The digital world of technology makes everything accessible on the internet. It has become tough to maintain privacy and anonymity. Your IP address is the only factor that can monitor your activity. Therefore protecting your IP address is essential. Creating a fake IP address is the only way to protect your IP address. It protects your online activity from being tracked on different platforms. It includes websites, government authorities, and social media platforms. In this article, we will explain different methods of creating fake IP addresses along with their benefits.
What is an IP Address?
An IP address is referred to as an internet protocol address. It’s a numerical number provided to every device connected to the internet or network. Because of IP addresses, it is possible to exchange data between different devices. It makes sure that every piece of data is being tracked. That’s why you encounter ads while searching for a product online. However, receiving personalized ads is not unsafe; it enhances your browsing experience. But besides that, there are several benefits of hiding your IP address.
What is a Fake IP Address?
A fake IP address is different from the IP address assigned by the internet service provider. Fake IP address is not actually ‘Fake.’ It’s a real IP address, which has been created through IP-changing tools such as a VPN server and web proxy. Anyways, establishing a connection without a valid IP address from both sides is impossible. People use it to conceal your actual IP address. It is used to protect your online activity from being tracked.
What are the advantages of using a fake IP Address?
1. Anonymity:
It helps in maintaining the privacy of your actual IP address. It is used to prevent your online activities from being tracked. The use of fake IP addresses makes it difficult for websites to identify your profile.
2. Bypassing geo-restrictions:
Many websites come with geo-restrictions. These websites do not allow you to get access to its content. By using fake IP addresses from a different region, it is possible to get access to its content and bypass the restrictions. It cannot be possible otherwise.
3. Enhance Online Privacy:
Fake IP address helps prevent a lot of sensitive information such as your location and other identical information about you. It adds an extra layer to your privacy.
4. Improve Online Security:
In some cases using a fake IP address protects your actual IP address from being attacked by hackers. A fake IP address makes it difficult for hackers to target malicious activities.
5. Avoid IP Blocklists:
It’s the database of undesirable addresses provided by web organizations. If a service sees your IP address on an IP blocklist, it will simply not allow you to connect. It’s a typical approach of blocking people from private computer game servers, as the authority of the servers has the right to blocklist your IP address. Using fake IP addresses can help you to get around these blocklists.
6. Access local shops and services:
Online shopping websites and app stores can provide different things to locals and foreign visitors. It provides faster updates, better prices, and services to local visitors. With the help of fake IP addresses, these sites will recognize you as locals and give you more options.
However, it is advised to use fake IP addresses at your risk. It can lead you to legal consequences if you use it for illegal activities.
How to Create a Fake IP Address:
There are multiple methods, which can help you to create a fake IP address. Find some of the most popular methods listed below-
1. Use a VPN:
AVPN is referred to as a Virtual Private Network. It helps in protecting your IP address. It does this by connecting your device to someone else’s network. A secure VPN conceals your IP address. It also encrypts all of the data of your online activities. Additionally, VPN protects your IP address from different organizations like social media platforms, search engines, ISPs, and government authorities that track the activity connected to it.
For a more secure connection, it is best to use a premium VPN. It will not encrypt your data even if requested. NordVPN is the most secure network for creating fake IP addresses with extra security layers.
How to set up a VPN for Firefox?
- Open your Firefox browser and visit the Browser add-ons page.
- Search for the name of the VPN extension that you wish to install.
- Choose the VPN plugin and hit the ‘Add to Firefox’ button.
- Launch the VPN and connect it to a VPN server.
How to set up a VPN on Microsoft Edge:
- Open Microsoft Edge and click on settings.
- Click on Privacy, search, and services.
- Turn on the ‘Microsoft Edge Secure Network’ from the ‘security’ section.
- Hit on the ‘Add a site’ button.
- Confirm the site name.
How to add a VPN in Chrome:
- Open your Chrome browser and visit the Chrome Web Store.
- Choose the VPN and hit the ‘Add to Chrome’ button.
- From your toolbar launch the VPN.
- Connect to a VPN server.
2. Use a Web Proxy:
Web proxy works and appears like an intermediary between you and the Internet. This will allow you to access a website’s content through a fake IP address. It does not provide as much security as VPN networks. Web proxies are not able to encrypt your connection. Even if you conceal your IP address through a web proxy, still ISPs and government authorities can track your data. Other than that some Java scripted websites can see your actual IP address. It can cause a threat to your online security. Therefore, always use a web proxy server with a high level of security.
How to add a Web Proxy in Firefox:
- Open the Firefox browser and select ‘Preferences’
- Click on the ‘General’ tab on the settings page.
- Scroll down to ‘Network Settings’ and click on ‘Settings’.
- Click on ‘Manual proxy configuration’.
- Enter the proxy’s address and port in the HTTP Proxy field.
- Hit the ‘ok’ button.
How to add a Web Proxy in Microsoft Edge:
- Open the Microsoft Edge and visit the home page.
- Click on three dots and select ‘settings’.
- Type ‘Proxy’ in search settings, and click on ‘Open your computer’s proxy settings’.
- Select the ‘Use a proxy server option’, and enter the proxy’s address and port from the address field.
- Click on the ‘Save’ button.
How to add a Web Proxy in Chrome:
- Open your Chrome browser and visit the homepage.
- Select ‘Settings’ from its menu bar.
- From the network settings, click on ‘Change proxy setting.’
- Click on ‘LAN setting’ from the connections tab.
- Select the ‘Use a proxy server option’, and enter the proxy’s address and port from the address field.
- Click on the ‘OK’ button.
3. Use Public Wi-Fi:
Public Wi-Fi is the easiest method to connect your device to someone else’s network. You don’t need to route your traffic by their network. You can prevent your actual IP address from being tracked by using Public Wi-Fi.
However, using public Wi-Fi involves risks. Most public Wi-Fi can encrypt all your data by default. It includes login credentials such as username and password. Additionally, using public Wi-Fi is the most used method by hackers to steal your data. It can also infect your device with malicious activities. Therefore, you might hide your IP address by using public Wi-Fi; still, you are introducing yourself to several other security and privacy risks.
4. Use Tor Browser:
Tor browser is also referred to as an onion router. Tor browser prevents your actual IP address from being tracked. It routes your data through numerous hubs before sending it to its final destination. The only drawback of using the Tor browser is that you can’t select your exit hubs. It makes it difficult to control your fake IP address. That’s why; many websites do not allow you to get access by using the Tor network to defeat the purpose of creating fake IP addresses.
How to connect the device from the Tor Browser?
- Visit the official Tor website and install the Tor browser.
- Once the installation is complete, hit the connect button.
It will connect your device to the Tor network. After this you can browse the internet privately. However, it is very important to know about security. So, read all the security tips before using the Tor browser. You can find these online security tips on the Tor browser’s home page.
Conclusion:
It is a world of the latest technology. This is essential to have a secure online experience. It is also important to protect your privacy. The only method for this is by creating a fake IP address. Here we have mentioned different methods of creating fake IP addresses along with their benefits.