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What is a VPN and can it hide my IP address?

What is a VPN and can it hide my IP address?

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There is a lot of misinformation about VPNs, what they do, and the security benefits they provide. For this article, I would like to do some myth about how a VPN actually works and why you should use one.

What is a VPN and how does it protect me?

A VPN is an app that you install on your device to help keep your personal data safe while you browse the internet

You may have heard that VPN apps live on your device and allow you to connect to the Internet securely. What this means is that when your VPN app is running, your device makes a secure connection to a specialized computer that routes your internet traffic, called a VPN server. You may also have heard that your connection is “wrapped in an encrypted tunnel” which means that your device and server share a secure connection so that only you can see what you’re doing on the Internet.

Does a VPN change my IP address?

Each Internet connection (such as a cable modem) is assigned a unique set of numbers, called an IP address, which correlates with information such as geolocation, ISP, etc. A VPN replaces your actual IP address to make it look like you’re connected to the Internet from a different location: the VPN server’s physical location, rather than your real location. This is just one reason why so many people use VPNs. This can come in handy when you want to hide from ad trackers or protect your search history.

How to use a VPN to change my IP address

To change your IP address, simply open your VPN app, locate the server you wish to connect to, and you’re done. You are now browsing with a new IP address. If you want to make sure your IP address has changed, open a browser and search for β€œWhat is my IP address” and click on one of the results.

When should I use a VPN?

When to use a VPN really depends on what you want it for. For example, 39% of users realize that public Wi-Fi is not secure but still do sensitive things, like banking or shopping on public WiFi, so using a VPN when you’re at the airport or in a coffee shop is a great use case.

As I mentioned before, a lot of people use a VPN for privacy reasons, such as preventing advertisers from being tracked. The searches you make or the websites you visit will not be trackable, which means that you will be able to surprise your spouse with a vacation that you have researched and planned on a computer that you both use. Targeted ads can spoil things if your wife is bombarded with ads for plane tickets and hotels while she’s browsing.

Can a VPN protect my search history?

A VPN protects your search history with the secure connection you share. When you search for a website, or type a URL into your navigation bar, your device sends something called a DNS request, which translates the website into the IP address of the web server; This is how your browser can find the website and present its content to you. By encrypting your DNS requests, a VPN can hide your search habits and history from those who may use this information as part of creating a profile for you. This type of information can be used in many ways, from serving legitimately targeted ads to infamous social engineering.

Can a VPN protect my identity?

A VPN can protect your identity by preventing online trackers from following you online. With your VPN turned on, trackers will think that all of your browsing is coming from a different device in a different location. This gets rid of the profile that advertisers are trying to create because they think you’re someone else.

Another way a VPN can protect your identity is to prevent some types of hacking. Stopping attacks on public WiFi networks where a bad actor is trying to connect you with the website you are visiting is just one way VPNs can help. It’s called a man-in-the-middle attack, but that’s a topic for another article.

Does a VPN make me anonymous?

No, a VPN cannot make you anonymous. It helps secure what you’re doing, but your ISP still knows when you’re using the internet. They can’t just see what you’re doing, what sites you’re visiting, or how long you’ve been on the site.

Do I need a VPN if I use incognito mode?

Private browsing modes can help protect your privacy, but are useful if you share a device with other people and don’t want them to see your search history. You can read all about the differences in the article I wrote a little while ago.

What is Apple Private Relay?

Apple’s Private Migration is currently in beta and will be available with an iCloud + subscription for Safari users on iOS and macOS soon. It is similar to Private Relay VPN in that it changes your IP address so that the websites you visit cannot determine exactly where you are.

What does Apple Private Relay do?

When Private Relay is turned on, your device connects to a server that sends your browsing data to a second server, before it goes over the Internet. The reason for the double hop is that the first server gives you a new IP address, which makes it more difficult to track you, while the second server hides that information from the website you’re browsing. The first server only knows your original IP address, the second server only knows what you’re browsing, but not your IP address.

How to turn on Apple Private Relay on iPhone

  1. Tap the iCloud tab in Settings
  2. Click on Private Relay to play it
  3. Scroll down and tap Run for Safari
  4. Click the IP address location to change the approximate or wider location

How to turn on Apple Private Relay on Mac

  1. Click iCloud in the System Preferences menu
  2. Click the special relay box
  3. Click the Options button
  4. Click on Private Relay for Safari
  5. Choose your IP address location to change the approximate or wider location

Do I need a VPN if I have an Apple Private Relay?

Private paging only works with Safari on iOS and macOS. Even if you use an Apple device, a VPN is still a good idea because it will protect the information your device sends outside of Safari.

How to get your own VPN

If you are already subscribed to McAfee Total Protection, you can access unlimited VPN usage. Protect your personal information, such as your bank and credit card information, from prying eyes with McAfee Total Protection’s secure VPN. If you haven’t already signed up, now is the perfect time. McAfee Total Protection brings security to all of your devices, giving you peace of mind while shopping, banking, and browsing online.

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