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How to Hide your IP Address on a Mac | 5 Methods Revealed to Change/Disguise

Looking to hide your IP address and want to learn how to hide your IP address on your Mac? Although you can never fully hide your IP address, you can take precautions to change or disguise it using a variety of techniques. This article will be covering a lot of methods to cover your IP address on your Mac, and also give you the pros and cons of each method. 

Key Takeaways

  • IP addresses are separate addresses for your every device that can connect to the internet.
  • You can hide your IP address effectively with VPNs, Proxies, Tor browser, by changing your network, or you can ask your ISP to change it for you
  • Concealing your IP address is perfectly legal, but changing it and falsely advertising it online is not

Make sure to read till the end because that’s where we put the easiest choice!

What is an IP address?

Now before we start to cover up IPs, what are they? IP addresses are, as they say, addresses, but for each of your devices that can connect to the internet. It basically differentiates between devices across the internet, and I guess you do not be muddled and confused for some other device or for someone else. 

This is what an IP address looks like: 

IP address example displayed in chrome

Now this IP address is what the server recognizes your device by. This is an IPv4 IP address, meaning it has 4 parts to it. But there are IPv6 versions, which have 6 parts to their IP address, and are intended for high personnel and made public when we run out of v4 versions. 

Now, hiding your IP address provides you a defense against all kinds of attacks, web tracking that avoids a digital footprint or bypasses any filters, bans, or blacklists ranging from man-in-the-middle attacks, to also bouncing off signals to prevent you from being detected. But for the general public, it’s nothing more than a privacy measure to prevent attacks. Now, let’s do some IP masking.

Fair warning: Some of these methods are dangerous and are not the best thing to do to your internet connection, I will mention the ones that are dangerous.

Method One: Use a VPN Service

This is by far the most useful and safest of all the ways to hide your IP address.

A VPN or a Virtual Private Network is an exclusive network with added protection that can also allow you to go across countries and act as a device from your desired location by using proxies. 

Does work for all computers, android users, and other devices which have access to that VPN connection. Not only are you changing IP addresses, but you may also change your apparent geographical location, giving you access to content that is banned or not available in your country. The most recommended VPN app for the job would be ExpressVPN, but there are other VPNs that can do the same thing. Some VPNs come with antivirus packages which also include convenient features like Mac adware removal.

original IP address without VPN

changed IP address using a VPN as shown by Chrome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now how you change the IP address depends on the VPN service you’re using. A VPN will automatically change your IP address as soon as you use it, and proxies can get your location masked. The only downside to this method is the fact that you need to pay for these VPNs on a monthly basis, and they might weigh down on your pocket and are mostly unnecessary for people who rarely surf the web, and are meant for those who really want to watch content from other countries and want some extra security. 

The best free VPN for Mac use should be chosen accordingly with the right type of program in mind. You have many choices to use when getting a VPN ready, but you need to look at how you will make the most out of your content. The best Mac service will be something that protects you while online and ensures you don’t have your data stolen. You should have a solution that keeps your content secure, so nothing wrong develops on your computer. Be aware of what’s around, but don’t forget to see the terms of the free VPN service out there. You might find plenty of things to like about the VPN world, especially if you want to take advantage of what your Mojave-powered Apple devices can handle for your desires.

Some best VPNs are Tunnel Bear (free and paid), ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Hotspot Shield (free and paid version), etc. according to  Upside Down Blogger.

Method 2: Use a Proxy

proxy server internet infographic

Now if you are not that concerned about your security and want some basic protection for your IP address, you could use some proxies. VPNs too are technically proxies, but here they mean an SSL or SSH proxy. They are able to protect your IP address, but they also do not provide the additional security provided by VPNs. They also are not able to protect you from some higher-security DNS servers, which can still have access to your real IP address. They are still prone to some man-in-the-middle attacks.  

But they are free, so you still save money for a little less protection. There are also browser extensions that can act and give you the power of proxies, and they perform decently but are still not going to protect you from all attacks. 

Enter proxy server settings on Mac

If your computer is connected to a local network that’s protected from the internet by a firewall, you may need to specify proxy servers or use the FTP port passive mode (PASV) to access some internet sites. A proxy server is a computer on a local network that acts as an intermediary between MAC users and the internet so that the network can ensure security, administrative control, and caching service.

How to enter proxy server settings on Mac:

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Network.select from apple menu
    choices of system preferences apple
  2. Select the network service you use in the list — for example, Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
  3. Click Advanced, then click Proxies.
    proxy options mac
  4. If you configure your proxy server settings automatically, select Auto Proxy Discovery to automatically discover proxy servers, or select Automatic Proxy Configuration if you’re using a proxy auto-configuration (PAC) file. If you select Automatic Proxy Configuration, enter the address of the PAC file in the URL field. Check with your network administrator if you need more information.
  5. If you configure your proxy settings manually, do the following:
    • Select a proxy server, such as FTP Proxy, then type its address and port number in the fields on the right.
    • Select the “Proxy server requires password” tickbox if the proxy server is protected by a password. Enter your account name and password in the Username and Password fields.

Some proxies are paid, but there are also relatively safe free proxies, too.

Method 3: Change your network

I think I do not need to explain this, but I will anyway. Your network determines the IP address of your computer or device, and changing the network router can help you for some time when your IP is compromised. You could probably run a hotspot on your mobile, and it will cover your internet needs for some time. The downside of this method is that we cannot use this for heavy use, and it too can only help you for some time until this too is compromised. 

This method to hide your IP address is also very easy, but probably not one of the options with the current situations in the world. It’s just a valid method and is great for overall internet security.

Method 4: Use Tor (A web browser )

tor browser with purple background

Tor is the most secure browser out there. Originally designed for the US military and intelligence services, it has now been passed on to the public for more anonymity for the government. You could trust the US military to keep your privacy safe, at least for themselves, but you could stumble upon the dark web, which is accessed via .onion sites, which house all sorts of illegal activities, from drug trafficking to hitmen hiring services. So be careful while roaming around Tor. 

Method 5: Ask your ISP (Internet Service Provider )  to change it for You

If you have a friendly ISP then this is probably the best way, just ask them to do it for you! sit back and relax! 

You can do this on your Mac by going to your TCP/IP settings and asking for a new DHCP lease, which will give you a private IP address. Or to change the IP of your entire network, you can ask your ISP to change your ISP for you if your current IP is compromised. 

But remember one thing, you cannot hide your IP address from your ISP. So if that’s your aim, you could stop trying.

Anyways, I hope you found this article helpful. Thank you for sticking around until the end of the post.

Why you Should Hide Your IP Address

You don’t have to be involved in some shady business to benefit from using a VPN, which acts as an IP hider / IP blocker. 

So there are a lot of legit reasons why someone will want to hide their IP address online. With a secure VPN connection, you can browse the internet in peace without those annoying pop ads. Privacy is another thing. Should anyone have the right to know what you like to watch?

How Do I Know if My IP Address is Being Tracked?

There’s just no way of knowing who is running your IP address through any type of IP lookup service. It could be your bank, your real estate agent, or a tech-savvy teenager who’s also a hacker. It is possible to be traced by someone—a stalker, an investigator or even a criminal—via your IP address.

FAQs:

1. How do I hide my IP address for free?

There are two primary methods for concealing your IP address: through the use of a proxy server or through the use of a virtual private network (VPN). (There is also Tor, which is excellent for complete anonymity but is extremely slow and unnecessary for the majority of people.) A proxy server is a server that acts as an intermediary for the routing of your traffic.

2. How do I make my IP address untraceable?

Adhere to these steps.

1. Utilize a proxy server to conceal your IP address.
2. For free, use Tor to conceal your IP address.
3. Change your IP address by connecting to a different network.
4. Request that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) change your IP address.
5. Disconnect your modem from the power source to change your IP address.
6. Hide your private IP address behind a NAT Firewall.

3. Is hiding your IP address illegal?

Certainly not. While concealing your IP address is perfectly legal, changing it and falsely advertising it online is not. Additionally, this is a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

4. Does a VPN hide your phone location?

Yes, it conceals your physical location and IP address and assigns a new one to communicate with the website/server you seek. The user first establishes a connection to a VPN server.

5. Can I change my IP address?

It's as simple as unplugging your router to change to a different IP address. The simplest and quickest way to obtain a new IP address is to first determine your current IP address using an IP checker, then walk over to your router and unplug it for at least five minutes.

6. How do I hide my Safari IP address on a Mac?

To hide your IP address on Safari using a Mac, follow these steps.

- Tap Safari from the top menu bar of a Safari tab.
- Select Preferences.
- Click on the Privacy tab.
- Make sure Hide IP address is checked.

About Lawrence Jung

Lawrence graduated cum laude from Boston University with a B.S. in Journalism. He then started working with The New York Times for 3 years as an editor. Upon their acquisition of online review website the Wire Cutter he became exposed to the digital world of review-style articles and digital content. He was a writer for many tech review products where he developed his expertise in the electronic and PC peripheral space. He quickly got promoted to managing a writing team where he was responsible for training and managing a team of over a dozen writers. After being there for another 3.5 years, Lawrence left in late 2019 to help Dusan create VSS Monitoring, where he could help design and contribute to the site’s content and website’s architecture to develop what he wants to become THE top tech resource online.

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