Internet Anonymity Concerns - Hiding Your IP Address

In today's world of globalization and wide spread oftimestamp of specific blog post and search for
computers, Internet has become increasingly popularrecords matching this timestamp, then compare URLs
way for communication, for expressing yourself, forof web site request and extract IP address from log
sharing your mind with everybody. Popular types ofentries.3. Obtain IP address owner (the Internet
resources include web blogs, instant messaging,Service Provider, ISP). Use it displays ISP. For
chats, forums and many others. Just a few clicks andwell-known ISPs like Verizon - you're almost done.
everybody in the world knows about your point ofOtherwise try looking it up in Google and find their
view on politics, culture, science, relationships,web site. Half an hour and you'll surely find it.4.
whatever, since quickly evolving technologies bringContact ISP, supply IP address, and say something
Internet to millions of people around the world.But nolike you did in step (1), and they'll easily reveal user of
good comes without bad. The worst thing totheir IP address, because they don't want problems
consider about many modern technologies such aswith that user. That's it.Is there any way to protect
Internet is a complete lack of privacy. Sitting at theyou against this? Relax, really good solution exist and
front of your computer screen and surfing the netthe rest of this article will point you right there.Basic
you are being watched constantly, by many peopleidea of all privacy solutions is faking of your real IP
and organizations, interested or not. How is itaddress. How is it accomplished? Solution is based on
possible? Let's see.Internet is based on IP - Internetintermediary computers, which are placed between
Protocol - special network protocol designed at theyou (the person who wishes to hide himself from
beginning of 70s for U.S. defense purposes, but haseveryone) and target web sites (and other network
become widely used solution today (take a look atresources - such as instant messaging, file sharing
for more information). Basically, most today'setc). Those computers are called 'Proxy Servers'.
computers are connected by IP, and its extension,How does Proxy Server work? Very simple: it's just
TCP/IP. We will not dive into details of TCP/IP here,like a very simple tunnel between you and web site,
but rather give a short explanation and point toall data sent by you to web site or received by you
major privacy concerns. Main idea of IP protocol is afrom web site are passed through proxy server as
set of independent nodes (computers) connectedis, using special SOCKS protocol (don't mess with
somehow between themselves, each node hasfoot socks, it's just a coincidence :). What's the
unique identifier assigned to it, and special rules existsdifference? Exactly, target web site sees Proxy
which help computers exchange data with each otherServer IP address, but not your real IP. And web site
through intermediate computers, called "IP routers".logs keep Proxy Server IP but not your real one as
The unique identifier is called IP address, and everywell. Sound great, but how to use this?Anonymous
networked computer must have it in orderProxy Server lists are published throughout the web
communicate to others. To view your current IPon special web sites, for example Actually, proxy
address, run "ipconfig" from command line underserver list looks like a simple sequence of IP address :
Windows, or open web site like or but what's wrongport number pairs, for example:123.43.12.96 :
with my IP address? Like a regular address (e.g. your108098.15.13.17 : 1080150.19.87.31 : 1080Choosing
postal address), IP address identifies your location, noproper Proxy Server from such lists can be a tedious
matter how you are connected to the Internet. Fortask, some of them may be valid, and some are not.
example, DSL connection from your home isYou just test them one by one, select valid ones and
managed by ISP (remember, you have to signsave them for further usage. This work must be
agreement with ISP, and your actual and billingrepeated each time you want to use proxy, since
addresses are there). Wireless connections, such asProxy Servers get closed very often.
GPRS or WiFi are being tracked as well (GPRSAfter choosing proper Proxy Server, you have to
stations are able to determine your position with aconnect your application (web browser, instant
mile precision, WiFi are even more location-bound),messenger, whatever) to it and work. Try
and service providers always register and identifyconfiguring your application for use with proxy server.
you as a subscriber. Try web sites like to see this inFor example, MSN, Yahoo! and ICQ support SOCKS
practice (the information is not exactly precise in allproxies, but some programs do not. Microsoft
cases, but remember, technology improvesInternet Explorer and Firefox web browsers also
daily!).Every time you surf the Internet, your IPsupport this, but you must select another kind of
address is publicly visible to everyone on targetProxy Server - HTTP proxy (in opposite to SOCKS
network resources, therefore, your actual locationproxy).Special software was developed to address
and even name and age can be tracked as well. Ofthe issues listed above - NetConceal Anonymizer, it
course, this costs something (they need to contactkeeps you free from manual proxy server checking,
web site owner or hosting provider, and ISP or WiFiSOCKS configuration and supports ALL applications.
access point owner), but interested parties canActually, a few clicks to hide IP address and become
implement this fairly easy. This is very serious pointanonymous.Download NetConceal Anonymizer ( now
to consider. For example, you submit blog article, andand try it.
express your opinion about politics, criticize somethingOnce the installation is done, NetConceal Anonymizer
or make really controversial statements. That's wasis started automatically, now click the 'Launch Web
just an opinion, relax, everybody. But someone,Browser' or 'Launch Other...' buttons. Proxy selection
being, for example, a religious fanatic or simplyis done within a minute, then application is started and
paranoid, can find you and shoot you right at youryou can use the Internet fully anonymous, since your
home. What's the hell, why? That's true, simplyreal IP is invisible to everyone. Too good to be true?
because he knows EVERYTHING about you, your IPPlease try it before criticizing.To learn more about
address, and thus your name and physical location,NetConceal Anonymizer software, check out the
since all web sites keep logs of IP addressesweb site and contact us if you need more help, we
accessing them (once you submit your post, webare really glad to help you with evaluation and
site records a number of entries in its log file, puttingongoing usage.Read related topics about anonymity
together your post and your IP address).Just forand Internet privacy - Inc. was established in the
demonstration, 4 simple steps to know everythingbeginning of 2005 as software company
about specific person:1. Retrieve web site logs (not aconcentrated in online privacy and Internet security
problem for site owners, they already have them).solutions for personal and corporate customers. We
How can these logs be retrieved by anyone? Simplyhave a long term plan to become a major provider in
by contacting web site owner, and many of them willthose areas of IT industry. The first product,
give theirs logs away with easyness, don't worry.NetConceal Anonymizer, was released in May 2005. It
Just send e-mail using published contact informationwill be followed by many state of the art online
(click link like "Contact Us"), write words like: "Someprivacy and innovative Internet security
guy who is using your site is suspected in credit cardsolutions.NetConceal means "network conceal", it
fraud, he has stolen my money already!", or "Thehides and secures you within public and private
person with nickname 'blackjack' from your site isnetwork. And we beleive that everyone has the right
promoting child porn, we need your web site logs forto stay anonymous and secure, in this age of
investigation, thank you." and 99% - you'll receiveglobalization and complete surveillance.
desired logs.2. Analyze logs. For example, get