Any way to hide IP on macOS?

[Giuanniello]

I know this might sound weird or nerdy but I was just wondering if it is possible to make so that the internet doesn't see my computer's IP address or, better, where it is located, in which country.

I don't know if true but it might be, read somewhere that when you browse the web to, say, buy an airline ticket, the IP can be used to track your computer (which seems quite obvious) as to give back results based on your origin country, I myself see that if I type just the name of a company it always gives me back the one located into my region, is there a way to make so that my IP can be, at least temporarily, hidden just for the sake of trying?

Grazie

 

[nabru]

You will need a VPN for this (either run your own on a dedicated server or get a commercial solution). I have used Private Internet Access for this in the past and it works: even thought I am in Brazil, websites would think that I am, say, in the USA.

 

[Vlad.E.]

Try one of the free vpn apps.

 

[Lunder89]

The VPN "Windscribe" actually does a good job. And offers a fair amount of data for free.

 

[Giuanniello]

It all then confirms what I read, thanks for this!

I think I can install a VPN onto my NAS but don't know if that would work, which are the other options I have without to go through a commercial service, mine is, at the moment, just a curiosity so I won't need GB of traffic to find out, is a VPN software to install onto a computer a solution? If so, which are the options you think most reliable?

Grazie

 

[Fishrrman]

Quick and easy way (at least while browsing):
Use the Epic Privacy Browser.

It's designed to "run through a proxy server" so that the site you're visiting cannot see your actual IP address...

 

[jzuena]

You could use Tor. The Tor Browser app is pre-built for macOS. It probably isn't as fast as Epic, since Tor will go through 4 nodes by default before having your traffic exit onto the Internet from some random exit node in some random country. It is as close to true anonymity as you can get. With Epic the site you visit won't know your IP address, but Epic will. If you trust them, this isn't a problem.

VPN server software on your computer is only useful if you want your phone or some other device out on the internet to be able to access your home network, and the address seen ends up still being your computer's address. VPN client software on your computer still needs to connect to a VPN service somewhere. Epic and Tor both have servers (Tor calls them relays) that are configured in the software so you don't need to also get a VPN service to use them.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Another vote for Epic. Easiest way out there.

Easy tip to verify:

In your browser, go to whatismyip.com

The IP address you see it what your ISP and any site or server that checks or logs connection info will see. Try it with any browser, and then try it with Epic (or the VPN of your choice). Verify that the IP you see on the VPN (same as what they see) if different from the non-VPN (your actual IP).