How to Hide Your IP Address
Your public IP quietly tags nearly everything you do online. Hiding it means routing your traffic through another address before it reaches the open internet.
VPN
A VPN encrypts your connection and exits through a server in another city or country. It’s the everyday option: fast enough for streaming, easy to set up, and it protects you on public Wi-Fi too. The trade-off is trust, your VPN provider can see your traffic instead of your ISP.
Tor
Tor bounces your traffic through three volunteer relays. Each relay only knows the hop before and after it, so no single node sees both who you are and what you’re doing. It’s far slower than a VPN, which is why most people save it for sensitive browsing.
Proxies
A proxy swaps your IP but usually doesn’t encrypt anything. Fine for changing a geolocation check, not fine for privacy.
Quick sanity check
After switching anything on, visit the home page and confirm the IP and location changed. If it still shows your real city, something leaked, usually DNS. The DNS tool helps you verify where your lookups are going.
Related tools
Once your VPN is on, confirm the change with the home page IP check and read about what your IP reveals.
Further reading
A practical decision guide
| Use case | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday browsing on a budget | VPN | Good balance of speed and privacy |
| Journalism, activism, heavy threat model | Tor | Stronger anonymity, slower |
| Quick geo change for a single app | Proxy | Simple, but usually no encryption |
| Whole household on one router | VPN on the router | Every device is covered |
What hiding your IP does not solve
- It does not stop tracking by logged in accounts like Google or Facebook.
- It does not encrypt traffic end to end inside the VPN or Tor exit.
- It does not make you immune to malware, phishing, or browser fingerprinting.
- It can actually leak your real IP through WebRTC, DNS, or IPv6 if your setup is not configured carefully.
After you switch tools, always verify with the IP check on the home page and run a DNS lookup to confirm your resolver is not leaking.
FAQ
Is using a VPN legal?
In most countries, yes. A few countries restrict or ban VPNs, so check local law before traveling.
Will a VPN slow my internet down?
Usually a little. A nearby server often costs 5 to 15 percent of your speed. If the drop is much larger, try a different server or protocol.
Can my ISP see what I do with a VPN?
Your ISP can see that you are connected to a VPN server, but not the sites you visit or the content you transfer.
Is Tor free?
Yes, the Tor Browser is free and open source. Some onion services and premium relays have costs, but browsing itself is free.