Cybersecurity 
Some common cyber threats facing the retail industry include ransomware attacks, social engineering, system intrusions and insider threats. The retail sector is often targeted by cybercriminals
4 min read
Published on December 10, 2024
You can protect your IP address by hiding it and masking your location to prevent cybercriminals from impersonating or tracking you. An IP address, also called an Internet Protocol address, is a series of unique numbers that identifies your device on the internet or the network it’s connected to. Your IP address allows information to be sent across a network and distinguishes your device from others on the internet. Since your IP address reveals identifying information about you, it is important to protect it because cybercriminals can use it to track you or target you with scams.
Continue reading to learn what may happen if you don’t protect your IP address and how to hide it from people with bad intentions.
What happens if you don’t protect your IP address?
If you don’t protect your IP address, cybercriminals can do the following:
- Track your location: Someone with your IP address can determine your geographical location, narrowing it down to your state, city or even ZIP code. Even though your IP address will not reveal your exact location, cybercriminals can use the information it provides to conduct further research. They may publish the information they find about you online in a process called doxxing.
- Exploit your IP address: Using your IP address, a cybercriminal can download illegal content, including pirated games or inappropriate videos. If that illegal activity is traced to your IP address, it could be difficult to prove that you were not responsible for those actions.
- Target your network: Failing to protect your IP address can also lead to your home WiFi network being hacked. For example, if the IP address of your computer is compromised, a cybercriminal may be able to find other devices connected to your same home WiFi network and attempt to hack them.
How to hide your IP address from cybercriminals
The best way to protect your IP address from falling into cybercriminals’ hands is to hide your device’s private IP address and mask your location. You can hide your device’s IP address by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a proxy server, the Tor web browser or your phone’s mobile data.
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) protects your internet connection, online privacy and IP address by encrypting your connection. VPNs mask your IP address and allow you to use public WiFi without jeopardizing your privacy. Although there are many benefits to using a VPN, most charge a subscription fee, and some websites may block access when you use a VPN.
Use a proxy server
A proxy server is an in-between server so you can access online resources with enhanced privacy and security. Using a proxy server is an effective way to hide your IP address from cybercriminals because it retrieves data from the internet without exposing your identity to any websites you visit. Unlike most VPNs, proxy servers are generally free to use. If you need to access a website and want your IP address concealed, a proxy server is often a more convenient option.
Use the Tor browser
Even if your default web browser is Chrome or Safari, you can use the Tor browser specifically when you want to hide your IP address. Tor is a unique web browser that lets you browse the internet anonymously by scrambling data about your online activity, making it very challenging for anyone to track your browsing. The browser hides your IP address by routing your internet traffic through different nodes. However, because this process requires significant resources, using Tor may slow your internet connection, and some websites you attempt to visit may be blocked.
Connect to your phone’s mobile data
By turning off WiFi on your phone and relying on mobile data, you make your IP address much more challenging for cybercriminals to track because your IP address will change as you move. Even though connecting to your phone’s mobile data does not completely hide your IP address, it will change frequently, making your location harder to detect since you are not connected to a set WiFi network.
Should I be worried if someone has my IP address?
You don’t need to panic if someone has your IP address, but you should take the necessary steps to change it to maintain your privacy. Changing your IP address is as simple as unplugging your WiFi router for several minutes and then plugging it back in. When you reconnect your device to the router, it will have a refreshed IP address, making it easier to protect your identity from anyone with malicious intent.
Keep your IP address protected
Because your IP address can reveal private information about you, you should stay safe by hiding your device’s IP address and masking your location. Using a VPN, proxy server or Tor browser helps prevent your online activity from being tracked and keeps your IP address out of the wrong hands.
