Easily Concealing Your IP Address Online in 2022: A Guide
What are the ways to conceal your IP address on the internet?
Given the numerous threats associated with an online IP address, it’s entirely reasonable if you’re seeking methods to conceal your private IP address.
You are not alone, in fact, according to Dataprot, 31% of internet users worldwide have used a VPN service to hide their IP addresses before.
Your IP address is basically a unique string of numbers that identifies your device and your geolocation. Everyone on the internet has one which is also visible on the websites that they visit daily.
Conversely, entities such as government agencies, your ISP, and marketers are vying to discover your IP address for their own advantages.
In this article, for the reasons stated, I will guide you on how to easily hide your IP address online in 2022.
Firstly, let’s examine a few reasons why hiding your IP address may be desirable for you.
Why Hide Your IP?
The primary reason is certainly to conceal your location.
However, we all concur that your capabilities extend beyond that. Here are three advantages you can enjoy by using a hidden IP address.
1. Protection against marketers
Evidently, you have spotted ads that directly resemble your internet journey. Well, marketers use your IP address to track your digital footprint to know what you are most interested in. After which they can target you with ads and offers.
2. Access to geo-restricted content
Geo-blocks may restrict access to some of your preferred content, particularly on streaming platforms. However, using a concealed IP allows you to access your favorite content from any location.
3. Bypass network restrictions
With a hidden IP address, you can bypass network restrictions such as those in libraries and schools.
Admittedly, you should protect your IP address from prying eyes. With plenty of resources online, it’s devastating trying to find out how to hide your IP address from websites.
However, don’t worry, here are seven easy methods to conceal your IP address.
1. Use a Proxy Server
One of the most effective methods to conceal your IP address while ensuring security and privacy is through the use of a proxy.
A proxy server, equipped with its own IP address, serves as a go-between for your devices and the internet.
Now, when you use a proxy, all your internet requests pass through the proxy server first, after which it connects to the internet.
At the same time, once all responses have been gathered from the web servers, it returns them to you, ensuring an increased level of anonymity.
In addition, each residential proxy is tied to a specific location and provides access to geo-restricted content. In a nutshell, to enhance your privacy and security online, you should set up a proxy in your browser.
Proxies, acting as intermediary servers, efficiently handle low-profile needs such as bypassing geo-blocked content and IP restrictions.
2. Use a VPN Service
Frankly, using a VPN is the most popular method to conceal your IP address.
VPNs are currently the most effective method for concealing your IP address. As reported by Security.org, this has caused a surge in VPN usage, growing from 72% in 2020 to 88% in 2022.
A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is a type of software that secures all the data you exchange with the internet by encrypting it and redirecting it via a VPN server situated in a different location.
The VPN server acts as a medium between the web and your device. This masks your IP address by replacing it with the server’s IP address.
Well, a no logs VPN, that employs tamper proof encryption technologies, can protect you from being hacked and having your information leaked on the internet.
Furthermore, if you’re seeking ways to conceal your IP address on websites at no cost, there are complimentary VPNs available. In addition, there are premium VPNs that require monthly subscription fees for usage.
3. Request a New IP
Without a doubt, the entity that assigns IP addresses is your ISP.
First, make sure you have your account information ready. Then, it’s as simple as picking up your phone and calling your ISP.
Typically, getting a different IP address is not hard but they don’t stay the same forever. IP addresses are constantly on recycling to preserve the limited number of available IP addresses. So expect your IP address to change once in a while.
Dynamic IP addresses refer to temporary IP addresses, while static IP addresses refer to permanent ones.
4. Use a Tor Browser
Have you ever thought about concealing your IP address from websites?
The Tor browser is a global decentralized anonymity network run by thousands of volunteers.
Also referred to as The Onion Router, Tor encrypts your data and redirects it through a random series of volunteer nodes that function as proxy servers.
Now, when you connect to Tor, the node sequence changes every time you visit a website. Obviously, nobody can trace any activity you do on the internet back to your original IP address.
Utilizing Tor is straightforward; all you need to do is download and install the browser. After installation, it operates similarly to other browsers. If you’re seeking a way to conceal your IP address without any charges, this tool is ideal for you.
Nonetheless, its slow speed makes it not ideal for streaming or torrenting.
5. Use a NAT Firewall
Are you connecting to the internet using a wireless router?
Should your answer be affirmative, it’s likely that you’ve previously engaged with a NAT firewall.
A firewall that performs network address translation allows multiple devices on the same network to share one public address while simultaneously providing each device with a unique private address.
What’s more, they channel your information and requests from your private IP addresses to your online destination under the router’s public address. In return, the address space is conserved.
Furthermore, unsolicited inbound communication with potentially threatening computers on the internet is also blocked.
However, it does have its disadvantages. A NAT firewall will not conceal your public IP address, only your private one. Additionally, all devices connected to a NAT-enabled router will share the same public IP address.
Simply put, NAT firewalls just alter your private IP address.
6. Switch your Network
Your IP address changes whenever you switch to a new network.
This happens especially because most IP addresses are dedicated IP addresses that are temporary.
So, if you think that your IP address has been tracked, blocked, or compromised, you can easily change your IP by simply switching networks. On the other hand, you can connect to a public wifi network. But there are risks involved.
For example, public WiFi supports numerous unmonitored connections simultaneously. These connections often include individuals with ill intentions towards your privacy.
Using a smartphone’s mobile data connection is an alternative method to conceal your IP address. This approach is among the quickest ways to mask your IP address. Typically, your IP address alters each time you activate your mobile data.
However, while using your mobile data may slow down your connection and expose your data, it’s one of the most effective methods to conceal your IP address.
7. Reset your Router
Do you require a new IP address for your router?
Routers are being used worldwide by millions of people to connect to the internet. In fact, according to Statista, the global Wi-Fi router market share will be valued at over $20 billion by 2027.
With the rise in cybercrime expected to correspond with this increase, it’s crucial to protect yourself. One way to avoid becoming a victim is to conceal your current IP address or obtain a new one. But how can this be accomplished?
Just unplug or restart your router. Although, you will need to keep the router unplugged for a few minutes for it to work effectively.
Most of the time routers come with dynamic IP addresses, which are temporary IP addresses.
Be aware that the more time your router remains unplugged, the higher the likelihood of it acquiring a new IP address.
Conclusion
Clearly, it’s impossible to hide your IP address from everyone, but you can conceal your device’s private IP address and obscure your geolocation.
In this age of ever-developing technology, privacy is a big topic to focus on. In this article, I have disclosed tips on how to hide your IP address online easily in 2022.
If you are aiming to hide your location, stream geo-restricted content, or avoid being tracked online, ensure you follow the tips I provided above to enhance your online privacy.
Definitely, if you desire to maintain privacy on the internet, you should conceal your IP address.
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