5 ways to properly hide your IP address in 2023
Consider device IP addresses as being similar to mailing addresses. They communicate your devices’ approximate whereabouts and divulge more details about your online behavior. For this reason, many people want to conceal their IP addresses but are unsure how to do so. This article explains in easy terms a number of ways you can do it.
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Networks)
There are a number more difficult techniques to conceal your IP address, but using a VPN is the most secure and straightforward approach. VPNs are software services that encrypt all data sent to and from the internet before routing it through a VPN server to a different location. Websites and online apps only see the server’s IP address since the VPN server acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet. In other words, it hides your IP address.
Most VPNs are monthly membership subscriptions that charge a small fee for access to hundreds or even thousands of servers worldwide. Simply register and download the appropriate apps for your devices. After that, it only requires a few clicks to hide your IP address and thus, your internet activity. You can evade network restrictions and firewalls while also protecting your online behavior from prying eyes.
Obtaining a VPN with these capabilities is essential if you want premium service:
- Kill switch
- No-logs policy
- Leak protection
- Private DNS servers
Below are the most secure VPN services of 2023.
RANK
BRAND
DEVICES
STATS
DOWNLOAD
1
6
6 simultaneous devices.
- ● Fastest VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 5300+
- ● Countries: 60+
WHY I LIKE NORDVPN NordVPN has long been regarded as one of the strongest brands in cybersecurity. With one of the largest server offerings on my list and support for most, if not all operating systems, making NordVPN an obvious choice for many. They have 24/7 customer support if you need help getting started. Their app is one of the most well-designed apps I have ever used. NordVPN even accepts cryptocurrencies as payment for extra anonymity.
2
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Cheap VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 3200+
- ● Countries: 65+
WHY I LIKE SURFSHARK: Surfshark VPN is perfect for those who want a cheap and reliable VPN that also has many extra features. "Camouflage Mode" hides your usage from your ISP, "Kill Switch" suspends your connection and protects your information if you temporarily lose Internet access, "MultiHop" to connect from multiple countries at the same time just to name a few. My favorite feature of Surfshark is "Whitelists" which allow the user to exclude specific apps and programs from the VPN connection.
3
7
7 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Torrent VPN
- ● Servers: 7400+
- ● Countries: 91+
WHY I LIKE CYBERGHOST CyberGhost VPN is the first choice of many other cybersecurity experts, and the reason is clear; they have the most complete VPN service. An incredible number of extra features that are best suited for the more advanced users but also work flawlessly for every-day purposes like P2P-filesharing. Cyberghost VPN also has the longest stretching money-back guarantee at a full 45 days.
4
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Netflix/Streaming VPN
- ● Servers: 35500+
- ● Countries: 84+
WHY I LIKE PIA VPN: PrivateInternetAccess is at the top of my streaming tests, which is a great combination with their easy-to-use UI, Open-Source software and built in adblocker. PIA is also perfect for those who want to be able to pay with PayPal which for some reason, many other VPN services do not support. 30-day money-back guarantee, multiple Netflix libraries, and extremely affordable are the three main selling points for this VPN service.
5
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Robust/Security focused
- ● Servers: 750+
- ● Countries: 43+
WHY I LIKE ATLAS VPN: Atlas VPN is one of the best new free VPN services. With the free version, you get unlimited data, no ads and zero logging. During my speed tests, Atlas VPN performed very well and could compete with mainstream services. Kill Switch, Ad-blocker, and P2P support all included with a regular subscription, which is incredibly cheap for such a robust service.
6
10
10 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Free VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 1713+
- ● Countries: 63+
WHY I LIKE PROTONVPN: ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland and is most known for their e-mail service ProtonMail. They currently offer the safest free VPN services on the market. There is also support for TOR usage and P2P file sharing. I highly recommend ProtonVPN if you are intending to do some extensive online sharing. It goes without saying that Proton does not collect logs of any kind and is completely safe to use.
7
10
10 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best VPN for Gaming and Streaming
- ● Servers: 200+
- ● Countries: 63+
WHY I LIKE PRIVATEVPN: PrivateVPN is the strong underdog in the world of VPNs. With a shy number of servers, it is evident that they are focusing on quality over quantity. Overall, PrivateVPN is a very decent choice of VPN, especially if you had enough of the excessive advertising by some of the other more known brands in this list. Setting up the VPN requires extremely little intervention, and you can even pay with Bitcoin.
8
49%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best Mobile VPN app
- ● Servers: 3000+
- ● Countries: 94+
10
77%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
45 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Fastest free VPN
- ● Servers: 3200+
- ● Countries: 80+
11
85%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
7 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Great free VPN
- ● Servers: 1000+
- ● Countries: 26+
12
68%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
10 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best reputation
- ● Servers: 91+
- ● Countries: 17+
14
79%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
15 day money-back guarantee.
- ★ Great adblocker included
- ★ Servers: 1800+
- ★ Countries: 20+
15
66%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 5 devices simultaneously
- ● Unlimited usage
- ● 50+ locations
16
70%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Unlimited traffic
- ● Up to 1 Gbps
- ● Free trial
17
85%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 10 devices
- ● Unlimited bandwidth
- ● Countries: 60+
19
$5.00 /user
14 day free trial/money-back guarantee.
- ● Simple Cloud VPN Setup
- ● Site-to-site VPN Tunneling
- ● Easy Server & User Management
21
67%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
7 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 5 devices
- ● Locations: 65+
- ● 24/7 live support
22
80%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 10 devices
- ● Countries: 20+
- ● P2P Optimization
23
66%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
Basic, advanced, and pro plans.
- ● Countries: 22+
- ● Locations: 36+
- ● 24/7 live support
24
79%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best multi-device VPN
- ● Servers: 1000+
- ● Countries: 200+
Set a proxy
A proxy serves as a go-between for your device and the internet, much like a VPN does. Instead of seeing your actual IP address, websites and apps display the proxy server’s IP address. Although these can’t unblock streaming websites and some may even endanger your online privacy, they may be handy for internet activities like getting over a firewall at school or work.
Your website queries still travel to a third-party DNS server that can see your real IP address because proxies typically don’t include DNS traffic. This issue is not present with VPNs that feature leak prevention. Furthermore, if the proxy connection breaks for any reason, your real IP may become public. Proxy servers do not provide the same level of authentication as VPNs, making them more vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks, in which an attacker pretends to be the proxy server in order to steal your data.
Use Tor
The global anonymity network Tor, also known as The Onion Router, is run by thousands of volunteers without any centralized authority. Your internet data is encrypted and directed through a random selection of these volunteer nodes, which are something akin to proxy servers when you connect to Tor. Only the IP address of the final server in the chain, or the exit node, is visible to websites.
The order of nodes varies with each internet visit. Due to this, it is almost impossible to track activity to its source IP address. Downloading and installing the Tor Browser is the simplest way to utilize Tor. It functions just like a stripped-down version of Chrome or Firefox and is completely free.
However, there are negative aspects. It can only really be used for web browsing because it’s too slow to use for streaming or downloading files. Furthermore, as it allows access to the darknet and illegal websites, Tor has a frequent link to criminal activity. Using Tor may not be permitted by your ISP or some websites that restrict connections from known Tor nodes.
Use 1.1.1.1
You can browse the internet safely with the aid of the free program 1.1.1.1 by Cloudflare. It employs an improved and contemporary protocol coupled with WARP to replace the connection between your device and the internet and is accessible for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS devices.
The Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see every program and website you visit.
Sometimes, ISPs also use this information to send you targeted adverts or sell your data. However, the good news is that 1.1.1.1 with WARP will protect you against this.
Use a NAT firewall
You’re probably behind a NAT firewall if you connect to the internet using a wireless router. A NAT firewall, in its simplest form, enables many devices connected to the same network to share the same public IP address. Through NAT, requests and data from individual devices’ private IP addresses are sent to their web destinations under the router’s public IP address. It hides your private IP address, not your public IP address. A router with NAT enabled will assign a single public IP address to each connected device.
FAQ
Is it legal to conceal your IP address?
Yes, it is legitimate to conceal your IP address. Your IP address can be hidden by using a VPN, and the good news is that most countries allow VPN use.
Is it necessary for me to conceal my IP address?
Yes. Nowadays an IP address is all takes to know a lot of information about an individual. That is why it is necessary to hide IP addresses as it protects your privacy.
Can my IP address leak my identity?
Your IP address does not directly reveal private data. However, it is a good starting point for cybercriminals who are looking to learn more about you.
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