In this internet world, your personal data is prone to theft, and the notion of privacy is crushed with each passing year, online privacy only becomes more important.
This is the reason why people use the fake IP address to hide their identity. To be clear, "fake IP address" is a misnomer that means creating a new one out of thin air. it's not possible. The best you can do is hide your IP address behind someone else's already existing IP address. This is called IP masking. So how do you spoof your IP address?
That's why you need to hide your IP address. Here are some ways to hide your IP address and make yourself anonymous online.
1. Use a VPN
Before using VPN you need to know what is VPN? so let me tell you that a virtual private network (VPN) extends a private network across a public network and enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. The benefits of a VPN include increases in functionality, security, and management of the private network. It provides access to resources that are inaccessible on the public network and is typically used for remote workers. Encryption is common, although not an inherent part of a VPN connection.
With a VPN, you can connect your computer or device to someone else's network, then browse the web through it. Whatever activity you are doing, it seems that it is coming from them, not from you. When you connect to a VPN, you are hiding your IP address from one of the IP addresses on that network. In order for the traffic to be traced to you, the VPN has to drop you (or reveal your IP address via DNS leaks). For best results, use a paid VPN service as free VPNs come with a lot of risks and downsides. Most importantly, you can never fully rely on a free service. Are they selling your data? If asked, will they give up your real IP address? It does happen.
How to use a VPN
So now you know why you’d want to use a VPN. They may sound complicated, but they couldn’t be easier to use. And they’re also very affordable, typically costing just a few pounds or dollars per month.
1. Sign up to a VPN service
The first step to using a VPN is to choose a service. You can see our recommendations of the best VPN services, but if you’re in a hurry, here are three to investigate:
When signing up on the provider’s website you’ll find a choice of how long to subscribe for. In most cases, the longer you go for, the cheaper the monthly cost becomes. In all but rare cases, they offer a money back guarantee (usually for about a month) so you can try the service and get a refund if you’re not happy.
Once you’ve paid – and you can pay via cryptocurrency if you want to be anonymous to the VPN service you’re using – install the app on your device from the app store or the provider’s website, launch it and enter your username and password (which you chose or were sent while signing up to the service).
Some providers let you log in with an activation code instead, but the app will tell you what you need to enter.
Which Is the Best VPN For You?
ExpressVPN and CyberGhost are both excellent options. If neither suits you, have a look at our overview of best VPN services. Long story short: whichever service you pick, you just download the app, run it, and use it to connect to the VPN on demand. It's really that simple.
At A Glance: Our Favorite VPN Services
| Product | Brand | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN | Check Price | |
| NordVPN | NordVPN | Check Price |
2. Use a Web Proxy
A web proxy works in much the same way as a VPN. You connect to the proxy server, then all your web traffic flows through the proxy server. As such, your IP address gets hidden by the proxy server's IP address.
There’s no similar guarantee of protection with a proxy, especially if you’re using one of the many web-based proxies available online. These public proxy services may slow down your service, and even worse, they may be insecure. Instead, we suggest you learn how to set up a proxy server on Windows, MacOS, and the most popular web browsers.
If you’re configuring your browser to use a proxy operated by a company, school, or other similar organization, some of these instructions may require you to contact your IT staff. This is the case particularly when you are asked to manually enter a script name, formally called a proxy auto-configuration (PAC) file. You may also need to type in the proxy's IP and port numbers. In both cases, turn to your IT helpdesk if you haven't been given this information. If you’re using a proxy that you’ve purchased or created on your own, you’ll already have these details.
How to find proxy settings in Windows
Before setting up a proxy server, you need to check the proxy settings on your computer. The information in proxy settings can help you determine which type of proxy server you can set up.
Here’s how to find proxy settings on Windows:
- Click Start and select Settings (the gear icon) from the Start menu.
- Choose Network & Internet.
- Click Proxy in the left panel.
- Here you can find the information you need related to automatic proxy settings and manual proxy settings.
How to set up a proxy server in Windows
Here's how to set up your Windows PC to use a proxy server on Windows 8 or Windows 10:
- Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to access the Windows Settings menu.
- On Windows 10, click Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. On Windows 8, click Settings > Network Proxy.
- Under the Manual Setup section, set the “Use a Proxy Server” toggle to On. Make sure the “Automatically detect settings” toggle is also on.
- By default, Windows automatically checks to see if your business, school, or local network already has an automatic proxy server setup ready to run for you. If it does, Windows tells you its name, and encourages you to follow its instructions.
- Assuming that Windows finds a PAC file, in the Automatic Proxy Setup, set the Use Setup Script switch to On.
- Enter the script address and click Save.
Congratulations! You're done and ready to proxy.
How to manually set up a proxy in Windows 8 or Windows 10
Not every organization sets up the process automatically. If you need to set up a proxy manually in Windows 8 or Windows 10, here’s how to do it.
- To access the Windows Settings menu, press the Windows + I keys simultaneously.
- On Windows 10, click Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. On Windows 8 systems, click Settings > Network Proxy.
- Scroll down to “Manual proxy setup” and set the “Use a Proxy Server” switch to On.
- In the address field, type the proxy server name or IP address. In the Port field, enter the proxy port number. You can get these from your IT support tech.
- If the proxy server is protected by a password, select the “Proxy server requires password” checkbox. Enter your account name and password in the Username and Password fields.
- Click Save.
That's all there is to it. You're now set up to use your proxy server on Windows. The next time you use the internet, you'll be using the proxy server.
How to set up a proxy server on a Mac running macOS
Here's how to set up a proxy server on a Mac running macOS 10.15 Catalina. Other macOS versions use essentially the same commands.
- Open System Preferences. One way to get there is to click on the Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Choose the Network icon to adjust connectivity settings.
- Select the type of network you use, which is usually Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
- Click Advanced > Proxies.
- To automatically configure your proxy server settings, select Auto Proxy Discovery. Click on Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS). Type in the proxy server address and its port number in the fields on the right.
- To use a proxy auto-configuration (PAC) file, select Automatic Proxy Configuration and enter the proxy address into the URL field.
- If the proxy server is protected by a password, select the “Proxy server requires password” checkbox. Enter your account name and password in the Username and Password fields.
- Click OK to save the proxy setup.
You're now ready to surf the internet via your proxy.
How to set up a proxy in Google Chrome
By default, Chrome uses your macOS or Windows proxy. To change your proxy settings from within Chrome, take the following steps:
- Open the Chrome toolbar and select Settings.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the display. Click on Show advanced settings...
- Scroll down to “System” and choose Open your computer’s proxy settings.
- Next, go back to the instructions for your operating system listed above to set up your proxy server settings and follow them.
In short, to set up a proxy server in Google Chrome, you're just doing the first few steps in the browser, and then completing the process in your machine's operating system.
How to set up a proxy server in Safari
Like Chrome, Safari’s default setting is to follow the proxy configurations within your OS. Here’s how to change your proxy settings from within Safari:
- Click on Safari in the browser toolbar. Choose Preferences.
- Click on the Advanced tab. Under “Proxies,” click Change settings...
- Next, you must go back to the instructions for macOS listed above to set up your proxy server settings and follow them.
How to set up a proxy server in Edge
Edge is Windows 10's built-in web browser, and unless you tell it otherwise, it’ll use your proxy configurations in Windows. The latest versions of Edge are based on Chrome, so the configuration is similar. The following steps show you how to set up a proxy from within Edge:
- In Microsoft Edge, at the top-right corner, click the Menu button. Select Settings.
- Scroll down to the Advanced settings section and click the View advanced settings icon.
- Click the Open proxy settings button.
- Next, go back to the instructions for Windows 10 listed above, then follow them to configure your proxy server settings.
How to set up a proxy server in Firefox
Unlike other web browsers, Firefox doesn't default to using your system's proxy settings. You’ll need to change your proxy from within Firefox:
- Open the Firefox menu and select Options.
- Click on the Advanced icon.
- Select the Network tab.
- In the Connection Settings, select, Auto-detect proxy configuration for this network. When prompted, enter the proxy address.
- Alternatively, in the Connection Settings, you can select, Use system proxy settings. If you choose that option, Firefox uses the proxy settings in your operating system.
- Click OK to save your settings.
How to set up a proxy server in Internet Explorer
Please keep in mind that Internet Explorer is an outdated web browser. Instead, switch to a browser that’s still receiving regular updates and support, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. Though since quite a few people and companies still use Internet Explorer (IE), you should know how to set things up when necessary.
As with other browsers, IE defaults to using your Windows proxy configurations. Here’s how to set your proxy up from within IE.
- Open the IE toolbar and select Internet Options.
- Open the Connections tab.
- Select LAN Settings.
- Check the “Use a proxy server for your LAN” box.
- When prompted, enter the proxy server name and port number.
- Click OK to save your settings.
How to set up a proxy server in Android
With Android, you must configure proxy settings for each network you use. In addition, the proxy will only be used by your web browser. Other internet applications may choose to use or ignore the proxy based on their own internal settings. This is another reason why VPNs tend to be better choices — when you use one, it covers all the internet traffic from your device.
- Open Android’s Settings and tap Wi-Fi to view a list of Wi-Fi networks.
- Long-press the Wi-Fi network name for which you want to change the proxy settings. Tap Modify Network.
- Tap Advanced Options.
- Tap Manual to change your proxy's settings. Enter your hostname and proxy port.ORIf you have a Proxy Auto-Config (PAC) file, select Proxy Auto-Config and Android will prompt you to enter the PAC address.
- Tap SAVE.
How to set up a proxy server in iOS
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Select the active Wi-Fi connection.
- Under HTTP proxy, click Configure Proxy.
- Tap Manual to change your proxy's settings. Enter your host name, proxy port, and, if needed, your authentication username and password.ORIf your provider supports Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Protocol (WPAD), tap Automatic. If required, enter the Proxy Auto-Config (PAC) file location.
- Tap back to the Wi-Fi selection window.
3. Use Public Wi-Fi
If you choose to use public Wi-Fi, it would be best to have your traffic routed through someone else's network instead. The only way is to really hide your home IP address. When you're on public Wi-Fi, there's no way for anyone to trace it back to your home. And if it's a popular hotspot (like Starbucks), your activity will be obscured by dozens of other users at any given time. By default, most public Wi-Fi hotspots are unencrypted. Anyone else on the network can see all of your activity while connected (if they're sniffing it), including login details for websites like banks and e-commerce shopping. Public Wi-Fi hotspots can also spread malware infection to your device.
For information, let us tell you that there are many other ways for hackers to steal your identity on public Wi-Fi. So while you may be hiding your IP address, you are still opening yourself up to a whole host of other privacy and security risks.
4. Use Tor Browser
Now we will tell you about a browser that will help you hide your IP address. Whose Non-Tor Browser, sometimes called Onion Router, is a free browser that hides your IP address every time you connect to the Internet. It does this by initially connecting you to the Tor network, which broadcasts your data through random relay servers hosted by volunteers around the world. For most people who don't live in authoritarian countries like China, Venezuela, etc. (where Tor is banned), this is a handy tool to have in your arsenal of privacy solutions. To get started, head over to the official Tor website and install the browser from there. When setup is complete, click Connect. The Tor browser will then link to the Tor network. This may take a few minutes, so you'll have to wait a while. When it's done, you're free to browse the Internet anonymously. If you are using Tor for the first time, make sure you read all the online security tips on how to use Tor efficiently. They are given on the homepage itself!
How You Can Hide Your IP Address!
So friends, by all the above mentioned methods, now you must have understood very well that how you can hide your IP address. If you're like us, and can't accept that "big brother" is attacking you all the time, these tricks will be enough to get you started with securing your online anonymity.
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