question for tech types - IP address location tracing

littlebeast

littlebeast

get it while it's easy
have searched on this question, lots of info, but it’s all over my head. my question is this - what is the easiest way to prevent your location from being discoverable through your IP address? i’ve read VPN (although questionable according to what i’ve also read). does zscaler work for this? i don’t even really know how to ask the question, or how to interpret the info i’ve found.

thoughts? suggestions?
 
UDRider

UDRider

FLCL?
Protected from whom, and what kind of Internet activity do you plan on engaging in?
Just browsing, downloading or uploading?


Cleanest way get VM, spin up new instance for each session, then use For browser.
 
S

Sharxfan

Well-known member
a good VPN will hide your IP because you become part of the VPN providers network and they hide your VPN behind their network so wherever you are going to will see the VPN network external IP and not yours. You can also use TOR but not sure how much work you want to put into it.

If you go the VPN route there are some sites that you can use to make sure you don't have information leakage and to verify your VPN is working correctly. Can't remember the off the top of my head I will google and see if I can find some links.

link goodness
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/test-vpn-security/

Are you looking to spoof location controls for streaming services or just use it so you are not browsing the web with your IP?
 
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S

Sharxfan

Well-known member
UDRider said:
Protected from whom, and what kind of Internet activity do you plan on engaging in?
Just browsing, downloading or uploading?


Cleanest way get VM, spin up new instance for each session, then use For browser.
Click to expand...

Using VMs she would still be on her network and the web sites would still be picking up the IP her ISP has assigned to her router or whatever she is using to access the ISPs service.
 
ScarySpikes

ScarySpikes

tastes like burning
If you are talking about personal use, the easiest way by far is a VPN, there are a bunch of companies that offer VPNs for this purpose. I use PIA, but they are not the only ones doing it, but I can vouch for them having enough servers, good network speeds and being reliable. There are other ways to prevent your IP from getting out, but most of them are much more of a chore, slower, and/or riskier than a VPN.

Zscaler does enterprise level network security, not the same thing. As far as I know they aren't in the business of consumer software or consumer networking at all.
 
littlebeast

littlebeast

get it while it's easy
thanks all - appreciate the advice.

UDRider said:
Protected from whom, and what kind of Internet activity do you plan on engaging in?
Just browsing, downloading or uploading?


Cleanest way get VM, spin up new instance for each session, then use For browser.
Click to expand...

two things - that may require different solutions (not sure)

1 - browsing (legal issue related to a single website that is hosted by a private party - where information is posted, not interactive with users, and i know this person is monitoring access and adjusting the information accordingly - and they know who i am and where i am, so i need to disappear)

2 - i travel a lot, and my browser keeps changing languages based on where i am, and i have to keep changing it back, and adjusting for US websites (not a huge deal, more of a PITA - but if there’s a solution for it, that would be great)

Sharxfan said:
a good VPN will hide your IP because you become part of the VPN providers network and they hide your VPN behind their network so wherever you are going to will see the VPN network external IP and not yours. You can also use TOR but not sure how much work you want to put into it.

If you go the VPN route there are some sites that you can use to make sure you don't have information leakage and to verify your VPN is working correctly. Can't remember the off the top of my head I will google and see if I can find some links.

link goodness
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/test-vpn-security/

Are you looking to spoof location controls for streaming services or just use it so you are not browsing the web with your IP?
Click to expand...

so does this mean that the location would be untraceable? or would it show up as the VPN network location? that may be a stupid question (no clue)

Eldritch said:
Don't forget to manipulate your MAC address.
Click to expand...

what does this mean?
 
Eldritch

Eldritch

is insensitive
littlebeast said:
thanks all - appreciate the advice.



two things - that may require different solutions (not sure)

1 - browsing (legal issue related to a single website that is hosted by a private party - where information is posted, not interactive with users, and i know this person is monitoring access and adjusting the information accordingly - and they know who i am and where i am, so i need to disappear)

2 - i travel a lot, and my browser keeps changing languages based on where i am, and i have to keep changing it back, and adjusting for US websites (not a huge deal, more of a PITA - but if there’s a solution for it, that would be great)



so does this mean that the location would be untraceable? or would it show up as the VPN network location? that may be a stupid question (no clue)



what does this mean?
Click to expand...

IP address is a network location address. MAC address is a manufacturer assigned alphanumeric address that identifies your physical device. This is also something used to track behavior and in the case of cell phones, your location.
 
ScarySpikes

ScarySpikes

tastes like burning
littlebeast said:
thanks all - appreciate the advice.



two things - that may require different solutions (not sure)

1 - browsing (legal issue related to a single website that is hosted by a private party - where information is posted, not interactive with users, and i know this person is monitoring access and adjusting the information accordingly - and they know who i am and where i am, so i need to disappear)

2 - i travel a lot, and my browser keeps changing languages based on where i am, and i have to keep changing it back, and adjusting for US websites (not a huge deal, more of a PITA - but if there’s a solution for it, that would be great)



so does this mean that the location would be untraceable? or would it show up as the VPN network location? that may be a stupid question (no clue)



what does this mean?
Click to expand...

The first part, a VPN will do fine for your purpose.

The second part, a VPN will usually work, some sites (like google) might use other methods of checking location especially talking about phones or GPS enabled devices. Most of them will be fine if you turn off other location services, and/or use a link that kills the redirect. for google, it's google.com/ncr. I don't know on other sites.
 
Climber

Climber

Well-known member
OP, VPN should work for you, your apparent IP address is the VPN IP.

Note that some sites block some of the VPN IP addresses, people like to do nefarious things from behind the anonymity of VPN's so they often get black-listed.

Most VPN services offer multiple locations so you can switch locations/IP's easily.
 
UDRider

UDRider

FLCL?
Well if you want to hide info from website, just use VPN. Also you will need to worry it storing cookies, or finger printing your browser.

If you are super concerned then my original suggestion of having virtual machine and spinning new instance each time you connect to website will work. Plus VPN.

Tor browser is over kill.
 
rodr

rodr

Well-known member
littlebeast said:
two things - that may require different solutions (not sure)

1 - browsing (legal issue related to a single website that is hosted by a private party - where information is posted, not interactive with users, and i know this person is monitoring access and adjusting the information accordingly - and they know who i am and where i am, so i need to disappear)
Click to expand...

This is the kind of problem solved by a commercial VPN. Your IP address that is visible to the server will generally be different each time.

2 - i travel a lot, and my browser keeps changing languages based on where i am, and i have to keep changing it back, and adjusting for US websites (not a huge deal, more of a PITA - but if there’s a solution for it, that would be great)
Click to expand...

Again a VPN is the answer but in this case you'll want to make sure it's a US IP address. This also tends to matter to US financial institutions and streaming services.

so does this mean that the location would be untraceable? or would it show up as the VPN network location?
Click to expand...

Sophisticated servers can discover that you are using a commercial VPN because each VPN service uses its own fixed collection of IP addresses. Some services will refuse to work with these VPNs.

One thing I did was set up my own VPN server at a US residence, so that when using it my connections are indistinguishable from others from that location. PM me if you'd like more info about that.

what does this mean?
Click to expand...

Don't worry about it, MAC (physical device) addresses appear in network traffic on local networks but are not part of traffic on the global Internet.
 
Entoptic

Entoptic

Red Power!
Lol just use a vpn? Come on don’t give bad advice! There is no real way to hide unless you're a pro.

As Eldritch led onto there are MAC addresses along with a slew of other things like cookies and browser data to farm from your OS, software and hardware. A VPN service can and will usually leak your real time IP at some point. Especially the huge uptick in “vpn” services that actively mine your data while you think your IP address is hidden. It’s simply not true, your IP address is known to the service and therefore known.

If you’re trying to hide your location from someone an IP is just one thing you need to hide.

If you want to ensure your browser stays the same wherever you go there should be a setting within the browser.

What you are trying to achieve is a very complex thing. The best thing to do is not visit the site at all.
 
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rodr

rodr

Well-known member
Entoptic said:
Lol just use a vpn? Come on don’t give bad advice! There is no real way to hide unless you're a pro.
Click to expand...

Networking is my profession. What I suggest plus some common sense (e.g. using private browser windows) will take care of the problems as described.

If what you are doing requires that the VPN service be trusted not to do evil shit (doing banking for example), then rolling your own VPN may be in order. That's what I do and it works perfectly.
 
Free_Bird

Free_Bird

Highways
Opera web browser has VPN feature.
https://www.opera.com/

Utility and Virus Programs include VPN.

Search engines like Duck Duck Go and Ecosia don't track search history.
https://duckduckgo.com/
https://www.ecosia.org/

In the Browser settings check the box to delete History during Exit. Reduces tracking to a short history.

ISP privacy policy doesn't share specific user addresses. But they do keep client browsing data. Probably takes a warrant for the ISP to release it.
If someone complains about the IP address to the ISP. The ISP may take action to terminate the service to stop further complaints a client is racking up.

I use a VPN to change geographical access. Whole other World of interweb when looked at it from another Country.

Notice some secure log in won't function when using a VPN. It defeats the increased secure link of the VPN.
Some Public WiFi also don't allow a VPN.

Try the Opera browser VPN to test these places.

If your truly against any records being kept. VP that specifies they keep no records. I have yet to get a arrest warrant from some other Country for some BS that is illegal.
For instance https://reclaimthenet.org/justin-trudeau-hate-speech-election/
 
Eldritch

Eldritch

is insensitive
rodr said:
Don't worry about it, MAC (physical device) addresses appear in network traffic on local networks but are not part of traffic on the global Internet.
Click to expand...

It depends on what she is trying to hide and in what context. It is particularly relevant for mobile devices. :dunno
 
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