If you are connected to the internet, you have an internet protocol (IP) address. But what does your IP address reveal about you or your business and is it something you should conceal? There are many reasons an individual or business may want to hide their IP address, privacy being the main one. Read on to learn more about what IP addresses reveal (and what they don’t) as well as four easy ways to hide them.
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What Is an IP Address?
Every device that connects to the internet will have an IP address. An IP address is a string of numbers that is used to recognize a device when it connects to the internet.
There are two types of IP addresses: public and private.
A public IP address is the address that an internet service provider (ISP) assigns to a router. A private IP address is the number your router assigns to your specific device. A private IP address is used internally. It is how the devices on the private network communicate with each other.
A public IP address can reveal some information about who is behind the device—namely, their geolocation and information about your ISP. A private IP address is not available publicly (as the name suggests) and you can find your private IP address by accessing settings on your particular device.
While an IP address will not identify the exact location of a user, it can reveal someone’s general area code or ZIP code.
IP addresses are a necessary part of how your device communicates with other devices and websites online. To locate your public IP address, you can simply type “What’s my IP address?” into Google. The public IP address is divided into four sections of numbers, with each section going up to 255. However, your IP address is not a fixed number. It changes based on your location.
For example, your public IP address is how Google knows where you’re located and to display local restaurants when you search for places to eat out. Search engines will also deliver location-specific search results including advertisements. For some people, this can be an invasion of privacy. They do not want a search engine and websites to know their general location and will choose to hide their IP address for this reason. There are several other reasons an individual or business may want to hide their IP address.
Every single device that connects to the internet, from computers, mobile phones and printers, will have an IP address. An IP address is a unique identifier but it alone is not enough information for an external source to find someone’s identity. However, when pieced together with other information it can be used to help track an individual. A person’s ISP, however, does know your identity based on your IP address.
4 Ways To Hide Your IP Address
There are various ways to hide your IP address. Each method has its pros and cons.
VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) is perhaps the easiest and most effective way to hide your IP address. A VPN hides your IP address from the internet by redirecting your internet traffic and masking it with an alternative one. VPNs encrypt your data and make it possible to browse the internet without exposing your personal IP address. People use VPNs for a variety of reasons, including to safely use public Wi-Fi and to avoid marketing adware from collecting personal information about their internet browsing activities.
Most VPN providers offer a few options:
- Double VPN: Some companies will offer a double VPN, which is a feature that masks your IP address two times, increasing the security.
- Dedicated IP: Users typically share IP addresses but, with a dedicated IP, you have your own. Dedicated IPs are offered by VPN providers for an additional fee.
- P2P servers: These servers are dedicated for peer file sharing.
Proxy Server
Using a proxy server is another way to hide your IP address. A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your computer and the website you’re sending traffic to. Proxy servers are often free but can sell your browsing information and, for this reason, may not be the best option for privacy. Proxy server only allows you to send your information through a third-party intermediary. A VPN, on the other hand, will add another layer of protection by allowing you to encrypt your information.
TOR
TOR, short for “The Onion Router,” is a free and open-source software that makes it possible to browse the internet anonymously. TOR masks the user’s IP address through a series of layered actions, similar to an onion and provides a high level of privacy to users.
One issue with TOR is that it can slow down internet activity. This might make it difficult to use for certain applications, especially for businesses that rely on speed and efficiency. Additionally, some ISPs can recognize TOR usage on the basis of lag times.
To use TOR, you would download the application like any other internet browser and then follow the instructions within the browser itself.
Public Wi-Fi
Accessing public Wi-Fi through your device will change your IP address. This is not the most effective way to hide an IP address but it will add one layer of anonymity. To access public Wi-Fi you would find a public setting, such as a coffee shop, library or airport, that offers public Wi-Fi and connects to it.
If you look at all the IP addresses that are connected to one public Wi-Fi source, every person will have their own IP address, but only the last part of the address will vary. You can think of this as similar to a business phone number with extensions for each individual. The first block of digits are the same and the last digits are specific to the individual.
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Reasons to Hide Your IP Address
There are many reasons an individual or a company might want to hide their IP address. Increased privacy is the main reason. A company may be conducting highly sensitive research and want to reduce the risk of any leak or breach. They may be exchanging highly sensitive information online and want to limit the chances a competitor or hacker could somehow find their internet activity through their IP address.
The reasons to hide an IP address are similar for individuals and businesses. Both may have privacy concerns, marketing concerns, trade secrets or proprietary information they want to protect.
Bottom Line
An IP address identifies your internet activity. Although the public IP address can only reveal your general physical location, your ISP can identify an individual based on their IP address. There are many privacy-related reasons individuals and businesses want to hide their IP address. Public Wi-Fi will hide your IP address.
However, if an individual or office wants to hide their identity while they are at home or in the office, they will have to use a proxy server, a VPN or an anonymous browser, such as TOR.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you really hide your IP address?
Every device that connects to the internet will have an IP address. There is no way to use the internet without one. When you hide your IP address, what is happening is that you’re masking your original IP address with a replacement and, therefore, keeping your identity and your internet activity anonymous.
How can you check if your IP address is hidden?
To check if your IP address is hidden, you can type “What is my IP address?” into Google. You will see if Google tells you an IP address that is different from your original one. A VPN can also tell you the IP address you are using to connect to the internet, and you can verify this by asking Google which IP address it is using. There are also specific websites you can use to check your IP address including www.whatismyipaddress.com.
What does an IP address reveal?
A public IP address can reveal some information about who is behind the device—namely, their geolocation and information about your ISP. While an IP address will not identify the exact location of a user, it can reveal someone’s general area code or ZIP code. However, an ISP can identify an individual based on their IP address.
