VPNs also give you the fastest connection speeds, help you access and stream content from anywhere, support torenting, and encrypt your data for maximum security. While there are a few ways to mask your IP address, it’s hard to beat the safety and reliability of a VPN. High-quality VPN services like NordVPN are an easy way to hide your IP address, and they also protect your privacy and anonymity with strong security protocols.
You can also turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning, if you want to make it harder for apps and services to pinpoint your exact location. Usually, location spoofing is based entirely on IP, and sometimes DNS, depending on the service. So if your device has a GPS sensor and you’re giving websites access to it, they can pretty much detect your real location in no time.
Another big reason to hide your IP address is to bypass restrictions put in place by websites, service providers, and government agencies. Many workplaces and schools also block access to certain kinds of online content. Changing your IP address allows you to get around these restrictions. Since your computer and other devices need an IP address to access information online, there’s no way to avoid IP addresses altogether. The only way to hide your real IP address is to mask it with a different one.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by installing a virtual private network on your device. A VPN allows you to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if you’re connected to a private network, thereby hiding your physical location.
Nevertheless, it’s important to note that anything can be hacked. This is especially true if you are a high-value target and your adversary has enough time, funds, and resources. The good news is that most users do not fall into the “high-value” category and are therefore unlikely to be singled out. After you connect to your ISP, initiate a VPN connection through the software you’ve installed on your device. From there, the VPN server fetches the requested web pages and returns them to you through a secure tunnel, thus keeping your data secure and private.