Why You Need to Hide Your IP Address on Android

Each month, there are over 2 billion active Android devices registered by Google, making it safe to assume that there are at least 1 billion monthly active Android users (if not more) on the market. That’s 1 billion people – or more – whose personal data, online privacy, and digital freedom is in constant danger – provided they don’t bother to hide IP addresses on Android devices they own and use.

“Wait, are things really that bad online?”

Yes – when you use an Android device to connect to the web without masking your digital footprints, you’re always at risk. Not to mention you have to put up with plenty of inconveniences when it comes to accessing online content.

Here’s what we’re talking about, in fact, and why you need to do your best to mask IP addresses on Android devices:

If Your IP Is Exposed, So Is Your Privacy

Every time you connect to a website without hiding your IP address, that website will log it, and store any relevant geo-location associated with your IP. In theory, the website will just use that info to offer you a more customized experience.

Normally, you shouldn’t have to worry about your IP address being shared with third-party advertisers. Of course, that’s as long as the website’s Terms of Services clearly states they do not do that. However, in order to read the ToS to know a website doesn’t do that, you often have to access the website in question.

See the problem?

Moreover, if a website you accessed suffers a data breach or a data leak, all the private info said website has gathered on you will be exposed on the public web.

But just how much can somebody find out about you by only having your IP address? Well, they could find out things like:

• Who your ISP is
• What country you are from
• What region you are from
• What city you live in

As if that wasn’t scary enough, it’s also worth mentioning that, when an IP is combined with other pieces of information (your username on a certain website, your browsing habits, the address range identified by a subnet), it can actually reveal your real-life identity!

So, if an online hacker has it out for you, they could find out some sensitive info about you. Depending on how “serious” the cybercriminal in question is, they could try to use your IP address to track you to learn more about your online habits in an attempt to uncover more personal data.

If things get out of hand, you could end up being subjected to identity theft, or have your personal info auctioned off on the deep web.

An Unprotected IP Equals Unsafe Torrenting

Android devices are quite popular when it comes to torrenting. After all, you don’t usually have to bother “rooting” or jailbreaking them to use them for torrenting. And there definitely are a lot of P2P apps on the Google Play store as well.

But if you don’t hide your IP address on Android, engaging in P2P could be very risky. That’s because the IP address that is associated with your Android device is actually visible to absolutely every single person or device that’s downloading/uploading the torrent you are using. Potentially, that can mean that up to 10,000 people can see your IP – all at the same time!

Once more, you could end up in serious situations if one of those people happens to be a hacker that’s up to no good.

Plus, don’t forget that, depending on the country you live in, your mobile ISP might share info about your torrenting activities with the authorities, or legal and copyright agencies, meaning you could get in trouble with the law.

Not Hiding Your IP Means Dealing with Geo-Restrictions

One of the best things about Android devices (and mobile devices in general) is that they let you stay connected to the web no matter where you are – on the street, on the train, traveling abroad.

Unfortunately, as convenient and amazing as all that is, there’s still one problem – geo-blocks. They are restrictions placed on what kind of Internet content you can access depending on what country you are connecting from.

For instance, if you’re from Poland, and want to enjoy some quality entertainment on BBC iPlayer, you won’t be able to do it, as the service is only available in the UK. Or, more specifically, to someone connecting to the platform with a UK IP address.

TV companies and content/streaming platforms usually say they have to impose geo-blocks because of various networking and copyright regulations. But that hardly justifies not letting you enjoy the entertainment you love just because your IP is from the “wrong” part of the world, right?

Even worse, this can sometimes affect you even if you’re supposed to be able to access a certain website, or if you’re already paying for access to various content. For example, if you’re from the US and have a paid subscription for Netflix US, you won’t be able to access it when you’re abroad. Instead, you’ll have to settle for other sub-par Netflix libraries.

An Exposed IP Can’t Combat Network Restrictions

Imagine this: You’re at work or school, just finished some hard work, and are ready to take a break, and browse your favorite websites or watch a TV show you love.

There’s just one problem – you can’t do that. Your workplace/learning institution’s network placed restrictions on the IP you are provided with, and you cannot use the workplace/learning institution’s network to browse the web at your leisure – even though you are doing it on your own free time!

And when it comes to learning institutions, these restrictions can sometimes be campus-wide, meaning you’d have to put up with them for months on end.

How to Hide an IP Address on Android Devices

The best way to do this is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). If you’re not sure what a VPN is or how it works, just think of it as a service that creates a private network over a public network just for you.

When you use the private network to access the web, your IP address becomes hidden, as it is replaced with a different IP address belonging to a VPN server.

Plus, beside just helping you hide your IP address on Android, a VPN can also encrypt your Internet traffic and your personal data when you’re online.

That can really come in handy when you’re using your Android device to connect to a WiFi network, as it will keep hackers at bay – hackers who would otherwise be able to steal sensitive data from you, like credit card numbers, login details, and other personal information.

At the same time, a VPN’s encryption can also protect your online traffic from government surveillance and ISP snooping, basically ensuring nobody knows what you are doing on the Internet.

“Do I Need to Use a Paid VPN, Or Can I Get a Free One?”

We understand the appeal of using free VPNs to hide IP addresses on Android, but do you understand the real risks associated with doing such a thing?

Keep in mind that no service is actually “free.” Even free VPNs have to make money somehow. Otherwise, they would be out of business quite fast.

How do they manage to make enough money to stay afloat on the market, you might ask? Well, here are some methods free VPNs use:

• They collect and sell user data to third-party advertisers.
• They spam you with ads when you use their website or VPN client.
• They sell your bandwidth for a profit.

Some free VPNs have even been caught using tracking libraries to collect user data. Plus, it seems that the majority of the free VPN apps on the Google Play store were found to be malicious.

So, clearly, it’s in your best interest to use a paid VPN to secure your online rights and hide your IP address on Android devices. Just make sure you choose the right VPN service.

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