Internet Provider

10 Sites with Software for Browsing the Web Anonymously

Posted by admin on 03/30/2011 | 0 Comments

Your IP address is your identifying mark as you browse the web, use instant messaging and send emails. You cannot browse the web without an IP address. It is essential to how the web works. In spite of this, there can be many reasons why a person may not want their true IP address to be available to the websites they travel to. In those situations, there are software applications you can use to mask your true IP address as you travel the web or send out emails.

The list below shows ten different software applications that you can use to hide your IP address and some of the reasons why you might want to keep your true internet address a secret.

1. Hide My IP - The website for this software shows your ip address and your location when you log on to the site. Obviously, it is making its point that your IP address is no secret. It promotes the fact that the software will show a fake ip instead your real address and lists several of the benefits you can gain from this. A fake IP address can prevent hackers from gaining access to your computer. It can also allow you to gain access to forums that have blocked you in the past. By changing IP address that appears when you browse it can even give you the appearance of being from another country.8012091295
2. Anonymizer Anonymous Surfing - Have you ever wondered how come the advertising on websites you visit seem to be targeted right at you? That comes from tracking your IP address. It tells them where you live and what sites you’ve visited in the past. This software package mentions the fact that it can protect you from that kind of advertisement targeting. It also will help prevent spyware from finding its way to your computer and notify you when you stumble upon a phishing website. This software uses the proxy method of hiding your IP. This means that it routes your browsing through their website so it appears that their location is your location. It provides a buffer wall, in essence, to hide your true identity.
3. Ghostsurf - This software works differently than most of the others. Instead of hiding you behind a proxy website, it simply scrambles your ip address so that it no longer gives a true reading.  The software is also customizable to different levels of privacy, rather than being a once size fits all solution. It will exclude sites that you still want to see your true ip.  It is also available at a very affordable price.
4. TOR - In its promotional material this software talks about some of the unique reasons that people use their software to keep their IP addresses hidden. They mentioned businesses using  the software to keep their research on the web confidential, activists using the software to access information without revealing their identities,  journalists protecting their identities as they research stories, and military and law enforcement personnel who need to keep their identities and locations protected for security reasons.
5. Smarthide - Websites that have blocked you from accessing them, use your IP address to identify you. Smarthide promotes the fact that it can help you regain access to those sites.. It also says that it can keep anyone from knowing what kind of files you’ve downloaded off the internet and will keep your online logins and passwords secure.
6. Hide Your IP Address - This software promotes its ability to help safeguard you from identity theft by hiding your IP address from criminal computer hackers.
7. Hide the IP - Along with providing some of the same basic features of many of the other software listed here, this package provides the option of choosing which location you would like your fake IP address to be connected to.
8. IP Changer - If you are working or living abroad you may want to have an IP address that points to your home country instead of your current residence. Just one of the uses suggested for this software. Their website also stressed that their software is not intended for use in illegal activities. They even make the statement that you shouldn’t expect it to keep law enforcement from finding out you are.
9. Easy Hide IP - This software promoted its ease of use. It will install a toolbar on your browser to make changes and selections regarding your IP identity easy to do while you’re browsing.
10. CCleaner - This freeware package provides more than privacy. It sweeps your web tracks clean, cleans your registry, and empties your recycle bin. It combines system optimization software with a privacy and cleaning tool.

Many of these software packages are marketed heavily towards countries where internet traffic is tightly restricted and offering users the ability to access sites that are normally out of bounds for someone with their IP addresses. Whatever your reason for wanting to hide your true IP address, you have plenty of software options to choose from.