

Clark Kent expects to receive snail mail at his physical address, he has to let everyone know that his address is “344 Clinton St., Apt. There is also another format for IP addresses, known as the IPv6 format, that allows an even greater number of connected devices to be identified, but that is an article for another day.) This all works much like the address of your home or where you work.Īn IP address is assigned in the following format: x.x.x.x, where the value of x can be any number from 0 to 255. What’s an IP address?Īs you are likely already aware, the internet is a vast, global network of computers, mobile devices, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and even refrigerators (which will text you when you need milk).Įach one of these devices is assigned an IP address when it connects to the internet.Īn IP address is a unique 32-bit number that is assigned to a connected device, which allows other devices on the internet to identify it. We’ll also explain what an IP address is, what it does, and why you should care about the whole process. There are multiple ways to hide your true IP address while on the internet, and in this article, we’ll go over each one and discuss the pros and cons of each method. That’s why it’s a good idea to hide your IP address. Third parties can even use it to detect your physical location.

Unfortunately, the very same IP address that allows communications on the web also allows third parties to track, monitor, record, and block your online activities. It works great, and it’s the base technology that powers the routing of information on the internet. This allows other devices on the internet to know which computer sent a request for information, so they know who to respond to. When a device connects to the internet, it receives an IP address. That address is how this website knew where to send the web page you’re viewing right now. If you can hide IP addresses you can get around these types of limitations.No matter what electronic device you’re reading this article on, it has been assigned an IP address. Hiding your IP address can get you around these blockades and allow you to access any site on the Internet.īypassing organizational online restrictions - Your workplace or school may restrict access to sites when you are using their network and IP address.
#Can i hide my ip address download#
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.

You don’t want them to see your real IP address and perhaps use it against you.Īccessing geo-blocked content - There are restrictions enforced in many geographic locations regarding the streaming or downloading services that you can access.
#Can i hide my ip address free#
Free and unsecured WiFi networks are notorious for enabling hackers to compromise the data of unsuspecting users. While it sounds great, using free WiFi without hiding your IP address can be a recipe for disaster. 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. This opens you up to potential malware and other types of digital attacks. 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.

Protection from hackers - Just as your ISP, search engines, and governments can follow you around by using your IP address, so can hackers. A way around this practice is to hide IP addresses whenever you go online. This data may be used against you in an attempt to prove anti-government sentiments and lead to criminal charges or worse. This way you can surf while maintaining your anonymity.Įvading government censorship – Certain governments monitor and censor the online activities of their citizens. If you want to move around the Internet without being tracked by your ISP, ad networks, or search engines, the only way is to hide the IP address. Preserving your online privacy – As we have demonstrated by displaying your IP address on this page, there is no place you can go online without someone watching. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones. You might want to hide your IP address for a variety of reasons.
