In this wikiHow, you will learn how to prevent websites, your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and other intruders from seeing the IP address of your computer or mobile device. To do this, you can search for a proxy online to use a fake address temporarily, or you can subscribe to a virtual private network (VPN), which is basically a more permanent proxy, to use a default one. fake IP address on your computer or smartphone.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Use a proxy website
Step 1. Understand how proxies work
Proxy websites take your IP address and hide it behind a different address (usually from a different country) in order to trick websites and ISPs into thinking that your computer's IP address is missing. In use. This will be useful if you want to watch a movie that is blocked in your region or if you want to check your bank statements while using a public Wi-Fi network.
- It is important that you block your IP address every time you use a free and public Wi-Fi network (for example, that of a coffee shop).
- As proxies generally redirect your address through a server in a different country, keep in mind that browsing will be slower than normal.
Step 2. Open the Hide Me website
From your browser, go to the following address: https://hide.me/en/proxy. Hide Me is a proxy-based search engine from which you can browse anonymously.
Please note that your IP address will only be hidden while the Hide Me website is in your browser. Navigation on other pages or in other browsers will not be hidden
Step 3. Click on the web address field
That's the white text field that says "Enter web address" and it's in the middle of the Hide Me page.
Step 4. Enter a search term
Enter a website address (eg, "facebook.com" or "google.com"). Note that you can't search for individual terms in Hide Me, so if you want to browse the Internet, you will need to enter the address of a search engine such as Google or Bing.
Step 5. Select a server location
Click the "Proxy Location" drop-down box and then a server location (eg, Germany) in the resulting menu.
Step 6. Click Visit Anonymously
This is a yellow button located at the bottom of the page. Clicking on it will take you to the site you selected, where you can navigate as usual.
Make sure to stay on the Hide Me tab in your browser in order to hide your IP address at all times
Method 2 of 5: Use a VPN on Windows
Step 1. Subscribe to a VPN service
When subscribing to a VPN service, you will generally receive a username, password, and VPN server address. Keep in mind that these subscriptions are not free and generally you will have to pay a monthly membership.
- Usually one of the considered best alternatives for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Linux is ExpressVPN.
- Downloading a free VPN program is a different process, as it will allow you to block your IP address in all browsers, but you will have to turn it on and off.
Step 2. Open the Start menu
Click on the Windows logo located in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 3. Open Settings
Click on the gear-shaped icon located at the bottom left of the Start menu window.
Step 4. Click
Network and Internet.
This is a globe-shaped icon located in the Settings window.
Step 5. Click VPN
This option is on the left side of the window.
Step 6. Click Add a VPN connection
This option is located at the top of the window and clicking on it will open a new window.
Step 7. Enter your VPN connection information
Click the "VPN Provider" drop-down box at the top of the page, then click Windows (built-in) and finally enter the address of your VPN subscription in the "Name or server address" text field. You can also add a name for the VPN in the "Name" text field.
- If your VPN requires a username or password, enter these credentials in the "Username" and "Password" text fields.
- Note that you can change the type of VPN authentication used by clicking the "Login Information Type" drop-down box and selecting a different option from the resulting menu.
Step 8. Click Save
This button is at the bottom of the menu.
Step 9. Connect to the VPN
Click on the name of the VPN near the top of the page and then click on the option Connect below. This will connect you to your VPN service and from then on, all your browsing history will be hidden, regardless of the browser you use or your Internet connection.
You may need to enter a username or password before your VPN connects
Method 3 of 5: Use a VPN on a Mac
Step 1. Sign up for a VPN service
When you subscribe to a VPN service, you will generally receive a username, password, and VPN server address. Please note that VPN service subscriptions are not free and generally must be paid monthly.
- Usually one of the considered best alternatives for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Linux is ExpressVPN.
- Downloading a free VPN program is a different process, as it will allow you to block your IP address in all browsers, but you will have to turn it on and off.
Step 2. Open the Apple menu
Click on the Apple logo located in the upper left corner of the screen. Doing so will bring up a drop-down menu.
Step 3. Click System Preferences…
This option is at the top of the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click Network
This globe-shaped icon is in the System Preferences window.
Step 5. Click ＋
This button is located in the lower left part of the window. Clicking on it will open a new window.
Step 6. Select a VPN configuration
Click on the "Interface" drop-down box and then on the option VPN located in the resulting menu.
Step 7. Select a type of VPN connection
Click the "VPN Type" drop-down box and then select a type from the menu.
- Most of the most common VPNs will use the option L2TP.
Step 8. Add a name
Type a name for your VPN connection in the "Service name" box.
Step 9. Click Create
This is a blue button located at the bottom of the window.
Step 10. Enter the VPN server information
This should include the server address and the name of the account with which the VPN is registered.
Step 11. Click Authentication Settings…
This is a gray button located in the middle of the page. Doing so will open a new window.
Step 12. Enter your VPN authentication information
Check a verification method in the heading "User Authentication" (eg, Password), enter your answer and do the same under the heading “Machine Authentication”.
Step 13. Click OK
This is a blue button located at the bottom of the window. Clicking on it will save your settings and exit the "Authentication Settings" window.
Step 14. Click Connect
This option is in the middle of the page. Clicking on it will connect you to your Mac's VPN, which means that your IP address will be hidden while you browse until the VPN is disconnected or turned off.
You may need to enter a password or confirmation code before your VPN fully connects
Method 4 of 5: Use a VPN on an iPhone
Step 1. Subscribe to a VPN service
When you subscribe to a VPN service, you will generally receive a username, password, and VPN server address. Please note that VPN service subscriptions are not free and generally must be paid monthly.
- Usually one of the considered best alternatives for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Linux is ExpressVPN.
- Downloading a free VPN program is a different process, as it will allow you to block your IP address in all browsers, but you will have to turn it on and off.
Step 2. Open your iPhone settings
Tap the Settings app icon, which looks like a gray box with gears inside.
Step 3. Scroll down and press
General.
This option is near the top of the Settings page.
Step 4. Scroll down and tap VPN
This button is at the bottom of the page.
Step 5. Click the Add a VPN configuration… button
This button is at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Select a VPN type
Click on the text field Guy and then in the type of connection of your VPN.
If you don't see your VPN connection type, it means you can't use it on your iPhone
Step 7. Enter your VPN information
Fill in all the text fields that include the text "Required".
Step 8. Press Done
This button is in the upper right corner of the screen. When you press it, you will return to the VPN page, where you will see a blue check mark next to it.
Step 9. Press the white "Status" switch
This option is located at the top of the screen. When pressed, it will turn green
Step 10. Enter your login information when prompted
Enter your password (or other authentication information) in the pop-up menu, and then tap To accept. This will cause the iPhone to connect to the VPN, allowing you to browse without your IP address being visible.
Method 5 of 5: Use a VPN on Android
Step 1. Subscribe to a VPN service
When you subscribe to a VPN service, you will generally receive a username, password, and VPN server address. Please note that VPN service subscriptions are not free and generally must be paid monthly.
- Usually one of the considered best alternatives for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Linux is ExpressVPN.
- Downloading a free VPN program is a different process, as it will allow you to block your IP address in all browsers, but you will have to turn it on and off.
Step 2. Open your Android settings
Usually this app resembles a white gear with a colored background and is located in the Drawer app.
You can also slide the screen down and tap the gear icon located in the drop-down menu that appears
Step 3. Press VPN
You'll usually find it at the top of the Settings page, though you may have to scroll down to see this option.
- On some Android devices, you may need to press the option first Plus under the "Wireless Connections" section.
- If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, first press Connections, later More connection settings and finally VPN.
Step 4. Press the ＋ button or Add VPN.
This option is in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 5. Enter your VPN information
In the respective fields, enter the name of the VPN, the type of connection, the server address, the username or the password.
Depending on the type of connection you select, you may have some additional options
Step 6. Click Save
This button is in the upper right corner of the screen. By pressing it, you will save your VPN settings and add the VPN connection to your Android device.
Step 7. Select your VPN
Tap your VPN to open its page.
Step 8. Connect to the VPN
Enter a username, password, or credentials as needed, and then tap CONNECT. This will activate your VPN, which will hide your IP address in the process.
Advice
- Hotspot Shield is a free and simple VPN for Windows and Mac computers.
- Generally, proxies only hide your IP address in a specific browser while it is in use, whereas VPNs hide it every time you are online.
- Always research the VPN or proxy of your choice.
Warnings
- Even with the IP address blocked, a determined hacker could eventually expose it. Never think that a VPN or proxy offers you complete immunity, and exercise the same precautions you would use if your IP address was unblocked.
- If your VPN service manages to disable or lose connection, your IP address will be exposed. To avoid this, many desktop VPN programs have a "kill switch" feature that will start your computer offline as soon as the VPN fails or is disabled, in order to protect your IP address.