you with the same online defense level, leaving you exposed to various cyber threats.
Secondly, it makes your connection much slower, so forget about using Proxy when streaming movies or downloading files.
Bottom Line
As you can see, there are many reasons why you should mask your IP address. Doing that will make your Internet experience much better, ensuring you protect your privacy.
What’s more, masking your IP address is incredibly easy, and there are many ways to do it. You can either use a Proxy Server, the Tor Browser, or a VPN. And while all of them have their pros and cons, the best way to gain secure and private internet access is getting a reliable VPN.
It will ensure you stay safe and anonymous every time you’re connected to the Internet and also will unlock completely new possibilities for you.
