Is hiding one's IP and important part of computer security?

SHO · 06-20-2007, 12:54 PM

I am thinking about buying a program to hide my IP. Either "Hide IP", or "Hide My IP." I'm not sure which one is better or maybe there is a all together better program out there. Is hiding one's IP a important part of computer security, and if so, why?

Do these programs really work as advertised?

Thanks in advance.

Punk · 06-20-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hide IP

Post on bulletin boards without displaying your real IP address

Basically you're paying for a proxy I think.

SHO · 06-20-2007, 01:07 PM

I've used proxies in the past and they are usually very slow and or unreliable. Many don't work. I have the trial version (3 days) of Hide My IP running now and the one proxie IP they gave me is very fast and appears to work well.

How does hiding my IP provide actual security against threats though?

tobywuk · 06-20-2007, 03:30 PM

it dosent stop anyone breaching your computer, it just makes you anonymous on the internet so people see the location of your actions from the proxy address and not yours. it makes it harder for people to trace your actions.

tlarkin · 06-20-2007, 03:52 PM

get a router that supports NAT, set that up then set up your client machines to non routeable IP addresses you'll be fine

Monoliths · 06-20-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlarkin

get a router that supports NAT, set that up then set up your client machines to non routeable IP addresses you'll be fine

Exactly. In otherwords it would be a waste of money.

SHO · 06-20-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlarkin

get a router that supports NAT, set that up then set up your client machines to non routeable IP addresses you'll be fine

I don't exactly know what this means.

I do have a router. It's a linksys router, model WRT54G.

But doing what you said, I don't know how. Can you provide a step by step?

Thanks in advance.

tlarkin · 06-20-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHO

I don't exactly know what this means.

I do have a router. It's a linksys router, model WRT54G.

But doing what you said, I don't know how. Can you provide a step by step?

Thanks in advance.

Well by default most linksys routers have NAT enabled and set the client machines to 192.x.x.x IPs which are non routable. So, by default you should be fairly safe.

If you know what revision of WRT54G you have, you can load free open source third party firmware that gives your router way more options.

www.dd-wrt.com

SHO · 06-20-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlarkin

Well by default most linksys routers have NAT enabled and set the client machines to 192.x.x.x IPs which are non routable. So, by default you should be fairly safe.

When I "test" my IP online to see what anyone could figure out about me based on the numbers, it reveals my ISP and it pinpoints much too close to the town I live in, sometimes the actual town. I don't like that at all, so unless I'm missing something with my router, I think I need the program.

tlarkin · 06-20-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHO

When I "test" my IP online to see what anyone could figure out about me based on the numbers, it reveals my ISP and it pinpoints much too close to the town I live in, sometimes the actual town. I don't like that at all, so unless I'm missing something with my router, I think I need the program.

The program is moot, this is because the IP of which is leased to you via your ISP's DHCP server is on your cable modem, not on your local machine. How NAT works is it translates network traffic from one subnet to another, but does not allow remote hosts to connect to your network. Basically your WAN IP will not be maskable and it will always lead to your local ISP because they are given an IP range that they use for that area. Check out www.arin.net and you can see what IP ranges are assigned to what ISPs.

So, unless this software somehow 'hacks' your cable modem you aren't going to make a single difference.

06-20-2007, 12:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
SHO Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 51	Is hiding one's IP and important part of computer security? I am thinking about buying a program to hide my IP. Either "Hide IP", or "Hide My IP." I'm not sure which one is better or maybe there is a all together better program out there. Is hiding one's IP a important part of computer security, and if so, why? Do these programs really work as advertised? Thanks in advance.

06-20-2007, 03:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
tobywuk Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 377	it dosent stop anyone breaching your computer, it just makes you anonymous on the internet so people see the location of your actions from the proxy address and not yours. it makes it harder for people to trace your actions. __________________ My Personal Website & Blog

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06-20-2007, 01:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
SHO Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 51	I've used proxies in the past and they are usually very slow and or unreliable. Many don't work. I have the trial version (3 days) of Hide My IP running now and the one proxie IP they gave me is very fast and appears to work well. How does hiding my IP provide actual security against threats though?

06-20-2007, 03:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 6,056	get a router that supports NAT, set that up then set up your client machines to non routeable IP addresses you'll be fine