Do VPNs Really Hide Your IP?

Do VPNs really hide your IP address? Yes, and they do even more than that. A VPN not only masks or hides your IP address, but also encrypts the traffic passing through your internet connection. This makes it hard for someone to try and find out your location or decipher your data. 

The main purpose of a VPN is not to mask your location or assign you an IP address different from your original one. It is actually supposed to give you a secure connection so that you can connect to a remote server through the internet(or any other public network). It just so happens that when you connect to the secure remote server, anyone observing your traffic will see it as though it originates at the server. They see the servers’ IP address and not your own.

The use of VPNs was initially for people to connect to remote servers at their place of work so that they can work remotely. During the covid pandemic, this increased greatly and was used a lot.

Another very popular use of VPNs is to conceal your true location when you are connecting to streaming services such as Netflix. This is usually in violation of the terms of use and can result in your account getting suspended or blocked. 

So how does it work? You simply connect to a VPN with a server within the country where you want to view content. So you would connect to a VPN server in the US in order to be able to view content in the US. The streaming service provider sees your location as being in the US and serves you with content for the US regardless of your true location. 

Streaming providers are aware of the use of VPNs and have started trying to block their use of them. The best VPNs out there have also adapted and regularly change their servers and implement the latest protocols and technology to stay ahead of the curve.

It's important to remember that though a VPN can hide your true IP address and location, they themselves as the VPN provider can still view your real information and can even store records of it. If you do anything that is criminal or breaks the law, you will not be protected. Legal authorities could even request for and gain access to your information from the VPN service provider..

Does A VPN Hide Your IP From Your ISP?

No. A VPN does not hide your IP from your ISP. They can see you are connected to a VPN and they know your real IP address. They cannot however see the actual traffic because it is encrypted. They therefore won't see your browsing history or tell what you are doing on the internet.

What Does A VPN Not Hide?

A VPN keeps you safe, secure, and relatively anonymous online. A VPN uses encryption that will protect your data from any prying eyes that would want to know what you are doing online. This however does not include cookies or browser history stored on your device and browser.

What Does A VPN Hide?

A good VPN provides an extra layer of security that protects you online. Through the use of encryption, it will hide or protect your traffic or data from anyone trying to decipher it. By connecting to a secure remote server, a VPN hides your real IP address from others. This prevents your ISP and other third parties from accessing and then monetizing your personal information.  A VPN will also hide your data use and protect you from possible throttling. Top VPNs will even hide so that it becomes difficult to tell that you are using a VPN.

In today's digital world, it is important to use a VPN to protect your data, stay secure online and maintain a level of anonymity when online.

Can you be tracked if you use a VPN?

No. You can't be tracked if you use a good-quality VPN. A VPN will encrypt your traffic and mask your IP address and location by rerouting your traffic through a remote VPN server. If anyone tried to find your location, they would just see the server’s IP address. 

The combination of encryption and change of IP address makes it very hard to track someone using a VPN. All that others can tell is that a VPN is being used but not where they are and what they are doing online.

Can The FBI Track A VPN?

Yes. Law enforcement can first obtain a court order and use that to get your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to give them all the records they have on you. From those records, the law enforcement agency will be able to tell that you use a VPN and that will be where they go next. Your VPN provider may give them further data on your online activity and in most cases, they will. This is however dependent on the laws that apply and whether your VPN chooses to cooperate. Some VPNs have privacy and logging policies that could prevent this.

What Does A VPN Not Protect You From?

A VPN is not a total solution when it comes to online security. It can change your IP address, encrypt your traffic, and even make it appear as though you are in a different location but it cannot protect you from yourself; human error. If you fall for some of the phishing scams, download malware-infected files, or visit compromised websites, you have no one but yourself to blame because a VPN will not protect you. Attackers could try to connect to your compromised devices or network and this could be evidenced by port scans and other nefarious network activity. In such cases,  the best protection that could save you is a firewall and antivirus software to keep out intrusions and constantly scan and protect against viruses, trojans, and other malware.

Why You Shouldn't Use A VPN?

There are several disadvantages or reasons why you shouldn’t use a VPN. First and foremost is that using a VPN will slow down your connection. How much it gets slowed down depends on the quality of the VPN, the protocols they use, and the type of encryption utilized. An example of a use case where slowing a connection would be bad is gaming. A gamer needs a fast connection in order to have the best gaming experience. 

There are also websites, apps, and services that actively block those who try to use a VPN.  Netflix is one such service. 

You might also not want to use a VPN in a country that restricts the use of VPNs. Using a VPN in such countries could be illegal or sometimes just restricted. China is an example of a country where you would have to use only VPNs approved by the government. In North Korea, using a VPN is illegal.

All VPNs use some type of encryption but for the average user, it is very difficult to know what is being offered and how effective it is. 

A major reason to reconsider your use of VPNs is that some actually store your browsing activity. Others sell this data to third parties who would later monetize it through advertising. Free VPNs are notorious for this.

A common feature in most VPNs is the kill switch. It is supposed to turn off your internet connection when there is any lapse that could expose your IP or data online. This can result in interruptions to your internet connection.

Does VPN Hide History From Router?

Yes. When you use a VPN, it encrypts all traffic leaving the device so when the data in this traffic goes to your ISP through the router it cannot be viewed by them. This hides whatever you are browsing or doing online.

Recommended Reading:
Can A VPN Network be Hacked?
Can A VPN Prevent Swatting?
What type of VPN Should I Use?
How Do VPN Connections Work?