This wikiHow teaches you how to prevent websites, internet service providers (ISPs), and internet intruders from seeing the IP address of your computer or mobile device. You can use an online proxy search to use a temporary fake address. You can also subscribe to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service which is basically a permanent proxy if you want to use a fake IP address by default on your computer or smartphone.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Using a Proxy Website
Step 1. Understand how proxies work
Proxy websites will log your IP address and hide it behind another address (usually from another country) to trick websites and internet service providers as if your computer's IP address is not being used. This service is useful if you want to try watching movies that are blocked in your area/country or check your bank account when using a public WiFi network.
- It is important that you block your IP address whenever using a free public WiFi network (e.g. a coffee shop WiFi network).
- Since proxies often redirect addresses to servers in other countries, browsing speeds will be much slower than usual.
Step 2. Go to the Hide Me site
Visit https://hide.me/en/proxy via a web browser. Hide Me is a simple proxy-based search engine that can be used to browse the internet anonymously.
Keep in mind that your IP address will only be hidden as long as you use Hide Me in your current browser. Internet browsing on other pages or browsers will not be hidden
Step 3. Click the address field
This field is the white "Enter web address" text field in the middle of the Hide Me page.
Step 4. Enter the site address as a search keyword
Type in the website address (eg "facebook.com" or "google.com"). You can't search for individual keywords (e.g. “boarding info”) through Hide Me so you'll need to enter the address of a search engine like Google or Bing if you want to search/search for something.
Step 5. Choose a server location
Click the "Proxy location" drop-down box, then click the server location (eg. Germany ”) in the displayed drop-down menu.
Step 6. Click Visit anonymously
It's a yellow button at the bottom of the page. After that, the entered site will be opened and you can perform your normal search.
Make sure you keep the Hide Me tab in your browser to keep the IP address hidden
Method 2 of 5: Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) on Windows
Step 1. Try subscribing to a virtual private network or VPN service
When you subscribe to a VPN service, you will usually receive a VPN username, password, and server address. VPN subscriptions are not offered for free and are often billed monthly.
- In general, ExpressVPN is one of the best service choices for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Linux platforms.
- Downloading a free VPN program is a different process. In this process, a program that can block IP addresses on all browsers will be downloaded, but you will need to enable and disable it manually.
Step 2. Open the Start menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 3. Open “Settings”
Click the gear icon in the lower-left corner of the Start window.
Step 4. Click
"Networks & Internet".
This globe icon is in the “Settings” window.
Step 5. Click VPN
It's on the left side of the window.
Step 6. Click Add a VPN connection
It's at the top of the window. After that, a new window will be displayed.
Step 7. Enter the VPN information
Click the “VPN provider” drop-down box at the top of the page, click “ Windows (built-in) ”, and enter the address of the VPN server you are subscribed to in the " Server name or address " field. You can also add the VPN name in the "Name" field.
- If the VPN requires you to enter a username and/or password, type both information into the " User name " and " Password " fields.
- You can change the VPN authentication method/type used by clicking the " Type of sign-in info " drop-down box and selecting a different option from the menu that appears.
Step 8. Click Save
It's at the bottom of the menu.
Step 9. Connect the computer to the VPN service
Click the VPN name at the top of the page, then click the “ Connect ' under it. After that, the computer will connect to the VPN service. At this stage, all internet browsing will be hidden, regardless of the browser or internet connection used.
You may need to enter a username and/or password before the VPN service can connect
Method 3 of 5: Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) on Mac
Step 1. Try subscribing to a virtual private network or VPN service
When you subscribe to a VPN service, you will usually receive a VPN username, password, and server address. VPN subscriptions are not offered for free and are often billed monthly.
- In general, ExpressVPN is one of the best service choices for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Linux platforms.
- Downloading a free VPN program is a different process. In this process, a program that can block IP addresses on all browsers will be downloaded, but you will need to enable and disable it manually.
Step 2. Open Apple menu
Click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click on System Preferences…
It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click Network
This globe icon is in the “System Preferences” window.
Step 5. Click
It's in the lower-left corner of the window. After that, a new window will be displayed.
Step 6. Select VPN settings
Click the " Interface " drop-down box, then click " VPN ” from the displayed menu.
Step 7. Choose a VPN type
Click the "VPN Type" drop-down box, then select a VPN type from the drop-down menu that appears.
Most of the most common VPN services use the “ L2TP ”.
Step 8. Add a name
Type the name of the VPN service in the " Service Name " field.
Step 9. Click Create
It's a blue button at the bottom of the window.
Step 10. Enter the VPN server information
This information includes server addresses and account names registered with the VPN service.
Step 11. Click Authentication Settings…
It's a gray button in the middle of the page. After that, a new window will open.
Step 12. Enter the VPN authentication information
Check the verification method under the "User Authentication" heading (e.g. “ Password ”) and enter an answer, then follow the same steps for the options under the "Machine Authentication" heading.
Step 13. Click OK
It's a blue button at the bottom of the window. After that, the VPN settings will be saved and the “Authentication Settings” window will be closed.
Step 14. Click Connect
It's in the middle of the page. Once clicked, the computer will connect to the VPN service. This means the IP address will be hidden on all browsing until the VPN is disconnected or turned off.
You may need to enter your password or confirmation code before the VPN is fully connected to your computer
Method 4 of 5: Using a VPN on iPhone
Step 1. Try subscribing to a virtual private network or VPN service
When you subscribe to a VPN service, you will generally get a VPN username, password, and server address. VPN subscriptions are not offered for free and usually, they are billed monthly.
- In general, ExpressVPN is one of the best service choices for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Linux platforms.
- Downloading a free VPN program is a different process. In this process, a program that can block IP addresses on all browsers will be downloaded. However, you need to enable and disable the program manually.
Step 2. Open the iPhone settings menu (“Settings”)
Touch the settings menu icon or “Settings” which looks like a gray box with gears.
Step 3. Swipe screen and touch
"General".
This option is at the top of the “Settings” page.
Step 4. Swipe the screen and touch VPN
This option is at the bottom of the page.
Step 5. Touch Add VPN Configuration…
It's at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Select the VPN type
Touch the text field “ Type ”, then select the VPN connection type.
If you don't see the VPN connection type in this menu, you can't use the VPN on iPhone
Step 7. Enter the VPN information
Fill in the text fields marked with the label "Required".
Step 8. Touch Done
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, you will be taken back to the VPN page. Now, the VPN entry you added will be marked with a blue checkmark next to it.
Step 9. Touch the white "Status" switch
It's at the top of the screen. After touching, the switch color will turn green
Step 10. Enter login information when prompted
Type your password (or other authentication information) into the pop-up menu, then touch the “ OK After that, your iPhone will connect to the VPN so you can browse the internet without showing your private IP address.
Method 5 of 5: Using VPN on Android Device
Step 1. Try subscribing to a virtual private network or VPN service
When you subscribe to a VPN service, you will generally get a VPN username, password, and server address. VPN subscriptions are not offered for free and usually, they are billed monthly.
- In general, ExpressVPN is one of the best service choices for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Linux platforms.
- Downloading a free VPN program is a different process. In this process, a program that can block IP addresses on all browsers will be downloaded. However, you need to enable and disable the program manually.
Step 2. Open the Android device settings menu (“Settings”)
This menu icon looks like a white cog on a colorful background that is usually displayed on pages/app drawers.
Alternatively, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon in the drop-down menu that appears
Step 3. Touch VPN
This option is usually at the top of the “Settings” page. You may need to swipe up to see this option.
- On some Android devices, you need to touch the “ More ” under the "Wireless & networks" segment first.
- On a Samsung Galaxy phone, touch “ Connections "First, select" More connection settings, and touch " VPN ”.
Step 4. Touch or ADD VPN.
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 5. Enter the VPN information
In the labeled fields that appear, enter the VPN name, connection type, server address, username, and/or password.
You may have several additional options on this page, depending on the connection type selected
Step 6. Touch SAVE
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, the VPN settings will be saved and the VPN connection will be added to the Android device.
Step 7. Choose a VPN connection
Touch the VPN connection to open its page.
Step 8. Connect the device to the VPN
Enter the user name, password, and/or other requested login information, then touch the “ CONNECT After that, the VPN connection will be enabled so that your IP address can be hidden.
Tips
- Hotspot Shield is a free and simple VPN service for Mac and Windows computers.
- Usually, proxies only hide the IP address of the particular browser in use. Meanwhile, a VPN hides the IP address every time you log into the network.
- Always find out about the VPN service or proxy you want to use.
Warning
- Even if your IP address is blocked, a persistent hacker may still be able to quickly reveal the IP address. Don't just rely on a VPN or proxy service. Also, be careful and always be careful when browsing the internet, just like when your IP address is not blocked.
- If the VPN you are using loses connection or is weak, your IP address will be displayed. To prevent this, many desktop VPN programs have a "kill switch" feature that will shut the computer off the network as soon as the VPN is disconnected or weakened to protect the IP address.
