Do VPNs change or hide your IP address?

You've probably already heard about the various capabilities of virtual private networks. Whether his favorite podcasts advertised free trials to him or he read about them while researching the latest security technology, it's clear that these online security services are here to stay.

So how exactly do VPNs work and what information do they hide to keep internet users safe? These are just a few of the many questions you may have about VPNs, and luckily for you, this article is here to address them. Read on to learn how VPNs work to protect your online privacy.

Why VPNs protect your IP address

An IP address, or Internet Protocol address, is a unique set of numbers assigned to each Internet connection. This numerical tag is assigned to each and every device when it connects to the Internet. It serves as an identifier and virtual address for a device, allowing it to send and receive data over its connected network.

SEE: Is a VPN really worth it in 2024? (Technological Republic)

When you connect to the Internet, any device or digital asset you are using will require an IP address to function online. Unfortunately, an IP address can reveal information about your Internet presence that can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Tracking your online activity, determining your approximate physical location, restricting your access to online services, sending targeted ads, and committing cybercrime on your behalf are just some of the dangers that can occur when people obtain your IP address.

While tracking someone's IP address may seem like a violation of privacy, there is currently no law against it. This means that your online activity and personal data could be at risk of being accessed by malicious third parties.

How VPNs protect your IP address

IP addresses can be easily traced, especially when using the Internet over an unsecured public Wi-Fi connection. Fortunately, VPNs create private connections that encrypt your Internet activity, making it unreadable. Of course, VPNs also affect your IP address to provide additional security for your online connections.

SEE: 4 different types of VPNs and when to use them (TechRepublic)

Let's consider some common questions about how a VPN will change your IP address to improve your online security.

Does a VPN disguise your IP address?

A VPN will disguise your IP address and assign it one of the VPN server's location to exist instead. By replacing your IP address, VPNs can make it appear that you are connected to the Internet from a location other than your actual location.

By default, most VPNs provide an IP address that reflects that of the VPN server. Therefore, your online traffic will appear as if it came from the VPN server location rather than your actual physical location.

Does a VPN make you anonymous?

A VPN cannot make you completely anonymous online, as no tool is capable of guaranteeing complete anonymity to your online presence. However, VPNs encrypt your data and hide your IP address, giving you extra protection from trackers.

SEE: Brute force attacks and dictionary: A guide for IT leaders (TechRepublic Premium)

VPNs add a layer of security to your online presence by routing your encrypted Internet data to a VPN server that hides your IP address. When connecting to your VPN, it hides your IP address by using a decoy IP address to mask it. While this won't make you completely anonymous online, it does make it more difficult for third parties to track your IP location and online activities.

Does a VPN always use the same IP address?

Most VPN services provide dynamic IP addresses to users by default. Dynamic IPs change every time a device connects to the Internet and can rotate during the connection, depending on the VPN service you choose. In this case of a dynamic IP address, your VPN provider will probably ask you to share the IP address with other users connected to the same server. This protects your privacy by making it more difficult to trace online activities back to an individual user.

On the other hand, some VPNs give users the option to use static (or dedicated) IP addresses that remain the same unless manually modified. Maintaining a static IP address every time you go online can give you a stable online presence on each of the apps and devices you use. This can be beneficial in some cases, such as when using applications that use geolocation.

There are two versions of static IP addresses. Shared static IP addresses are set and used by you and other users of the server. Alternatively, a dedicated static IP remains unchanged but is only assigned to you.

Different VPN service providers may have different approaches to how they assign IP addresses, so whether or not your VPN always assigns you the same IP address may depend on the VPN you choose. Companies that offer a static IP address include NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, PureVPN, Ivacy VPN, and Private Internet Access.

For example, NordVPN assigns a certain number of VPN addresses to each server, but gives users the option to keep the same IP address each time they connect. For more information, check out our full NordVPN review here.

Do VPNs allow you to choose an IP address?

Many VPNs offer users the option to choose an alternative IP address and location. Doing so may allow you to access region-blocked websites and geo-restricted online services. For example, changing your IP address and location when using streaming services may give you access to videos that can only be viewed by users in certain countries.

Does a VPN change your public IP or just your private IP?

A VPN service will hide your public IP address by disguising it as a different one. Your public IP address is the one used to connect to the Internet and can therefore be seen by other devices online.

Private IP addresses do not have this problem, as they are not routed online and do not exchange traffic online. Instead, these are only used to direct traffic on a specific local network. Since private IP addresses remain only on local networks and cannot be used to connect to the Internet, they do not require additional security measures like VPNs.

What doesn't a VPN hide?

VPNs can hide your IP address and make it difficult for third parties to see your virtual location, streaming activity, browsing history, and downloads. But where do a VPN's capabilities end?

A VPN cannot hide online activities on digital platforms from platform providers if you are logged into an online account. For example, if you are using an online search engine while logged into your account, the search engine provider will still be able to access your search history even if you use a VPN. This also applies to social media, as all activity done on social media when logged in will be accessible from the social media platform.

VPNs also have a limited ability to protect you against tracking cookies. Cookies are used and stored by your web browser. Since VPNs only protect your Internet activity over your online network, they cannot protect you against cookies that your web browser has already stored.

Lastly, VPNs do not offer complete security against cyber threats. While they may offer more protection online, threats such as viruses, hackers, and cyber attacks still pose a significant risk. A VPN should not be used in place of malware protection or antivirus software. For some effective software options to boost your antivirus security, check out TechRepublic's list of top advanced threat protection tools.