In today’s day and age, the virtual world is everything but private. With that said, for those of us who want to stay as secure as possible, changing our IP address is an essential step. While changing an IP address can seem like an online luxury, the reality is that it’s your due right and necessity if you don’t want every snooper to keep their eyes on your online activities.
Believe it or not, changing an IP address is not unusual as it may seem. There are millions of reasons why someone would want to change their IP address, three most common ones are:
- Protecting their privacy and security
- Changing their location
- Avoiding restrictions
For those who never changed their IP address, the very thought of doing it can be overwhelming. However, there’s no need to worry. Changing your IP address is easy, safe, and, as long as you’re not using it to break other laws, legal.
There are several ways to modify your IP address, one of the most common ones being with a VPN. When you use a VPN, the service will automatically make you appear as though you have a different IP address. In which country VPN is safest and best for you highly depends on your location.
While we will go in-depth with other methods for changing an IP address, bear in mind that using a reliable and trustworthy VPN provider, like Le VPN, remains the best option, regardless of the digital device you use.
Use a VPN and Change Your IP Address to Another Country
Imagine the following scenario. You are finally done with work and are ready to relax, chill and call it a day. Then, you realize that your favorite TV shows are blocked from your location. Inconveniences like this may seem minor but can be very frustrating and can ruin a whole day.
However, by connecting via VPN, you are circumventing those minor inconveniences from happening and much more. A VPN will keep your public IP address private and notify the network that you’re connecting via a different location, thus changing your IP address. Simple as that.
For lots of people, the primary reason for using a VPN is to protect their data so that it can’t be intercepted or stolen. The fact that your location can become concealed from the websites and services you use is the most appealing thing about VPNs.
To change your IP address, you must subscribe to a reliable VPN service, preferably one based in a country with strong privacy laws. Then you need to download their app, and you’ll be set to go.
The whole process is very simple, as you just need to turn on your VPN app and choose a favorable location.
Changing Your IP Address Via Smart DNS
Smart DNS is a popular alternative software similar to a VPN, though it does not support data encryption, which can lead to security hazards on the internet. The lack of encryption on this software means that traffic going in and out of your device is not protected at all.
Although changing your IP address is far from mandatory, it is something that everyone should at least think about doing, especially those who live in the top 10 internet censors countries in the world.
There are many reasons why changing your IP address via smart DNS should not be your primary option for resolving your problem. When using Smart DNS, your public IP address remains untouched, and only the URLs are re-routed.
This also means that you can only unblock specific sites using DNS, which kind of kills the whole point of being safe and private when surfing online.
A Smart DNS is the best for those whose purpose of changing their IP address is only to stream video from a service that hasn’t blocked the Smart DNS, at home and pretty much nowhere else.
In that case, then this will provide the quickest speeds as there is no encryption. However, if interested in using it on multiple devices in different locations, then the VPN is a better option.
Use Tor Browser to Change Your IP Address to Another Country
One of the best options to change your IP address without hassle is by shifting your browser to the Tor browser. The Onion Router, a.k.a. TOR browser, was initially developed for the US military. With that said, you can imagine the level of privacy and safety this browser can offer to a person.
This free and easy-to-navigate web browser enables you to hide your true IP address regardless of your location. To do that, you will have to download the Tor browser and proceed with other instructions.
Generally, their default settings are solid for anonymity and security. However, this option has some downfalls you should be aware of before making any decision.
If you thought about streaming video or music with Tor, you can immediately forget about it, as it’s very slow. It is even slow for basic browsing, let alone watching movies or TV shows.
Additionally, the Tor browser is used to access the Dark Web, meaning that ISPs and the Feds are monitoring who is using this browser. One thing you can try is to apply a combination of a VPN and TOR to ensure the ultimate anonymity and security.
Conclusion
Overall, we are confident that changing your IP address is a necessity at times. The choice of which method to choose solely depends on your requirements and preferences. However, one thing stands – the king of all options is using a robust VPN.
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Written by Vuk Mujović @VukMujovic
Vuk Mujović is the founder of MacTíre Consulting, an analyst, data management expert, and a long-term writer on all things business & tech. He authored blogs, articles, and opinion pieces aimed to help both companies and individuals achieve growth without compromising their security. Vuk is a regular guest author to Le VPN Blog since January 2018, where he gives his expert opinion on the topics related to cybersecurity, privacy, online freedom, and personal data protection. He also often shares his tips and best practices in relation to internet security and digital safety of private individuals and small businesses, including some additional applications of using a VPN service.