Using methods to change or hide your public IP address can provide an extra layer of privacy to keep you at least slightly more anonymous as you use the Internet .
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What is an IP address?
basically, your IP address provides the location of your device that you are using to connect to the Internet. When you select and connect to a network, an Internet Service Provider ( ISP ) assigns an IP address to each Internet-connected device. The IP address system is governed by the TCP/IP, or the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The IP address arrangement is governed by the TCP/IP, or the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
Reading: How to Change Your IP Address
Every device in your house can track you, if the device has an IP address connection. Whether or not your IP address changes will depend on if your IP address is a static or moral force IP address. here are some IP address terms you should know :
- Public vs Private IP Address. Your ISP assigns public IPs for connection to the Internet outside of your home local area connection. Your device is also assigned an IP when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, such as at a coffee shop. Private IPs communicate locally within your home network.
- Static vs Dynamic IP Address. IP addresses are either static or dynamic. A static IP is an address that is manually assigned and never changes. A dynamic IP, on the other hand, is an address assigned by the network that changes every so often (depending on the lease time).
- Lease Time. This is how long it takes for your dynamic IP address to expire. After the “lease” expires, a new IP address conclusively assigned.
- IPv4 vs IPv6. IP addresses are either Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6). Most devices use IPv4 to communicate on the Internet. This is the familiar number sequence that looks like 123.45.67.89.
Reasons to Change Your IP Address
The total one rationality to change or hide your IP address is to increase privacy as you use the Internet. You may be person who handles sensitive information. furthermore, you may equitable want some freedom from your Internet Service Provider constantly tracking you. here are some early reasons you might want to change your IP address :
Bypass government restrictions
For specific countries and regions, certain websites and message on the Internet command specific access ( Netflix, for exemplar ). Your slate to “ accede ” is having the correctly located IP address. By changing your IP address to one that is located in the right venue, you can access the message you want to access .
Strengthen security
Changing or hiding your veridical IP address is a capital way to protect yourself from nefarious actors, particularly while connected to unbarred networks such as populace Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or airport. besides, when data breaches occur, hiding your IP address is a means that you can add an extra layer of security to protect your private data .
Ways to Change Your IP Address
There are multiple ways you can change your IP address. But the method acting you choose depends on your ultimate goal. For example, do you merely need a newly IP address because of connectivity issues ? Or are you looking for anonymity ?
The follow methods are ways that you can change your public-facing IP address, ranging from slowly and brassy with less anonymity to difficult and more expensive with more anonymity .
Manually or Automatically
You can change your IP address by yourself by adjusting your device ’ sulfur settings or just unplugging your router .
One means to get a newly assigned IP address mechanically is to just unplug your router. When it is plugged back in, the router assigns a modern IP address. precisely note that it may take a few minutes to a few hours to get a raw IP address depending on your IP lease time. For example, if your rent time is 8 hours, you would have to wait 8 hours to plug your router back in to be assigned a new IP cover.
besides, even if you do wait the 8 hours, your ISP could end up assigning the lapp IP address to you again if it hasn ’ t been assigned to person else .
To manually change your IP address, you will need to adjust the settings of your manoeuver organization and manually enter a new phone number .
A Word of Caution: This can be a complicated process and could result in your ISP banning you from connecting to the Internet .
Whether you change your IP cover mechanically or manually, it will not change the fact that your ISP can still track your Internet traffic. In early words, changing your IP address yourself does fiddling to increase your Internet privacy .
Proxy
Using a proxy is an easy and normally a complimentary way to hide your IP address. With a proxy, your traffic basically moves through a middle man server so that websites you visit see the proxy server ’ s IP address rather of your actual IP address, keeping your IP address secret. many people use proxies because of their comfort of use and low monetary value. They besides do not require any software changes to your device .
A Word of Caution: Proxy servers normally aren ’ thymine encrypted. This means that if person in truth wants to view your traffic, they can .
Tor
Tor is a privacy-focused network browser that :
- Hides your IP address
- Encrypts your traffic
- Prevents tracking and targeted ads
- Automatically clears cookies
A Word of Caution: While Tor encrypts your traffic, they however keep logs of your actual IP address per their terms of service .
VPN
now we are to the skim of the cultivate when it comes to hiding your IP address for privacy reasons : the Virtual Private Networks ( VPN ). When you connect to a VPN, the VPN replaces your IP address with another IP address in a location of your choosing while encrypting all of your traffic. There are some free VPNs, but to get the most privacy and security system normally requires a pay subscription .
VPNs are bang-up for privacy, but besides for accessing censor contented or regionally-blocked streaming services such as Netflix. This is because VPNs hide your actual local network connection .
VPNs, unlike other IP concealing methods, are not required to log Internet dealings in the US. however, some VPNs still do.
A Word of Caution: When choosing a VPN, make certain to check to see if they keep IP address logs or not .
Conclusion
Using private networks such as a proxy or VPN adds more privacy and security as you use the Internet. however, if person with the means wants to find you via your Internet connection, they will find a means .
