Why hide ip

A proxy sits in front of a client or network of clients, forwarding requests while also receiving and delivering responses from servers. Proxy servers, especially free web-based proxies, tend to be less reliable than VPNs. Some proxy servers can mask your IP address with a fake one. High anonymity or elite proxies hide both your IP address as well as your use of a proxy. Among other sensitive info, your IP can reveal your shopping and buying habits as well as your physical location.

So why hide your IP? Advertisers and marketers can track you across the internet and analyze your browsing habits with the goal of marketing to you more effectively. To take private internet browsing to the next level, consider a dedicated private browser like Avast Secure Browser. It includes a range of advanced anti-tracking features to let you use the internet without leaving any clues behind that companies and individuals can use to follow your activity. Hide your IP address behind another IP in a different part of the world and no one will know where you really are.

This includes websites and services that host geo-restricted content. Many IP addresses are linked to a real-world address, or at least to a general location. The same goes for Tor. Just like skinning a cat, there are a few different ways to hide your IP address, a process also known as IP masking.

It is not currently available for iOS devices. However, proxy servers have the advantage of being free, typically, while most VPNs cost money. FYI: The reason proxy servers are free is usually because they sell user data, making VPNs a better choice for privacy. This method is by far the least effective, but you can technically hide your IP address by joining a public Wi-Fi network. Here are some other reasons why someone would want to hide their IP address:.

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Best Android Phones. Browse All News Articles. Prey Predator Prequel Hulu. Window 11 SE Downgrade. Evading government censorship — Certain governments monitor and censor the online activities of their citizens. This data may be used against you in an attempt to prove anti-government sentiments and lead to criminal charges or worse. A way around this practice is to hide IP addresses whenever you go online. Protection from hackers — Just as your ISP, search engines, and governments can follow you around by using your IP address, so can hackers.

These nefarious entities may not just want to monitor your movements and may be able to learn your identity and location through the IP address. This opens you up to potential malware and other types of digital attacks. Using public WiFi safely — Free WiFi is everywhere these days and can be very attractive to users on the go or individuals who might not have their own WiFi network at home.

While it sounds great, using free WiFi without hiding your IP address can be a recipe for disaster. Free and unsecured WiFi networks are notorious for enabling hackers to compromise the data of unsuspecting users.

Accessing geo-blocked content — There are restrictions enforced in many geographic locations regarding the streaming or downloading services that you can access. In some cases, this is due to the enforcement of copyright laws that are intended to prevent you from accessing a site that provides torrents with which to download media content.

Hiding your IP address can get you around these blockades and allow you to access any site on the Internet. Bypassing organizational online restrictions — Your workplace or school may restrict access to sites when you are using their network and IP address. If you can hide IP addresses you can get around these types of limitations. There are some pros and cons related to each of these methods to hide IP addresses.

We will now take a closer look at each one. It is one of the most popular methods of maintaining your online privacy. When you are using VPN service you can spoof your IP address to appear as if you are located anywhere in the world.