I don't know about you, but I don't trust anyone online these days.
Unless you're one of those hopelessly trusting people, it is a smart idea to find out how to hide your online IPs from your ISP and other online parties.
On your mobile devices, it is even more important to keep your location and IPs under wraps, since our phones these days contain an insane amount of private info about us. There are many reasons why you might want to change your IP address on Android devices, but whatever your reason, there are a few fool-proof tricks that you should learn.
What Is An IP Address?
IP stands for "internet protocol," which refers to rules that dictate how data is transmitted on the internet.
Your IP address is a specific number assigned to you that reveals your geographical location of your internet-connected device. When a website sees this address, it can then tell where you are located on the internet, allowing or blocking content from you according to this location.
How Android Users Get Assigned IP Addresses
Any time your device connects to a network online, it is assigned an IP automatically. Based on your IP address, your online service provider, third parties, and websites can see your location and track your online activity. They can also block you from websites based on this location and address.
Taking a few very simple measures before accessing the web can help you maintain your online anonymity so that you cannot be tracked at any point online.
Why You Need To Hide IP Address On Your Android Device
Here are some of the most common reasons why you will need to hide your IP address on your Android device:
To access geo-blocked content:
If you want to access region-locked content on major platforms like Netflix or Hulu, you will need to hide your actual IP address which reflects your restricted location. Streaming sites are only allowed to air content that is licensed for distribution in specified regions, so if you are in the wrong region, short of hopping a plane, hiding your real IP address is the simplest solution.
If you connect to a VPN or proxy server in a country you choose, you will appear to be in your server region instead of in your actual region. Your IP will then reflect this server location, allowing you to access Hulu even from the Middle East, or BBC iPlayer from the USA.
To get past firewall restrictions:
If you are in a school, at work, or in a country with firewall restrictions, changing your IP address is the best way to get past this firewall.
Whether it is the government or your network administrator that is blocking access to websites, changing your address will fake them out, making them think you are elsewhere and allowing you to bypass any firewalls.
To ensure online privacy:
To ensure that your online activities are private and that you are doing your utmost to protect sensitive information, your best bet is to hide your IPs.
Heighten security:
Keeping your IPs hidden by using a VPN is a great way to enhance your security online. This not only hides your identity from hackers or cyber-spies, but it also encrypts your online traffic, so if anyone is able to get their hands on your activity, it is all indecipherable.
Keeping your IPs hidden also ensures that your physical location is kept under wraps so that you are never in physical danger if a cyber-attacker is able to detect your location.
Download files safely:
If you are downloading files without hiding your IPs, your files can be easily intercepted, and you can even be held accountable personally if you are caught downloading any illegal or copyrighted files. If you are unidentifiable, you can ensure that you are not going to get into trouble if your files are exposed.
Ways to Hide Your IP Address on Android
Here are some of the most reliable ways to hide your IP address on your Android device:
- Use a VPN:
Using a Virtual Private Network is the simplest and most secure way of hiding your IP address on Android. When you use a VPN, you can connect to a VPN server nearby or in a remote location. When your online traffic leaves your server, it is then given a new IP address that corresponds to your server's location instead of your actual location.
A VPN also encrypts your online traffic so that any activity that is potentially intercepted will be completely indecipherable by any hackers. This process of encryption is very important if you are sharing any private files or personal information online.
The provider that we most highly recommend for hiding your IPs is vpnzone. vpnzone has over 250 servers in 43 countries, so there is always one to connect to if you want to change your IPs in no time.
Use Tor:
Tor (the Onion Router), unlike VPNs, is decentralized, so it is operated by a network of volunteers worldwide, and your online activities are sent through random sequences of nodes, ensuring that only the last node can see your IPs. While you can use Tor to hide your IP address, it is not as reliable as using a VPN.
Tor, because it sends your traffic through multiple stops, is also a slower option to use, so we would certainly not recommend using Tor if you are doing any activities that require speed, like downloading pictures or videos.
Use Proxy Servers:
A proxy server is used to conceal your IPs and location. Using a proxy server will not encrypt your online traffic though, so if you want to make sure your internet traffic is completely secure and private, VPNs are a better way to go.
Connect to a new network:
If you change your network, you will no longer have the same IP address. This means that if you feel like you are being tracked, followed, or blocked, you can change your network (such as to a public wifi network or another private one) to get a new IP.
Keep in mind, though, that the safest networks are ones that use passwords, and that some networks (like most public ones) can pose other risks.
Reset your modem:
This isn't foolproof, but it is a very easy way to potentially change your IP. To do this, unplug your router, wait 30 seconds (or longer, if possible) and then plug it in again. After your connection is disrupted with your ISP, you will be assigned a new address.
Use NAT Firewall:
You are most likely protected by a NAT firewall if you are using a wireless router. If this is the case, a NAT firewall lets many devices on a common network use shared IP addresses (public) but private IPs that are unique to your device. (A NAT firewall will only hide your private IPs.)
Why Use vpnzone for Hiding Your IP Address
Not every VPN provider works equally well when it comes to hiding your IP address online. For this reason, we are recommending our favorite VPN service, vpnzone, which has been the most consistent of all of the VPN services we have used when it comes to privacy, reliability, speed, and ease of use.
When you connect to one of the server options offered by vpnzone, you can easily protect your online traffic and get one of the new IPs that corresponds to one of vpnzone's servers in more than 43 countries. Connecting to one of these remote servers will make it appear that you are actually in your server country instead of your actual country.
vpnzone is easy to install and use, compatible with your Android or iOS devices, and offers software support if needed 24/7, which is a huge asset.
You can either try out vpnzone for 3 days for just $1 or opt to sign up for a long-term plan and have the option of canceling within 30 days for a full refund.
Can My ISP See Real IP Address?
Without the use of one of the tools mentioned above, your ISP can see your real IP address.
If you use VPN protection, connecting to one of the VPN servers will hide your real IP address and encrypt your internet connection.
FAQs
How can I hide my Android phone IP address?
Android users can hide their IP addresses on their Android devices by using one of the reputable VPNs, like vpnzone. To do this, connect to a server in a remote location, and, voila! Your address will be changed.
Does a VPN Server change the IP address on Android?
Downloading your VPN's Android app from the Google Play Store and connecting to a VPN server will change your IP address on Android devices.
Conclusion
If you are looking to hide your IP address on your Android devices, there are a few different routes you can take. While there are a handful of options, like using one of the proxy services offered on the web, connecting to a proxy server to hide your IP address is not as secure as using a VPN app.
When you use a VPN to hide your IP address on Android devices, your internet activity is then encrypted and completely indecipherable. In addition, your new IP address, which will correspond to your VPN server location, will help you unblock all sorts of geo-restricted services that were previously out of reach on your Android mobile device.
VPN apps are really simple to use, but we would not recommend going with a free VPN service, since these are typically unsuccessful at keeping your IP address hidden. To easily and reliably hide your IP address on your Android device, the smartest choice is to try vpnzone.
Use vpnzone Today!
