What Does Hide My Ip Mean
Everyone on the internet has a public IP address. Every time you connect to the internet, youâre sharing that IP address with every website, app, and service you use.
But if you use a VPN proxy, websites, apps, and services will see the public IP address of the VPN proxy server instead of your personal device. This is what it means to âhide my IPâ or âchange my IPâ:
Websites, apps, and services may not even know that your IP address has been hidden or changed. From their perspective, you are simply an anonymous internet user.
Why Do You Need A VPN Service
Surfing the web or transacting on an unsecured Wi-Fi network means you could be exposing your private information and browsing habits. Thats why a virtual private network, better known as a VPN, should be a must for anyone concerned about their online security and privacy.
Think about all the times youve been on the go, reading emails while in line at the coffee shop, or checking your bank account while waiting at the doctors office. Unless you were logged into a private Wi-Fi network that requires a password, any data transmitted during your online session could be vulnerable to eavesdropping by strangers using the same network.
The encryption and anonymity that a VPN provides helps protect your online activities: sending emails, shopping online, or paying bills. VPNs also help keep your web browsing anonymous.
Ask Your Isp To Change Your Ip Address
Your ISP is the entity that decides who gets what IP address. So if you want to change your IP address for some reason, try giving them a call. Youll need your account information on hand, as well as your current IP address.
It shouldnt be too hard to get a different IP address, but dont expect it to stay the same forever. Because IP addresses are constantly being recycled in order to preserve the limited number of available IP addresses, your IP address will probably change once in a while. These are called dynamic IP addresses.
You could request a static IP address that never changes, but there might be an application process and an extra fee.
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Your Entire Online Identity
Remaining anonymous is the dream for anyone online. Unfortunately, it isnt 100% possible.
Cybercriminals and intelligence agencies use complex methods to get to your valuable data. This includes browser fingerprinting, background scripts, and other wicked measures. A VPN cant do anything against this.
How much and what you share online also plays an important role. A VPN can never revert the information you post on social media.
Pro Tip: Think through what you post or share online. Its better to set some boundaries, so check your privacy settings. Toggle off all unnecessary boxes or any icon you think could invade your privacy.
How Many Devices Can Connect To The VPN At Once
Think of how many devices in your home connect to the internet. You have your laptops, tablets, smart phones, and voice assistants. You might even have smart appliances that access the web.
Thats why its important to work with a VPN provider that allows several devices to connect to it at one time. That way, you can have both your laptop and your childrens tablets routed through a VPN at the same time.
Some VPN providers might offer different plans that allow for a higher or lower number of simultaneous connections. In general, you can expect to pay more for a greater number of connections. Top providers allow you to connect 10 or more devices simultaneously.
Number of simultaneous VPN connections:
- Norton Secure VPN 1, 5 or 10 based on plan level
- PureVPN 5
- Tunnel Bear 5
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When Should I Choose Either Dynamic Or Static Ip
Every device connected to the public internet is assigned an IP address. It’s like a phone number for each device. To be able to connect to the internet, each device needs such an address.
The term “dynamic IP address” means that when a device connects to the internet, it’s given an IP address taken from a pool of available addresses. While it’s possible to get the same IP address on multiple connections, generally, each time you connect, you’ll get a different address.
If you want to hide your address from the web applications you’re connecting to you’ll want a VPN service that provides dynamic IP addresses. In our directory, we list the number of IP addresses each service offers. By using a service with more available IP addresses, the chances of you getting a repeated IP are quite small.
There are some minor disadvantages to using a dynamic IP. If someone who previously had the IP address you’ve been assigned did something nefarious on a service you use, the IP address might be banned. Usually, VPN providers are cautious about checking their IP addresses against blacklists, so the chances of this being a problem for you are slim.
Unless you have a specific application that you know needs a static IP, you’ll want to be assigned a new dynamic IP address for each VPN session you initiate.
Does A VPN Hide Your Account Activity
No, VPNs cant stop sites from seeing what you do when youre logged into your accounts. For instance, if you log into your Reddit account while using a UK VPN server, the only thing that will be different will be that Reddit will think youre connecting from the UK.
Other than that, the site can still see how you use the account. Plus, it can identify you thanks to cookies.
The only way a VPN can hide some of your account data is if you use a throwaway email to create a fake account. That way, the site cant tie it to your IP address since a VPN hides it. Or, you know, dont create an account to begin with.
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Advantage : Bypass Geographical Restrictions
Its not just countries that impose restrictions on the internet. Some online services also restrict access to their content in certain regions. This happens with streaming services that only have broadcasting rights in certain countries and not in others.
If you are on holiday or you moved to a different country, you might be unable to view your usual streams. A VPN will also enable you to connect to the internet via servers in your home country, so you can watch your favorite show or access blocked websites again. It also works the other way around: if you want to gain access to websites or streaming services from a different country , you can do so with a VPN.
Hide My Ip = Restore My Freedom
Knowing your public IP address allows websites, apps, and services to control your experience based on where or who they think you are. But if you can change your IP address, you can enjoy whatever experience you want.
Other parties along your connection, like your Wi-Fi network operator, internet service provider, or even government agencies, can also use your IP address to block, redirect, and censor your web activity. Proxying your traffic through a VPN with a different IP address allows you to defeat censorship and restore your freedom.
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How Does VPN Work
Let’s start with the basic idea of internet communication. Suppose you’re at your desk and you want to access a website like ZDNet. To do this, your computer initiates a request by sending some packets. If you’re in an office, those packets often travel through switches and routers on your LAN before they are transferred to the public internet through a router.
Once on the public internet, those packets travel through a bunch of computers. A separate request is made to a series of name servers to translate the DNS name ZDNet.com to an IP address. That information is sent back to your browser, which then sends the request again through many computers on the public internet. Eventually, it reaches the ZDNet infrastructure, which also routes those packets, grabs a web page , and sends all that back to you.
Each internet request usually results in a whole series of communication events between multiple points. The way a VPN works is by encrypting those packets at the originating point, often hiding the data and the information about your originating IP address. The VPN software on your end then sends those packets to the VPN server at some destination point, decrypting that information.
One of the most important issues in understanding the limits of VPNs is understanding where the endpoint of the VPN server resides. We’ll talk about that next.
Does A VPN Hide Your Phone Location
Not really. Sure, a VPN can hide your phones IP to hide its geo-location. But even then, there are still plenty of ways to track your phones location:
- WiFi networks that are in range.
- Cellular towers.
- GPS sensors and data.
Maybe you could spoof the GPS data with some apps, but theres not much you can do about the WiFi networks and cellular towers.
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Can I Use A VPN To Watch Netflix/hulu/youtube/other Streaming Content From Another Country
In most cases, yes. Streaming websites such as Netflix and Hulu geo-lock some of their content to specific countries. However, the geo-lock is simply limited to IP addresses associated with that country.
Many VPNs will allow you to choose which country you wish to run your IP address from. This is usually as simple and straightforward as selecting the country you wish to appear to be browsing from via a dropdown menu.
Does The VPN Block Ads
Pop-up ads can be annoying and dangerous. They can slow your browsing speeds and clutter your screen when youre trying to watch videos or read a blog post. Even worse, cybercriminals often use pop-up ads if you click on them to infect your computer with malware.
Thats why ad blockers are so important: They help to keep these ads from showing up on your screen when youre surfing the web. This can improve speed web pages load faster when theyre not bogged down with ads and help keep your devices safe from ads littered with malware.
You want a VPN service that blocks ads, then. Again, most paid services will do this. And you can see that each VPN provider in our list does block ads.
Does the VPN block ads?
- Norton Secure VPN no
- Tunnel Bear yes
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Is A VPN Really That Secure
Its important to remember that VPNs do not work in the same way as comprehensive anti-virus software. While they will protect your IP and encrypt your internet history, but that is as much as they can do. They wont keep you safe, for instance, if you visit phishing websites or download compromised files.
When you use a VPN, you are still at risk of:
- Trojans
- Spyware
- Viruses
If any of these were to make it onto your system, they would be able to damage the device regardless of whether you were running a VPN. Therefore, it is essential to use a VPN in tandem with comprehensive anti-virus software to guarantee maximum security.
Do All VPN Hide Ip Address
You are not only protected from IP address changes but also from physical location changes with a VPN. Additionally, you wont have to worry about strangers monitoring your online activity since a VPN will keep your information a secret. In a case where a hacker attempts to find you, all they will be able to tell if you were infected with virus is the IP address and physical location of your connection.
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What Does It Mean When A VPN Service Talks About Server Switching
As we mentioned in the previous section, you’re usually assigned a dynamic IP address from a pool of addresses when you connect to a VPN service. But where are those addresses located? They’re attached to servers located, usually, throughout the world.
Most VPN services allow you to connect to server locations in many different countries. In our VPN directory, we list both the number of servers the service maintains and the number of countries. By default, you’ll usually be assigned a server located in your home country. Still, if you want to obfuscate your location, you may want to connect to a server located in a different country.
Server switching is a feature — offered by most VPN service providers — that allows you to change what region or country you’re going to connect to. Most providers allow you to switch as often as you’d like . This may be useful if you’re trying to hide your location or if you’re running into some communications glitches on the server you’re currently using…
There Are Plenty Of Good Reasons Not To Share Your Ip Address With The World Including Privacy Security And Safety Concerns Follow Our Advice To Keep Yours A Secret
We are all individuals worthy of love, but we are also numbers. Consider: When you were born, you were given a name and a social security number. When you got a car, you earned a driver’s license number. And when you get online, you receive an IP address. Most of us try to keep these numbers private to protect our privacy, but your IP address is distressingly public, by default. There are many ways to hide or change this number, such as using a VPN, and it’s much easier to do than you might think.
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Why Should You Use A VPN Connection
Your ISP usually sets up your connection when you connect to the internet. It tracks you via an IP address. Your network traffic is routed through your ISP’s servers, which can log and display everything you do online.
Your ISP may seem trustworthy, but it may share your browsing history with advertisers, the police or government, and/or other third parties. ISPs can also fall victim to attacks by cyber criminals: If they are hacked, your personal and private data can be compromised.
This is especially important if you regularly connect to public Wi-Fi networks. You never know who might be monitoring your internet traffic and what they might steal from you, including passwords, personal data, payment information, or even your entire identity.
Your Search History And Online Activity
VPNs hide your search and browsing history from your ISP, the government, hackers, and other nosy entities. Thats due to the encrypted nature of the connection its virtually uncrackable and doesnt allow anyone to pry on the contents of your internet traffic.
VPNs cannot, however, prevent search engines like Google and Bing from monitoring your search history. If youre logged on to Chrome, Google can still track user behavior connected to your account. Depending on your , it might assume youre in a different location but thats about it.
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How A VPN Offers Online Security Privacy And Anonymity
Your online privacy, security, and anonymity revolve around the traceability of your real IP address.
As long as IP is traceable, your security, privacy, and anonymity cant be ensured.
A Good VPN simply hides your real IP address and generates a virtual IP of the VPN server.
The person tracing that virtual IP will end up at the VPN servers location, not at your location.
VPN changes your location according to your need.
A good VPN Encrypts your data through 256 bit-encryption, which is of Military Grade.
It is nearly impossible for a random guy to read the data.
All these features offer online Privacy, Security, and Anonymity to a VPN user.
Number Of Locations And Countries For Servers
Paid VPN providers will offer servers in several different countries. As an example, Norton Secure VPN has servers in 31 different countries.
Why does this matter? Having servers in different countries offers you more flexibility and could boost your connection speed. Usually, your internet speed will be greater if you are connecting to a server that is closer to you. When you choose a VPN provider, then, it makes sense to select one that has servers in your country.
There might be times when you want to connect to a server outside of your country. Maybe you live in a part of the world where the government censors the internet. By connecting to a VPN based in a country without this censorship, you can browse the web more freely. Even so, it might be smart to adhere to a particular governments regulations and laws.
Or maybe you want to access online content that is only available in a country other than yours. If you connect through a server outside your country, the providers of this content wont see that your actual IP address is coming from your home country. Keep in mind, though, you may be violating your user agreement of your content service.
Again, there is no right number of countries or locations for a VPN service. Instead, look for services that offer a large number of locations in a variety of countries. This will give you the most flexibility.
Number of server countries/locations compared:
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What Will VPN Hide Your History From
Ordinarily, when you go online, your internet service provider provides your connection. It keeps track of you via an IP address. Your web traffic passes through your ISPs servers they can log and see everything you do online.
Your ISP may seem trustworthy, but they could be handing your browsing history over to advertisers, the police or government, and other third-parties. Your ISP is also open to breaches: if they get hacked, your personal and private data could be compromised.
This is especially worth considering if you regularly connect to public Wi-Fi networks. You never know who could be watching your internet traffic from the other side and potentially stealing from you passwords, personal data, payment information, and even your whole identity.