The Ultimate Guide To Masking IP Address in 2024
Imagine this scenario; a stranger comes to your house and goes through your closet in front of you. What would you do? You might want to kick that person out of your home. Your IP address is the same as your home; you don’t want some strangers to snoop around on your activity. Millions and
Imagine this scenario; a stranger comes to your house and goes through your closet in front of you. What would you do? You might want to kick that person out of your home. Your IP address is the same as your home; you don’t want some strangers to snoop around on your activity. Millions and millions of people are online every day. There is a good chance of getting hacked and having your data stolen. You don’t want that to happen to you. So, how can we enjoy the internet while being anonymous?
The only way to remain anonymous is to mask your IP address. This ultimate guide will help you choose the right options to help you hide your IP address and remain anonymous.
Before we dive into the core of the guide, let’s get familiar with some basics.
What Is an IP address?
IP stands for Internet Protocol and is a unique numerical address to identify electronic devices connected to the internet. An IP address is an identifier to send data between devices connected to the network and help to communicate with each other. This IP address becomes a location tag for your device(s).
An IP address looks like this: “188.141.1.38” it consists of an array of numbers separated by periods. The syntax will be; 4 sets of numbers, each set of numbers ranging from 0 to 255. So, the maximum limit will be 255.255.255.255.
Types of IP addresses:
There are two types of IP addresses for your devices depending on whether the status of the network is online or offline.
Offline IP address or Private IP address:
This type of IP address for your device is unique to your device within your network; a private IP address is used for offline communication, meaning it remains private among your other devices.
Online IP address or Public IP address:
The public IP address takes the stage once your network starts communicating with other networks via the internet. Similar to a private IP address, a public IP address is also unique to your device. The other devices share these IP addresses in your network.
How to Check Your IP Address?
As mentioned above, there are two types of IP addresses, private and public. There are two steps to identifying your IP address:
- For a Private IP Address: This IP address will be present when you access the router admin settings. First login to the router admin page, then input your username and password. Select the networking settings. On that page, you can find your IPv4 address. That is your private IP address.
- For a Public IP Address: Access your IP address by googling it. Another way to find the IP address is to use the IP checker tool. These tools are free and available online. You can check one out here.
How Are IP Addresses Tracked?
Generally, IP addresses are not randomly generated by your ISP-Internet Service Provider. The Internet Assigned Number Authority(IANA) is responsible for developing and distributing IP addresses to Regional Internet Registries-RIR. They are responsible for distributing a block of IP addresses to ISPs.
People who have access to the IANA, RIR database are able to track your IP address. This can be done by your ISPs
Use Case:
Uber is using your information to track your ride and your location. When you book your ride with Uber, you will get a notification. This notification will ask you to permit sharing your location. Once you allow access, Uber collects the data through your IP address and finds you the best ride and route.
Now that you have a better idea of the IP address and how it is used to track your location, let’s explore the methods you can use to mask your IP address so you can surf the internet without worry.
How to Hide Your IP Address?
You can mask your IP address by doing one of the following methods:
1. Proxy Server:
A proxy server is a middleman in-between your local system to targeted websites. Proxy takes your access request and sends it to the targeted website, then returns it with the user’s access. Instead of two-way communication, a proxy helps achieve three-way communication, i.e., you, proxy, and the internet. The proxy masks your IP address with its IP address. There are three types of proxies:
- HTTP Proxies – HTTP proxies are only for web pages. HTTP helps you reroute all your activity via a proxy server, which masks your IP address.
- SOCK Proxies – SOCK proxies are not constrained to web traffic but are only limited to application use. The functionality of SOCK proxies is the same as the HTTP proxies, but SOCK proxies are slower than HTTP proxies due to the high load and their popularity.
- Transparent Proxies – These proxies are mainly used to monitor users’ activity. The user can set up transparent proxies to restrict access to specific websites and save bandwidth.
If you are looking for proxies, it is recommended to go with paid proxies. Paid proxies have benefits like a faster internet connection and encryption for your IP addresses. ProxyScrape does provide high-quality proxies for your work and entertainment. With over 40k+ data center pools, you can get your data center proxies at an affordable price. ProxyScrape provides unlimited bandwidth and 99% uptime.
2. Proxy Chain:
It is similar to a proxy. Instead of one connection, there will be two or more proxy connections. Together, these connections forward your link to targeted websites in the form of a chain. A thing to remember is that chain-link proxies must be fast and reliable. If one fails, the whole chain will fail. A proxy chain is a better and much more profound way of masking IP addresses. The main disadvantage here is that the connection speed will take a hit due to two or more proxies involved. If you are looking for more anonymity and do not mind the speed of the network, a proxy chain is an excellent way to mask your IP address.
3. Tor:
Tor is an anonymity browser being managed by the United States Federal Agency. Tor isolates each website that you visit from the network. This way, third-party software and bloatware do not follow you. Once you are done with your search, Tor deletes all your cache memories so that you don’t leave any footprints. Behind the screens, Tor encrypts your information three times when your data passes over Tor relays. There are 1000s of Tor relays in the Tor network. You can download Tor free of charge and use it immediately. If you want a browser with all your activity encrypted, Tor is a good choice.
4. VPN:
A VPN-Virtual Private Network is the same thing as a proxy but with security. A VPN helps you mask your IP address and your fingerprint on the internet. It controls your internet traffic by routing it through an encrypted tunnel. This tunnel enables you to protect your data from other entities like the government, hackers, and even ISP. A VPN is an excellent way to mask your IP address if you travel a lot. A VPN allows you to change your choice’s location and helps you access restricted content and hide your IP address.
Now you have options to mask your IP address, but another way to hide your IP address is by combining the methods mentioned above. It is possible to combine proxy and Tor; it will add a layer of anonymity online.
- What happens when you mask your IP address?
It is difficult to trace your data and location when you mask your IP address. With your IP address hidden, you can surf the internet without worrying about your data being stolen.
2. How do I encrypt my IP address?
By using proxies, it is possible to encrypt your IP address. Proxies help mask your IP address by providing its address as a source.
3. Is it possible to track your IP address even if you use proxies?
No, you cannot be tracked when you are using proxies, but if you are using free proxies or low-quality proxies, then there is a possibility that hostile entities can trace you.
Conclusion:
According to Norton, around 2,200 cyber-attacks happen per day. Many people have lost their livelihood due to these attacks. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Hiding your IP address is the first step to preventing a cyberattack. Proxies, Tor, and VPN help you to be anonymous online. ProxyScrape has residential, dedicated proxies for your daily use with unlimited bandwidth and 99% uptime at a low cost. Get your proxies now and stand against cyber attacks.