How To Know If My Ip Address Is Being Tracked
Are you being tracked on internet? Know how to find out – The …
NEW DELHI: Yes, you are being tracked on internet and several entities are keeping dossier on you. It is so common that you must have found that out yourself. Google does it all the time and so do your social media sites. While this kind of tracking is for commercial purposes such as showing you ads that you would be interested in, you can also be tracked by cyber criminals which can result in harm or serious breach of privacy.
Google knows your every move on the web
Google knows a lot about you. Why? What does Google gain by tracking the activities of its users? Quite simply, Google earns money by doing so. A large part of Google’s revenue is based on advertisements and the impressions they gain through users. So, the Google way of advertising is quite simply showing you advertisements that are tailored to your needs.
So, your Google searches, voice searches, location changes, all are tracked and stored by Google so that the advertisements can be as tailored and accurate as they can be.
But Google is not the only big corporate that does targeted advertising. Targeted advertising is the easiest way for a user to know that his movements in the web world are being tracked, but companies still do it because that is how integral the cyber space has become to human life.
All get to know about you
Another basic example of user activity being tracked on the internet is the inter-connectivity between different websites. Let’s take the example of e-commerce and social media. It is easy to notice that as soon as one searches for a product on Amazon or Flipkart, various advertisements of similar products appear on your Facebook home page.
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It would make sense for a user to divulge such information for a tangible benefit or reward. But on the internet, allowing yourself to be tracked brings you only an advertisement, and you don’t have a say in whether you want to see that ad or not. So it is important that users take control back and ensure that they are suitably protected on the web.
Malicious tracking
Google keeping a dossier on you is not as dangerous as a cyber criminal tracking your moves. It can happen through malware that get installed on your computer, your smart TV or even your webcam. Always keep your webcam covered. There is malware that can get into your computer or smart device and switch on cameras and recorders to access your private activities.
While it’s hard to protect your personal information on the internet with 100% effectiveness, there are a few easy steps you can take that will make you a lot safer. According to Kaspersky Lab, these are certain ways in which you can manage your privacy and ensure that you are not tracked on the internet.
Monitoring your outgoing traffic
the Windows Start button and type ‘cmd’ to launch the Command window, which will display as a black box with white text reading ‘C:\Users\Your Username’.
‘netstat’ next to the prompt and press ‘Enter’ to generate a list of all outgoing data transmissions. The Netstat command works best when you have as few applications opened as possible, preferably just one Internet browser. The Netstat generates a list of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that your computer is sending information to. Some of these IP address are legitimate and correspond to websites or services that you are using.
cument each IP address reported by Netstat and launch a Web browser. Enter each IP address into your browser’s address bar and press ‘Enter’ to attempt to locate where the information is being sent.
Locating stealth apps
your taskbar and select ‘Start Task Manager’ to launch your task manager, a list of all running processes on your computer.
all programmes except for one Web browser.
the ‘Processes’ tab, then select ‘User Name’ and browse through the list to view all processes running on your computer. Processes that do not include your username may be an indication of malicious software running on your computer.
Do not personalise Google Ad settings
But possibly, the most interesting part of protecting yourself on the web comes through Google’s ad settings page. Google creates a personal profile for each of its individual users based on the user’s specific interests. It is based on this profile that various ads keep following you around the internet. Therefore, it important that your ‘ad personalisation’ option on your Google account is left unchecked.
Such problems arise especially when you sign into a specific user account on Google Chrome, for ease of internet access across various platforms. But, in doing so, you put your own personal information at risk of being misused.
Incognito mode will not help
There is a myth that browsing in incognito/private mode on your browser would solve all these problems. But even this won’t completely stop ads. There are further measures that must be put in place, including different browser add-ons, which let you customize what you’re blocking.
Hot Spot Shield hides IP addresses. IP addresses are generally used to link data and other information that a website knows about you. For instance, the website could get to know your country or city based on your registration details on the site. IP addresses are often what law enforcement authorities ask internet service providers for during various investigations.
Just log out
Don’t remain logged into your social media accounts all the while. You are easy to track if you are always logged into your social media account because you are letting the social media company know whatever you do on internet. Once you are logged out, your surfing cannot by tracked by your social media company. Ditto for email. You can also use special software that block tracking.
In summary, your every move in the cyber space is being tracked by someone or the other. It is up to you to ensure that all you security measures are in place. Otherwise, it is as simple as you allowing your personal information to be misused by a third party.
(This article is from our Cyber Crime special series ‘Dangers of Living in a Connected World’)Stay on top of technology and startup news that matters. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest and must-read tech news, delivered straight to your inbox.
How do I Hide My IP Address? – Avast
What is an IP address, anyway?
An IP address is a series of numbers that identifies your device or network on the internet. Activity on the internet is a series of two-way communications between clients — software, such as a web browser, that requests data — and servers, which reply to clients with responses. Every client has an IP address that tells servers who is making the request.
So, it’s easy to understand what an IP address is and also why they’re important. IP addresses let search engines like Google know where to send the results of a search, help websites know who’s visiting their site, and make sure you receive the emails that are addressed to you.
In other words, IP addresses undergird how the internet works in general. Thankfully, it’s very easy to find your IP address if you need this information.
Three ways to hide your IP
Now, let’s take a look at three tools you can use to hide your IP address. Each offers its own blend of privacy, security, and practicality.
1. Use a VPN
A VPN is an intermediary server that encrypts your connection to the internet — and it also hides your IP address. A VPN encrypts all your traffic, not only in your browser but also in other apps, and then passes traffic onward to its destination. They’re a popular privacy solution, and as such, there’s a strong incentive for VPN providers to design tools that are as easy to use as they are secure.
Here’s how to hide your IP address with a VPN: Simply download a VPN such as Avast SecureLine VPN, log in, and turn it on to protect both your IP address and your internet traffic.
How does a VPN hide your IP address?
When you’re using a VPN, your IP address is hidden because your traffic takes a detour through the VPN server. When your traffic — sites visited, online apps used, uploads, downloads, etc. — reaches its destination, it does so under a “virtual” IP address assigned by the VPN.
There’s only one party who’ll be able to see your actual IP address: your VPN provider. That’s why you should choose a trusted VPN provider that isn’t going to keep logs on your activity.
Avast SecureLine VPN is a safe, secure, and convenient way to mask your IP address. It’ll hide your online activity from your internet service provider (ISP), employer, school, and anyone else on your network, including a snooping cybercriminal. And we never keep any logs on sites you visit, apps you use, or content you view.
2. Use Tor
Comprising thousands of volunteer-run server nodes, Tor is a free network that conceals your identity online via multiple layers of encryption. When you access Tor, typically by using the free Tor Browser, your traffic is relayed and encrypted through a series of three relay nodes, each of which decrypts one layer of encryption to learn the identity of the next node. When your traffic leaves the final node, it’s fully decrypted and sent to its destination.
The relay system hides your IP address, but not without cost: because Tor’s encryption system is so thorough, it takes a long time for your traffic to complete its journey. You’ll be sacrificing browsing speed for Tor’s anonymity. This is a worthwhile tradeoff when it really counts, such as for whistleblowers and political dissidents. But if you’re simply seeking to hide your IP address, when comparing Tor and a VPN, you’ll find a VPN to be a far more convenient and faster solution.
How does Tor hide your IP address?
When you use Tor, each relay node along your traffic’s pathway through the Tor network knows only the IP address of the node immediately before and after it. Even if an attacker manages to intercept your traffic while it travels from the final node to your destination server, it’d be very difficult at that point to parse your original IP address.
3. Use a proxy
A proxy server handles your internet traffic on your behalf. A proxy sits in front of a client or network of clients, forwarding requests while also receiving and delivering responses from servers. You may need to manually adjust your device’s proxy settings if you want to use a proxy.
Unlike a VPN, most proxies won’t encrypt your traffic, and they also won’t hide your IP address from anyone who can intercept your traffic on its way from your device to the proxy. Proxy servers, especially free web-based proxies, tend to be less reliable than VPNs. That’s why proxies are best used as a quick, temporary solution as opposed to a long-term privacy plan.
How does a proxy hide your IP address?
Some proxy servers can mask your IP address with a fake one. You’ll appear as though you’re based in the same country as your proxy server. If you’re using a proxy to hide your IP, be aware that not all proxies offer equal protection.
Transparent proxies conceal neither your IP address nor your use of a proxy.
Anonymous proxies hide your IP address but not your use of a proxy.
High anonymity (or elite) proxies hide both your IP address as well as your use of a proxy.
Some sites or content platforms may block traffic from known proxies, so you’ll have to be careful if you’re trying to use a proxy to access media.
Why should I hide my IP address?
Your IP address identifies you online, and in today’s data-driven world, your online activity is very valuable. It’s important to hide your IP address so that you can regain control over your privacy while you’re online. Among other sensitive info, your IP can reveal your shopping and buying habits as well as your physical location. So why hide your IP? You’ve got plenty to gain, and not much to lose.
Hide your IP to browse anonymously
Advertisers and marketers can track you across the internet and analyze your browsing habits with the goal of marketing to you more effectively. Unfortunately, even hiding your IP address won’t stop them, because tracking cookies also deliver this information — which is why you should regularly take the time to delete cookies from your browser.
To take private internet browsing to the next level, consider a dedicated private browser like Avast Secure Browser. It includes a range of advanced anti-tracking features to let you use the internet without leaving any clues behind that companies and individuals can use to follow your activity.
Hide your IP to shield your location
Hide your IP address behind another IP in a different part of the world and no one will know where you really are. This includes websites and services that host geo-restricted content. For example, if you’re traveling abroad and want to access movies or TV shows that are available only for your home country, you can use a VPN or proxy to unblock that website with a false IP address in the correct location.
Many IP addresses are linked to a real-world address, or at least to a general location. If you’re frequently using false IP addresses to change your online location, no one will be able to figure out where you actually are.
Can my IP address ever truly be hidden?
While it’s not possible to hide your IP address from everyone, you can achieve an effective level of privacy sufficient for everyday needs. With a VPN, the only entity that can link your online activity to your IP address is your VPN provider itself. This is why it’s so important to choose a VPN provider with a reliable reputation for security, and one that doesn’t keep logs of user activity.
Your ISP can see the type, timing, and amount of traffic you’re sending to the VPN server, but they won’t know the specifics. The same goes for Tor. Many proxies don’t encrypt your traffic, and so your ISP will be able to access your activity if it wants to while you’re using a proxy. And, as mentioned earlier, all the websites and services you use while connected to a VPN will see only the VPN’s IP address, not yours.
The primary purpose for hiding your IP address is to protect your online activity and location from third-party observers: websites, advertisers who use ad tracking techniques, and cybercriminals. When your safety and privacy is at risk, it’s important to be proactive.
What is IP masking?
IP masking is the technique of concealing your IP address by adopting a false one. This is how hiding your IP address works — they’re two ways to refer to the same thing. If you’re interested in learning how to mask your IP address, you can apply the same techniques described in this article. After all, the only way to hide your IP address and still use the internet is to mask it behind another one.
Your traffic is always going to need an IP address online, since that’s how websites and services know who’s making the requests and where to send the replies. Clients use IP addresses to reach servers, and servers use IP addresses to send requested data back to the correct client.
That request-and-response system is part of the TCP/IP model, which governs how devices on the internet communicate with one each another. IP addresses are classified in a variety of ways: IPv4 vs. IPv6, public vs. local, and static vs. dynamic IP addresses. Read more about IP addresses here.
Hide your IP the easy way with a VPN
Avast SecureLine VPN lets you hide your IP address by choosing from any one of our blazing-fast servers located in dozens of countries all over the world. With your online activity securely encrypted and our no-logging policy, you’ll be able to easily access blocked content, disrupt tracking techniques, and browse the internet freely, with complete confidence in your online privacy.
Can I Be Tracked by my IP Address – WhatIsMyIP.com®
Is it feasible to track my IP address if known by others?
Someone has my IP address, can they find me?
When you connect to the internet through your Internet Service Provider(ISP), they assign an IP address. Your IP address is similar to your mailing address, but for your computer, on the internet. While the IP address used to route internet traffic to your computer it does not reveal your location. If someone was able to get your IP address they could learn a bit about your internet service, such as which provider you use to connect to the internet, but they really can’t locate you, your home, or your office.
In some circumstances they may locate the city you are in, or perhaps a nearby city, but they will not have your physical address. Once they trace you back to your ISP they will lose your trail. While strangers may not be able to find you, your ISP knows where you are. ISPs will generally go to great lengths to protect you and your privacy but they do keep logs of your connections.
One big exception involving law enforcement. If you were to participate in illegal activities then a law enforcement agency can get a court order and submit it to your ISP to request your information. Obviously, easily finding you with law enforcement involved.
In the end, the simple answer is no, that you are unable to track my IP address. If someone was to get your IP address they can not find you. There are other ways you can be located but this isn’t one of them. Posting your name and town online via social media, more likely tracked, than by your IP address.
Frequently Asked Questions about how to know if my ip address is being tracked
How do you stop someone from tracking your IP address?
Three ways to hide your IPUse a VPN. A VPN is an intermediary server that encrypts your connection to the internet — and it also hides your IP address. … Use Tor. Comprising thousands of volunteer-run server nodes, Tor is a free network that conceals your identity online via multiple layers of encryption. … Use a proxy.Apr 8, 2020
Can I be tracked by my IP address?
While the IP address used to route internet traffic to your computer it does not reveal your location. If someone was able to get your IP address they could learn a bit about your internet service, such as which provider you use to connect to the internet, but they really can’t locate you, your home, or your office.
How do I know who is accessing my IP address?
How to Find Out Who is Using My IP AddressVerify that a system has an overlapping IP address. … Access a Windows command prompt. … Type “ipconfig” into the command prompt. … Look in the output of the command to identify the IP address assigned to your network interface. … Turn off the computer.More items…
