How to Mask an IP for Programs

You are not as anonymous on the Internet as you might think. Even though your name, address and all other personal information are confidential, your computer's IP address provides other computer users with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and location. For users wanting complete anonymity on the web and in web-based programs, there are three ways you are able to hide your IP address.

• 1

  Use a proxy server. These come in two forms: website-based or browser-based. With a website-based proxy server, you will use a different computer by proxy and use its Internet browser for websites and web-based programs. The proxy's IP address will be used, and not your own. For browser-based proxy servers, you will reconfigure your own web browser and route the traffic through it to the proxy server, again masking your IP address.

• 2

  Download a proxy add-on for your web browser. You will find add-ons that will allow your browser to function similar to a browser-based proxy server. One of these, called a "Switchproxy," will cycle through varying IP addresses at regular intervals to keep your real IP address masked.

• 3

  Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPN services allow you to assign a different gateway city to your router, effectively changing your IP address to that city. For example, you may be in Denver, and your VPN could be in New York City. Your IP address would be masked to show you are "in" New York City.