is there any way to hide your ip address from everyone?
Sure - assign your device an IP address and don’t connect it to any other device.
IP addresses are how data finds its way around the Internet. If no one knows your IP address, then you are not going to be able to access the Internet.
There are a couple of parties who will always have to know your IP:
- Your ISP, router and all other parties involved in routing because they need to send the data to the right computer. Your ISP is most likely also assigning IP addresses.
- You (duh)
- Services you connect to because they need to know where to send a response to.
It is possible to technically connect to a VPN server / TOR / some other proxy, but whatever you choose, you’ll always have to give your IP to someone. What you’re trying to do is like sending someone a letter without a return address and expecting an answer. It’s just not gonna happen.
Okay, maybe you’re just way too scared. So let’s end this comment with common IP address myths:
- “IP addresses give away your location.” I can see where this is coming from. Most IPs let you roughly approximate the holder’s location. Huge emphasis on roughly. You can expect it to maybe give away the next big city near you, but never something remotely accurate.
- “If someone has an IP address, they can DOS you.” That’s just wrong. A DOS involves making the target computer perform a lot of complicated operations. Attackers usually make their target do a lot of searches, check a lot of long passwords, create a lot of accounts, etc. The problem is: Your computer probably doesn’t provide an option to do this over the internet.
- “A leaked IP allows hackers to hack your computer.” True. If you’re running vulnerable programs that can be exploited over the internet and your router’s firewall is set to allow incoming traffic. It doesn’t allow it by default; that’s why you have to do port forwarding. Do you host a server on your personal computer? I doubt it. Listen, an IP is not the vulnerability. I think this myth exists because websites where you have to hack an intentionally vulnerable machine are kind enough to give you an IP so you connect to the right one. Whenever you have open ports on the internet (and you don’t), automated scanners will try to hack it anyway.
- “People can track you with your IP.” While you indeed use the same IP for everything, it’s just not good for tracking. See, the truth is: We’ve already run out of them (IPv4). To combat this, multiple people (maybe your entire household or more) use the same IP. Also, when you restart your router or after some time, you’re assigned a new IP. Cookies, stuff websites learn about your browser settings, and so on are just way more reliable.
No, you need an IP in order to use a network. Someone will always have your real IP like your ISP.
Other than that, you can only obscure it using VPN or other tunneling methods etc.
Others are mentioning VPNs; it’s obvious, but in the event OP doesn’t know (as they stated “everyone”), even with a VPN, the VPN provider will know your IP address.
Nope. There is always a way to trace it back to you. You need to be worried about far more than your IP address.
is there any way to hide your ip address from everyone?
You can’t hide your IP address from everyone. While you can use a VPN to hide your activity from your ISP, you can’t hide your IP since the ISP assigned it to you in the first place and, most importantly, they need it to make your internet work. Also, if you are using a VPN, your VPN provider knows your IP as well. Regardless, a better question to ask yourself is, why would you want to hide your IP unless you have specific reasons, which everyday users most certainly don’t need to worry about. Read my FAQ #1 at the link below to help you understand why you don’t need to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. If interested, you may also want to read #3, which briefly talks about VPN.
https://blog.selvansoft.com/2024/09/cybersecurity-faq.html#1
Well. Tor is the only proven way to mask your ip reasonable well
Not to mention the careful discipline it would take to make sure it’s extremely effective. Make sure some kind of kill switch is enabled, don’t use those same accounts you are trying to hide IP from on any mobile device, making sure the device you are using doesn’t have other methods of finding your location like a GPS, making sure the OS itself isn’t collecting telemetry, using a VPN with an email account that is private and doesn’t link you back to your own IP, etc.
Vpn isnt good idea (i think) bcs it log everything what you do
its not the only proven way, but for accessing the clear net its likely the best option
This is where trust comes into play.
Not all of them do. And even then, you trust only them instead of all the DNS and website servers you would otherwise give your IP just to talk