The Internet can be both heavenly and cruel at the same time, as contradictory as that sentence may sound. Since its invention and development, people have been able to find the best and quickest solutions to nearly all issues, problems, and situations, so it has really been a blessing in our lives.
However, there are notorious risks associated with the Internet that most people ignore. It can serve as an overly “public” platform, so people are falling victims of privacy breaches and violations at alarming rates. It is also the setting of numerous cybercrimes that may not feature blood, but are dangerous nonetheless: identity thefts, credit card duplications, ransomware, spyware, computer viruses, and a myriad of hazards often terrorize those who really care about web security.
As an innocent person runs away from the guy that chases him, or her, to steal his/her belongings, Internet users can also hide from hackers or, at least, make their jobs more difficult. A part of it involves hiding the user’s IP address.
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Hiding from the enemy
As we are about to learn, the Internet Protocol (IP) address is one of the most notable ways to track a person online. Hiding it would go a long way into providing security and peace of mind against so many threats associated with the use of the World Wide Web.
As it turns out, hiding one’s IP address can also reap more benefits: since numerous streaming platforms and websites apply geoblocking measures that prevent international audiences from enjoying certain content, changing and manipulating one’s IP number can help to unblock these services on all platforms, including Android.
Android devices are competing with iOS for the place atop the popularity lists. They are smooth and easy to use environments that, just like others, can use some IP-hiding help. You are about to learn how to achieve that.
What is an IP address?
When a device, computer, or gadget enters the Internet, it gets assigned a number in order to differentiate it from its peers. As every person should have documentation or an ID, the same happens within the online universe.
IP means “Internet Protocol,” and it is a way of identifying devices interacting within the same environment, in this case, the web. IP addresses make online communications much easier and can help all Internet agents understand everyone’s location.
IP addresses can be manipulated thanks to encryption tools, as we are about to see in this article. If a user finds convenient to change its virtual location, thankfully it isn’t necessary to move out of the country!
Android: the world’s most popular operating system
Following the market’s behavior and needs, Google came up with an impressive operating system. Its name is Android, and is now the preferred OS of a sizable portion of the industry, so much that it is arguably the most widely implemented.
Android was based on a modified version of the Linux kernel. It was the result of a successful open source software implementation, and now powers numerous touchscreen mobile devices, including tablets, smartphones, TVs, cars, watches, gaming consoles, cameras, and more.
Google bought Android, Inc. in 2005. The Android operating system was launched in 2007, and the initial device powered with the OS greeted the market in September 2008. The current version of Android is the 8.1, named “Oreo,” and exists since December 2017. Every version was named as candy or sweets: Lollypop, Jelly Bean, etc.
Android is a market stalwart. It has dominated sales in the smartphone department for seven years and the tablets one for five. It has more than two billion active users in all locations, and its Google Play Store has more than three million apps available.
Android Smartphones
- Sony Xperia
- Alcatel
- ZTE
- Samsung Galaxy
- Google Pixel
- LG
- HTC
- OnePlus
- Huawei
Hide IP Address on Android
As you may know by now, there is an appeal in hiding your IP address on Android devices. People enjoy and have come to appreciate privacy, and masking their real IP number is oe of the best ways to achieve it.
IP address contains many details about the device and its owner, as the technology that facilitates communications and interchanges between online connected gadgets. It practically rules Internet activity, so to speak.
However, users want to hide one of the key elements that IP addresses can make public: their location. One of the primary reasons is privacy, and another one is security. However, achieving that can also unblock all kinds of restricted sites and services over the Internet.
VPN: encryption prowess
You may find yourself asking how you can hide IP address on Android devices. It is a very straightforward process, and it involves hiring the services of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider.
A VPN is a digital encryption method that will help its customers achieve great things online, like hiding their IP address on all platforms, including Android. VPNs come as web services that can be free or ask for a subscription fee.
The main goal is to hide the user’s principal traffic and connection details, including two critical aspects: their IP address and their shared traffic. By doing the former, they mask the customer’s location, and with the latter, they help users avoid content sniffing by hackers, Internet Service Providers, and even governmental surveillance and intelligence agencies.
VPNs implement technologies called protocols, such as OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2, SSTP, and others, to create a virtual tunnel in which the aforementioned information will travel. It will do it protected against all threats and will be managed by the VPN company, not the ISP.
How to hide IP address on Android devices with a VPN
- Select a VPN service provider from the market. It has to manage servers in several countries and have an Android app – or at least be Android-compatible.
- Go to that VPN’s website.
- Register for the VPN service. Fill out the required forms and provide the needed data, such as email address and billing information.
- You will create a username (often your email) and a password.
- Download and install your VPN app on your Android device.
- Run the app.
- Log in to your account.
- Connect to one of the company’s virtual servers.
- Now, use a site such as WhatIsMyIP to make sure your real IP address is hidden and the system shows one of the country you connected.
- If the process is successful, you have hidden your IP address on your Android device.
Why would you want to hide IP address on Android?
Anonymity is an underestimated aspect of today’s Internet use. It can provide peace of mind because you know nobody is looking at your shared content online or your location. By hiding your IP address on your Android device, you’ll gain privacy and security.
Here are other reasons to do it:
- Saving confidential data.
- Achieve anonymous browsing.
- Unblock international content online.
- Read news websites from other countries.
- Enjoy streaming services in other regions and locations.
- Fend off tracking and logging advances from your Internet Service Provider.
Best Android compatible VPN providers
TorGuard: It is the gold standard of the market. It is compatible with all major platforms, devices, and operating systems, including Android, and it has more than 3,000 servers in 55 nations around the world. You can connect up to five devices simultaneously and enjoy robust AES 256-bit encryption, in addition to having access to a live chat feature and a fantastic customer support department. Its $10 monthly cost is more than justified.
Private Internet Access: Also compatible with Android devices, PIA is the best “value” VPN client, offering robust encryption and lots of security features for just $6.95 per month. Although it only unblocks content in 29 nations, it surpasses 3,000 servers, an optimal development for server switching to achieve great speeds and performance.
In conclusion, Android is arguably the world’s top operating system, and people using it need protection against Internet threats. Changing one’s IP address is an excellent way to remain safeguarded against hackers, intelligence agencies, online advertisers, and ISPs.
With the encryption and tunneling action that a VPN provides, users can hide IP address on Android and acquire a temporary one from another nation, which can also help them unblock restricted international content. TorGuard and Private Internet Access are the best VPN in the business.
