We have already stepped into the technologically advanced era where the internet is playing a very important role. IP addresses and the internet are inextricably associated with each other. Talking about IP addresses, it is basically a kind of unique identifier that will tell what services and websites you are using. It will also indicate whether you are online or offline. So, you can easily understand that IP addresses will reveal your personal details and this is why you would always want to hide them from time to time. Most users also want to hide their IP addresses while downloading any file from the internet.
Fortunately, there are several ways through which you can hide your IP address when downloading files. You can do it with proxy servers, Tor and VPNs. If you do not know how to do it, you will not have to worry. Here, we have explained everything.
Table of Contents
What Is An IP Address?
You definitely have an IP address if you are using the internet. An IP address basically indicates series of number that detects your network or device on the internet. If we minutely analyze the internet activities, it is actually a kind of two-way communication between servers and clients. Clients basically refer to software that you are using to access the internet such as web browsers. It requests data and on the other side, servers give responses to the clients. Each client has an IP address and it tells the servers about who is sending the request.
By now, you have understood what an IP address is. Thankfully, you can easily hide your IP address when downloading. Have a look at the following points to know how you can actually do this.
Hide Your IP Address
There are three main ways through which you can hide your IP address. These are as follows:
Hide Your IP Address With A VPN
VPN is a kind of intermediary server that basically encrypts your internet connection and ultimately, it conceals your IP address. VPN servers encrypt traffic not only in the applications but also in web browsers.
How It Works
It is very easy to hide your IP with a VPN. You just need to install a VPN app and connect to the internet through the VPN server. Anyway, it is very important that you know how this thing works. It will give you a concrete idea about the entire ecosystem. When you start using a VPN app, the IP address is concealed. It happens because the traffic takes a roundabout route or long route. When the traffic finally reaches its destination, it actually reaches with the help of a virtual IP address. This virtual IP address is provided by your VPN server.
There will be only one party that will know your original IP address and that will be your VPN service provider. Therefore, it is very important that you choose the trusted and best VPN services. Talking about the characteristics of the best VPN providers, they are convenient, secure, and safe. They will mask your real IP address and at the same time, the best VPN providers will hide all of your internet activities from the ISP and other persons who are using the same network. If you frequently use public Wi-Fi, you must use a trusted VPN application.
Hide IP Address Using Tor
Apart from using a VPN network, you can also use Tor that is a kind of free network. It hides your real internet identity through multiple encryption layers. You can access it through the Tor browser. When you are using the Tor browser, it will encrypt your IP address with multiple layers that are called nodes. However, the negative aspect of using this method is that you will have to sacrifice the high browsing speed. It takes time to reach your traffic to its final destination.
Hide IP Address Using Proxy Servers
This is another great and efficient way through which you can hide your IP address when downloading. A proxy server basically handles the internet traffic. It stays in front of the client and forwards requests. A proxy server receives as well as delivers responses from the servers.
If you are planning to use proxy servers, you will have to make manual adjustments. Most proxy servers will not encrypt the traffic and most of them will not mask the real IP address as well. If you compare it with VPN networks, proxy servers are less reliable. Anyway, if you want a temporary solution, proxy servers will be an ideal option for you.
Types Of Proxy Servers
There are some proxy servers that will conceal your IP address. At the same time, you will have to keep one point in mind that not all proxy servers can hide your IP address. There are different types of proxies that you must know.
- Elite Proxies: Elite proxies will mask your IP address and at the same time, they will hide your use of the proxy server.
- Anonymous Proxies: Anonymous proxies will conceal your IP address. But, it will not hide your use of the proxy.
- Transparent Proxies: Transparent proxies do nothing. It hides neither your use of proxy nor your IP address.
FAQ
Will My IP Address Be Truly Hidden?
Well, it is almost impossible to completely hide your IP address. But, if you use these above-mentioned methods, you can achieve sufficient privacy for your daily needs. If you use VPN servers, the only entity that will know your IP address is the VPN network.
What Is IP Masking?
IP masking is an effective technique through which your IP address gets concealed.
Conclusion
In this advanced era, you should protect your online activities from others. You can easily do this by hiding your IP address. Well, you might be surprised to know that you can hide your browsing activities, location, shopping habits, and other important things by concealing your IP address. So, why are you still waiting? Follow these methods and hide your IP address when downloading.
