When you think about hiding your IP address, using a VPN is the first thing that will come to your mind. Have you ever thought about the other options that can be used to hide your IP address? Though using VPN comes with a lot of advantages, it does come with a lot of disadvantages as well. Hiding the IP address has now become essential considering the abundance of data that is shared on the internet. If you are among such people looking for ideas to find how to hide your IP address without VPN, we have got you covered. This article is going to be a perfect guide in learning how to hide my IP address without VPN.
How to Hide My IP Address Without VPN
We have shown the ways to hide my IP address without VPN network in details.
What is an IP Address?
An IP address is a serial number that identifies every device uniquely on the internet. It carries out the transfer of data from one device to the other. The IP address is further categorized into two types: IPv4 and IPv6.You can read more on our blog difference between IPv4 and IPv6.
Pros and Cons of using a VPN
Using a VPN has a fair share of its pros and cons.
Pros of VPN
- Using a VPN enhances the safety and security of your activities on the web.
- It lets you access the geo-restricted and censored content on the internet.
- It allows you to stay anonymous online.
- VPN changes your online location, hence you get access to restricted local content.
- It enables you to escape government surveillance.
Cons of VPN
- Only paid VPNs are recommended, as you cannot rely on a free VPN.
- It does not protect you against anti-VPN technology.
- Few countries have banned the use of VPNs.
- End-to-end encryption may slow down the speed of your internet connection.
- Server traffic makes the VPN connection weaker, it might also drop down.
Based on the pros and cons you can decide if VPN will be the right pick for you. If not you can continue reading the article to find out how to hide my IP address without VPN.
Ways to Hide my IP Address without VPN
There can be multiple reasons why you would hide your IP address. Here we bring you other options that you can use to hide your IP address other than using a VPN. These methods will clear all your doubts regarding whether can you hide your IP without a VPN.
Method 1: Use Proxy Server
Using a Proxy server is an easy way to hide your IP address without using a VPN. However, it works similarly to a VPN. It works by directing your internet connection through a server in between which acts as an intermediate. Though proxy servers have proved to be effective in hiding IP addresses, it does lack the safety and encryption features compared to using a VPN. Therefore, it can be used once in a while to cover a specific website or an app. You can visit our blog Top 9 free proxy software for Windows 10 to know more about the best proxy servers available. Moving on you will read about the next method that you can use to find out how to hide your IP address without VPN.
Method 2: Use Tor Browser
Using a Tor browser is the most convenient way of hiding your IP address. The best part about using this method is that it is completely free of cost. Tor stands for The Onion router. It is a unique browser that blocks tracking unlike the popular browser Chrome and Firefox. It automatically clears your cookies and history as well. The websites you visit do not see your real IP address, as the browser replaces it with another IP address. You can easily download and install this browser. Using the Tor browser provides three times more encryption than any other browser. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.
Method 3: Use NAT Firewall
Using a NAT firewall is an indirect method of hiding your IP address. It does not hide your IP address but makes it private. This method only works when you use a Wireless router to get an internet connection. While doing so you are automatically behind a NAT firewall. NAN enables multiple devices to use the same public IP address but a unique private IP address. Therefore, all the devices connected to the firewall will share the same public IP address. Read more about the best firewall authentication app on our blog 15 best firewall authentication apps for Android devices.
Method 4: Use Public Wi-Fi
Using Public Wi-Fi also works similarly to the above-mentioned method. You can find public Wi-Fi in parks, restaurants, cafes, libraries, metro stations, and many more places. It may not be the most convenient way to hide your IP address, but it still can be used occasionally or as and when required. Public Wi-Fi hides your IP address temporarily and uses the IP address of its own. This method is only considered safe with the use of the VPN as your web activity can be monitored by the ISP or any other individual. However, you can use a proxy or Tor browser to ensure safety and security on public Wi-Fi.
Also read: 11 best Wi-Fi temperature and humidity sensors
Method 5: Change Networks
Changing your network is another way that answers can you hide your IP without a VPN. When you change your network, the IP address changes simultaneously. It might be the best solution if you need to hide your existing IP address only once. Therefore, you can use this method accordingly as and when required.
If you are still wondering about the question can you hide your IP without a VPN. You can go through the rest of the methods that we have mentioned below.
Method 6: Use Prepaid Data SIM
Most telecom companies provide free or prepaid data SIM. This method is again a temporary solution to hide your IP address. It can be used on mobile devices and USB Wi-Fi dongles. While using the data SIMs on these devices, you will be directed to a new IP address. You can use this IP address until the data pack is over. The only drawback to this device is the IP address can be traced using the IMEI number of the device. Hence, you can use this method temporarily as per your requirements.
Also Read: How to find someone’s IP address by phone number?
Method 7: Use Mobile Hotspot
Using mobile hotspots is very common. This method will also answer your question about how to hide your IP address without VPN. Similar to the above-mentioned methods like using a public Wi-Fi and a NAT Firewall, this method also uses the same technique. When you use a mobile hotspot, you temporarily switch to the IP address of the hotspot device until you are connected. However, this method also provides you with temporary solutions.
Method 8: Contact ISP
Contacting your ISP turns out to be an effective method when you have major issues with the current IP address and you want to switch it to a new one. With a valid reason and your account information, you can easily change your IP address. This method can be used in most critical situations as IP addresses are being recycled to preserve the depleting IP addresses. You will also have to go through an application procedure and an extra fee to get your IP address changed.
Method 9: Replug Router
Unplugging the router is another efficient method of getting rid of your current IP address. This method may not work every time, therefore you can give it a try. All you need to do is unplug your router and plug it back after some time. As soon as you lose the connection, your current IP address gets recycled and when you establish the connection again you get assigned to a new IP address. This method is a simple way of hiding IP addresses without the use of a VPN.
Also Read: Fix server IP address could not be found on Windows 10
Why is it Important to Hide my IP Address?
We have brought you a list of reasons that are considered important to hide your IP address. These reasons are listed as points below:
- Hiding IP address as it secures your activities on the web.
- It prevents you from advertisement tracking.
- It allows you to stream geo-restricted content from Netflix, Hulu, and other video streaming platforms.
- It lets you stay anonymous and increases your privacy on the web.
- Hiding the IP address enables you to bypass government restrictions in case of banned websites and apps.
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This article was all about hiding IP addresses without using a VPN. We hope that this guide was helpful and you were able to learn about how to hide my IP address without VPN. Let us know which method worked for you the best and if you liked the article. If you have any queries or suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comments section below.
