As an example, suppose you begin a search on Google. That is your starting destination. When you click the link on one of the search results, your data moves along a route until it reaches the next destination, the link you clicked on. This continues until your browsing activity is done for the session. The data moving from one point to another is routed through different servers. Consider them something of an internet checkpoint. Each server logs your activity and your IP address.
And so a complete route of your internet activity is recorded by various servers and websites and other companies. When you use a proxy server, it is like driving those internet roads and highways in a secure, private limousine with darkly tinted windows. The limousine, which is the proxy server, has a different IP address than your current device that is connected to the internet. The servers, search engines, and other companies see only the IP address of the proxy server, and not your own.
The main reason people use proxy servers is to hide an IP address. All your internet activity is routed through the proxy server, keeping your own IP address hidden from prying eyes. Using a proxy server also improves security since it adds an extra layer of protection against hackers. And, if you want to browse the internet anonymously, using a proxy server is one of the best ways to hide your identity.
One of the biggest drawbacks of using a proxy server is that even though you are able to visit websites anonymously, the proxy server can still cache sensitive information such as the usernames and passwords you use to access an online account. Some inexpensive proxy might be incompatible with other server networks or your ISP. Or, you may be consistently annoyed by pop-up ads.
A virtual private network works in a somewhat similar fashion to a proxy server. When you connect your devices to a VPN before going online, your device will appear to be on the same network that the VPN is operating on. Your internet traffic data will be sent to the VPN via a secure connection and routed appropriately to the sites you intend to visit, effectively making your own IP address private and hidden. These days, it is recommended that anyone wishing to improve the security of their devices and internet activity utilize a VPN.
This is especially true if you often engage in internet activity while using public Wi-Fi. Accessing private accounts when using public Wi-Fi is a huge security risk, but when using a VPN, it offers much more protection from hackers. The VPN connection is encrypted and secure. VPNs are great tools for securing your data, such as private messages, passwords and usernames, financial information, and anything else that is a normal part of your digital footprint.
Using a VPN not only hides your IP address but also encrypts all the data related to your internet browsing sessions. Search for:. Aliza Vigderman , Senior Editor. Gabe Turner , Chief Editor. Each device comes with a unique IP address, but where in the world can you find it?
Windows 10 In the taskbar, select Wi-Fi network. Click on Network. Comprising thousands of volunteer-run server nodes, Tor is a free network that conceals your identity online via multiple layers of encryption. When you access Tor, typically by using the free Tor Browser , your traffic is relayed and encrypted through a series of three relay nodes, each of which decrypts one layer of encryption to learn the identity of the next node. This is a worthwhile tradeoff when it really counts, such as for whistleblowers and political dissidents.
A proxy server handles your internet traffic on your behalf. A proxy sits in front of a client or network of clients, forwarding requests while also receiving and delivering responses from servers. Proxy servers, especially free web-based proxies, tend to be less reliable than VPNs. Some proxy servers can mask your IP address with a fake one. High anonymity or elite proxies hide both your IP address as well as your use of a proxy. Among other sensitive info, your IP can reveal your shopping and buying habits as well as your physical location.
So why hide your IP? Advertisers and marketers can track you across the internet and analyze your browsing habits with the goal of marketing to you more effectively. To take private internet browsing to the next level, consider a dedicated private browser like Avast Secure Browser.
It includes a range of advanced anti-tracking features to let you use the internet without leaving any clues behind that companies and individuals can use to follow your activity. The internet servers you visit see only the IP address of that proxy server and not your IP address.
When those servers send information back to you, it goes to the proxy server, which then routes it to you. The problem with proxy servers is that many of the services out there are pretty shady, spying on you or inserting ads into your browser. VPN is a much better solution. All your network traffic is sent over a secure connection to the VPN. When you browse the web while connected to a VPN, your computer contacts the website through the encrypted VPN connection.
The VPN forwards the request for you and forwards the response from the website back through the secure connection. You can find services that range in price from completely free for limited use, like Tunnelbear , to blazing fast and works on all your devices for a small monthly fee like ExpressVPN. Installing a VPN is as simple as heading to the signup page, downloading the client app onto your device—Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, and Android are all supported by most of the best VPN providers—installing the app, and then logging in.
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