What Is IP Address? Can I Hide My IP Address?

Whatever you might think, your Internet browsing is not actually a private
affair. Each of your use of the network is being tracked, including your
browsing histories, your chats, your blog and forum postings, etc. Even
though you might be using the Internet from within the secrecy of your
home, nothing actually is that secret. Your network's IP number lays bare
all your communication with the Internet.
IP refers to Internet Protocol. Every computer that is connected to the
network is provided an IP address by the service provider. The IP address
is actually a collection of four numbers. The first number indicates your
domain, the second number indicates your subnet, the third number
indicates your network and the very significant fourth number indicates
the host computer. By looking at all these four numbers of the IP address,
it can be found out which computer it belongs to.
Whenever you log on to the Internet, this IP address is relayed to the www.
When this happens, your computer is vulnerable to tracking. If you visit
any website, through the IP address it can be found out which computer
has accessed that website. Suppose it is a personal computer you are
operating from, then your name, age, telephone number, email id,
residential address and other identifying details can also be found out. In
other words, with the IP address, any computer in the world can be
tracked and that can lead to the owner of the computer.
Why are IP addresses tracked? Simple, for creating added security. When
the Internet was instituted, the system of identifying computers with IP
addresses was also begun. This was for defense purposes, so that no one
could take illegal advantages of the Internet. The process is continued
even today, with the only difference that it has become more refined.
Anyone who wishes to find the location of an IP address can do so, at a
fee.
Many people get all wound up when they hear about IP address. The first
question they ask is – can I hide my IP address? The answer is, yes. There
are methods by which your IP address can be masked or faked. There are
some software packages available that can route your computer's
connection through a fake IP relay system. This system will hide you IP
address and generate a fake one for you. This will be the IP address that
will go to the world wide web. These packages are available for retail and
download and are quite easy to install and use.
So, the next time someone asks you 'How can I hide my IP address?', you
tell them to get an IP masking software for themselves. With such a
device, you can enjoy your Internet experience without the worry that
some big daddy is watching you from somewhere.