Introduction
Does VPN change IP address? Every device communicating over the internet is assigned a unique identifier called an IP address.
This digital identity enables communication across devices but also entails major concerns about privacy and security.
VPN has widely been adopted and used because of its promise of online privacy and access to restricted content. This begs the question of whether a VPN masks the IP address or changes it. Let’s get to it.
What Is an IP address?
Every device that logs onto the internet gets assigned an IP. It is used to identify your device from the others.
There are two groups of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. Although IPv4 is widely used, the trend is gradually shifting toward IPv6 since IPv4 addresses are starting to become highly exhausted.
Your IP address can say a lot about you: your general geographic location, who’s your Internet Service Provider, and, in extreme cases, your very identity.
With it, all websites, advertisers, and hackers can follow you everywhere. Your ISP assigns an IP address to each device that connects to the internet.
This address is necessary because devices use it to converse with each other on the internet. Without an IP address, your device cannot send or receive information.
How Do VPNs Work?
The VPN conceals your real IP from the sites and shows only the IP of an assigned VPN server. It provides a cloak of anonymity along with security. VPN encryption keeps data out of reach from prying eyes.
This will be especially important for free, open Wi-Fi hotspots, normally left unsecured and hence usually targeted by cybercriminals.
Does a VPN Change My IP Address?
Yes, a VPN will change it. When it starts connecting with the VPN, your computer’s visible real IP address will change to another one issued by the VPN server. This is one of the prime roles a VPN plays in enhancing your digital privacy and security.
Take, for instance, being in Kenya and connected to a VPN service based in the United States; this will make your IP address appear to be accessing it from the US.
This can prove pretty beneficial in several respects, which we will discuss in the next section. Many prefer using VPNs because it changes their IP to avoid geographical restrictions.
Advantages of Changing Your IP Address with a VPN End
Some advantages of using the best free VPN to change your IP address are as follows:
1. Enhanced Privacy and Security
A VPN provides privacy to your online activity since your real IP is covered by hiding it. No website, advertiser, or hacker will trace the actual motives that drive your patterns of activity online.
VPN encrypts your data. That means if anybody wanted to intercept your data, they would not be able to understand it. This is important to secure sensitive details such as passwords, financial information, and private messages.
2. Geo-Restricted Content Access
Many of these websites and online streaming services offer streaming content that is normally geographically restricted. With a VPN, you can select an IP address for that location thereby evading those different types of restrictions.
For example, if you want to watch a show on Netflix only UK users can view, you can connect to a VPN server in the UK. Then, you are unrestricted to enjoy your watch.
3. Protection Against Tracking and Data Harvesting
The advertiser and data miners use the IP address to trace your activities online and build a profile related to your preferences and behavior.
This change in your IP via a VPN will prevent any such entities from gathering that information, guaranteeing your privacy.
Many websites track online behaviors using cookies and other tracking technologies. Trackers can sometimes display targeted ads in an annoying way.
With a VPN, this tracking is limited as it hides your IP address, making it even more challenging for advertisers to build up a profile about you.
4. Avoiding Bandwidth Throttling
Most ISPs monitor your online activities and limit bandwidth if they discover you are engaged in bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming.
If you are using a VPN This way, your IP address will change using a VPN so that you avoid this throttling since what you do online is not visible to your ISP.
5. Increased Security on Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks usually act as very perfect hotspots for cybercriminals. Anytime you connect to public Wi-Fi, your information is highly susceptible to sniffing.
As convenient as Wi-Fi networks from public hotspots are, they also have big security risks.
The criminal could also set up a false Wi-Fi hotspot to phish for data. A VPN encrypts your data so that even if an interception occurs, nobody will be able to read it.
Disadvantages of Using a VPN
Here are some disadvantages of using a VPN.
- Slower Speeds – Routing your traffic through a VPN server can slow down your speed on the internet.
- Cost – Now, even though there are free VPN services, in general, better security and a faster connection are provided by the premium ones, for which one sometimes has to pay for their service.
- Legal Issues – In some countries, bypassing of restrictions by a VPN can be illegal. Therefore, ensure to know the legal position in your region.
Selecting the Right VPN
You have to choose a good provider to access all the benefits a VPN can offer. The most important things to consider are:
- Geographical locations of servers – Choose a provider with servers in different countries.
- Speed and performance – Select a service provider that provides you with a connection that is fast and whose access is going to be stable.
- Security features – Your VPN should employ strong encryption protocols and adopt a no-logs policy.
- Compatibility-Ensure the VPN supports your devices and operating systems.
Conclusion
Does a VPN change the IP address? Well, the VPN does change your IP address. It provides many benefits, such as access to geo-restricted content, prevention of tracing, and improved security while browsing the internet. A VPN is a simple and effective means of logging in clandestinely online and preserving privacy.
