VPNs have been a hot topic in recent years, with many people rushing to purchase one or subscribe to a service so that their devices and identity can be as safe as possible. But what do these services really do? These are the most important things to know if you’re using a VPN: and whether it can change or hide your IP address.
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Does a VPN Change or Hide My IP?
A VPN does hide your IP! By setting your location and IP address as something else, a VPN cloaks you from the rest of the world and allows you to vanish online. Although you can still get in hot water for breaking the law, this can help anyone who has anxiety about their information being stolen or tracked or someone who frequently uses the public internet and worries about their information getting out there. A VPN is a powerful tool everyone should consider investing in for their internet use.
When Should I Use a VPN?
VPNs can be awesome tools when you need to hide your identity from the world. This could mean that if you want to stream a show that’s only available in a different country, or when you want to check airline tickets and hate that they go up when you go back with cookies on the site. A VPN can also generally help protect you from your information getting out there in daily use and is a helpful tool for everyone.
Is There Anything Else I Can Do to Protect My IP?
Beyond downloading a VPN so nobody can do an IP address lookup on you, it’s also a good idea to make behavioral changes so that you have good online health. If you want to be as careful as possible, it’s good to avoid clicking links that aren’t from people you know and trust. You should also ensure that you avoid joining public networks as ‘private’ ones on your computer and be careful about what information you share with strangers online and in person.
Why Should I Be Cautious Protecting My IP?
Your IP address gives up a lot of information about you. Not only does it make it so anyone can recognize your devices if you use a site more than once with the same IP address, but it also gives away your physical location and internet provider. Although it doesn’t give your exact location, it gets more than close enough and can help people narrow it down to even a street.
What Can’t a VPN Do?
Generally, VPNs can’t do anything to protect or save information that’s already been put out there and won’t protect you from viruses. If you already have cookies with a site, you’ll have to clear them before you are able to be cookie-free with a VPN. Beyond this, your identity won’t be entirely anonymous, with there still being ways for government entities to track you if need be.
Careful Online Behavior Is Vital to Protect Your Identity
Regardless of whether you use a VPN or not: it’s important that you do everything you can to protect your identity online. Changing online behavior and investing in a VPN will ensure you’ll be protected against endless risks.
