How to Hide Your IP Address (VPN, Proxy, Tor)

Why Hide Your IP Address?

Your IP address is exposed every time you connect to the internet. Websites see it, advertisers use it, and in some cases, it can be used to approximate your location.

There are legitimate reasons to hide your IP:

• Privacy: Prevent websites from tracking your location
• Security: Encrypt traffic on public Wi-Fi networks
• Access: Bypass geographic content restrictions
• Protection: Prevent DDoS attacks in gaming
• Anonymity: Protect identity in sensitive situations (journalism, activism)

Before hiding your IP, check what it currently reveals by using our What's My IP tool. You can also trace your own IP to see the exact data visible to every website you visit.

There are three main methods to mask your IP address. Each has different strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases.

Method 1: VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. All your internet traffic passes through this tunnel, and websites see the VPN server's IP instead of yours.

How a VPN works

Without VPN:
  Your device (203.45.67.89) ──→ Website
  Website sees: 203.45.67.89

With VPN:
  Your device ──[encrypted tunnel]──→ VPN Server (104.16.85.20) ──→ Website
  Website sees: 104.16.85.20

VPN technical details

1. Your device connects to the VPN server using a tunneling protocol
2. A secure encrypted tunnel is established
3. All traffic is encrypted before leaving your device
4. The VPN server decrypts your traffic and forwards it to the destination
5. Responses return through the VPN server and back through the tunnel
6. Your real IP is never exposed to the destination

Common VPN protocols

VPN pros and cons

Pros:

• Encrypts ALL device traffic (not just browser)
• Fast enough for streaming and gaming
• Easy to use (install app, click connect)
• Hides IP from websites, ISP sees only encrypted traffic
• Bypass geo-restrictions (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, etc.)
• Kill switch prevents IP leaks if connection drops

Cons:

• Monthly subscription cost ($3-12/month)
• Adds latency (10-50ms depending on server distance)
• VPN provider can see your traffic (choose a no-log provider)
• Some websites block known VPN IP ranges
• Does not provide true anonymity (VPN provider knows your real IP)

When to use a VPN

• Daily browsing privacy
• Public Wi-Fi protection
• Streaming geo-restricted content
• Gaming DDoS protection
• Remote work security

Method 2: Proxy Server

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet. Your requests go to the proxy, which forwards them to the destination using its own IP.

How a proxy works

Without proxy:
  Browser (203.45.67.89) ──→ Website
  Website sees: 203.45.67.89

With proxy:
  Browser ──→ Proxy Server (198.51.100.10) ──→ Website
  Website sees: 198.51.100.10

Proxy types

Proxy vs VPN: Key differences

Proxy:
  - Only covers specific application (usually browser)
  - Usually no encryption (except HTTPS proxy)
  - Often free (but risky)
  - Faster (less overhead)

VPN:
  - Covers ALL traffic from your device
  - Always encrypted
  - Paid service (trustworthy)
  - Slightly slower (encryption overhead)

Proxy pros and cons

Pros:

• Often free (browser-based proxies)
• Fast (minimal overhead)
• Easy to set up in browser settings
• Good for quick IP masking
• SOCKS5 proxies work with any application

Cons:

• Usually no encryption (traffic can be intercepted)
• Only covers one application, not entire device
• Free proxies are often untrustworthy (may log or inject ads)
• Less reliable than VPNs
• Does not protect against DNS leaks

Setting up a SOCKS5 proxy

# SSH SOCKS5 proxy (free, using your own server)
ssh -D 1080 -N user@your-server.com

# Configure browser to use localhost:1080 as SOCKS5 proxy

This creates an encrypted tunnel to your own server. This is effectively a DIY VPN and is one of the most secure proxy methods available.

When to use a proxy

• Quick IP changes for web browsing
• Accessing region-locked websites
• Web scraping with rotating proxies
• Development and testing

Method 3: Tor (The Onion Router)

Tor routes your traffic through three random volunteer-operated servers (relays), encrypting it at each step. This provides the strongest anonymity of all three methods.

How Tor works

Your device ──→ Guard Node ──→ Middle Relay ──→ Exit Node ──→ Website

Encryption layers (peeled at each node like an onion):
  [Layer 3 [Layer 2 [Layer 1 [Your Data]]]]
  Guard Node decrypts Layer 3
  Middle Relay decrypts Layer 2
  Exit Node decrypts Layer 1
  Website receives plain data

No single relay knows both who you are AND what you are accessing:

• Guard node knows your IP but not your destination
• Middle relay knows neither
• Exit node knows your destination but not your IP

Tor circuit example

You (Sydney) → Guard (Berlin) → Relay (Tokyo) → Exit (Toronto) → Website
Website sees: Toronto exit node IP

Tor pros and cons

Pros:

• Strongest anonymity available
• Free and open source
• No registration or payment required
• Decentralized (no single point of trust)
• Access to .onion sites (hidden services)
• Even if one relay is compromised, anonymity is preserved

Cons:

• Very slow (traffic bounces through 3+ relays worldwide)
• Not suitable for streaming or large downloads
• Some websites block Tor exit nodes
• Exit node can see unencrypted traffic (always use HTTPS)
• Only covers Tor Browser traffic, not entire device
• May attract attention from network monitors

When to use Tor

• Journalism in censored countries
• Whistleblowing and sensitive communications
• Research on sensitive topics
• Accessing censored websites
• Maximum anonymity requirements

Head-to-Head Comparison

Verification: Confirm Your IP Is Hidden

After setting up any of these methods, verify that your real IP is no longer visible:

1. Visit What's My IP - you should see the VPN/proxy/Tor IP, not your real one
2. Use our IP Lookup to trace the new IP - it should show the VPN server's location, not yours
3. Check for DNS leaks at dnsleaktest.com
4. Check for WebRTC leaks (can expose real IP even with VPN)

# Quick command-line verification
curl https://tracethatip.com/raw
# Should show VPN/proxy/Tor IP, not your real IP

Which Method Should You Choose?

Choose VPN if: You want daily privacy with good speed, need to protect all device traffic, and are willing to pay for a reliable service.

Choose Proxy if: You need a quick IP change for web browsing only, are doing development/testing, or want a free temporary solution.

Choose Tor if: You need maximum anonymity, are in a censored environment, or are handling extremely sensitive information.

For most people, a VPN is the right choice. It provides the best balance of privacy, speed, and ease of use.

Summary

All three methods hide your IP address from websites and services, but they differ significantly in speed, security, and anonymity level. VPNs offer the best all-around protection for daily use. Proxies are useful for quick, lightweight IP masking. Tor provides the strongest anonymity but at a significant speed cost.

Related articles:

• What can someone do with your IP?
• Public vs Private IP addresses
• How to change your IP address
• Check your current IP exposure