Privacy is the order of the day, and as users we must always take priority to prevent our information from leaking. In iOS you can find numerous functions that aim to avoid tracking through the network. In this article we will tell you how you can hide the IP address both with the iOS options and with a VPN.
Why hide iPhone IP address
On many occasions it has been heard that it is important to have the IP address hidden. This can be done on an iPhone, an iPad or on a simple computer. Keep in mind that the number that represents the IP is directly associated with your internet connection. Trackers use this number to show you personalized advertising, but Apple has always tried to block this tracking. Privacy measures have been gaining a lot of weight in the different telephone companies, and that is why through software they have always tried to apply different measures in this regard.
It should be clear that the tracking block does not prevent ads from being displayed on your iPhone at any time while you are browsing the Internet or in the different applications. What is achieved is to prevent websites from tracking browsing habits without the authorization of users. That is why with the IP hiding options it is possible to prevent websites from having access to the original IP address, but instead one that has been literally invented is registered. All this makes it always interesting to have this option active to safeguard privacy when you are browsing third-party websites.
Apple can make use of the many tools it has to hide the IP address. It can be the case of hiding the IP in a general way through iCloud but also focusing in a unique way in Safari. We are talking about all the options that are related to internet privacy and which we are going to delve into below when activating them.
Can it be done on all iPhones?
This is undoubtedly a great question to ask when talking about a feature of this style. Keep in mind that Apple has been working on measures related to privacy on the network since 2017, but it was with iOS 15 that efforts in this regard have intensified. With this version of software several features related to hiding the IP when surfing the internet were added.
That is why the different functions that we are going to talk about in this article should always be developed on an iPhone that has iOS 15 or a higher version installed. Keep in mind that it is not limited to specific devices as it can be with other functions that require specific hardware. You only need to have a computer that has the latest operating system updates from iOS 15.
The methods that exist to do it
Currently on an iPhone you can find different ways to hide the IP address. Specifically, it may be the case of using external applications that act as a VPN, but you can also choose to activate the internal configuration of the operating system that acts as a native VPN. Below we break down each of the systems that can be found on the iPhone.
Make use of a VPN
The use of the VPN has become standardized among many devices, notably the iPhone. But it can also be used on an iPad or any type of computer. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network . The goal of VPNs is to hide your IP address and have a secure and private connection at all times. In this way, all your information cannot be detected by any user and all your browsing history will not be directly linked to you. Although it does not mean that the internet provider can have access to the original history of everything you have been looking for on the internet.
One of the great functions that a VPN has is to disguise the IP. This is something really useful to have a greater privacy in the network that is precisely the objective that we are pursuing throughout this article. With this ‘costume’ it is possible to simulate at all times the location in which you are located. That is why VPNs are also intended to view content from a specific region but without being in it.
When setting up a VPN there are a large number of applications in the App Store of different companies. Keep in mind that you can find options that are free and others that are paid. We are talking about how VPNs will manage your entire internet connection with all the corresponding data. In these cases, the most advisable thing to do is to purchase a payment option, since if it is not in this way, the developers may end up selling your own data in order to obtain an economic profit.
Enable iCloud Private Relay
One of the native functions of the operating system itself is called ‘iCloud Private Relay’. This works by sending web traffic to a server that is managed by Apple itself where the IP address is removed. Once it has been completely removed, Apple sends this traffic information to a second server managed by an external company that assigns a temporary IP address, finally sending the traffic to the destination. In this way it is always possible to keep the IP address and location secret.
As we have discussed in the case of VPNs, servers can keep the original location or change it completely. This will make you receive or not content that is local. In the iCloud filter configuration itself, you can choose how you want to manage your geographical location through the IP address. In order to carry out this configuration, you will simply have to follow the following steps:
- Go into Settings.
- At the top of the screen, tap on your name.
- Tap on iCloud.
- Tap on Private Relay .
- In the options that appear, you must activate Relay.
- Click on Location of the IP address .
- Choose whether you want to keep the general location or use the country and time zone.
Hide Safari IP address
It may be the case that you do not need to have the address of all outgoing connections hidden. iOS allows you to limit this system of hiding to the Safari browser itself within its own settings. Keep in mind that, as we have commented previously, it is not an ad blocker. The only thing that you will end up getting is that all the ads that appear to you while you are browsing the internet. To be able to activate this option, simply follow the following options:
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Safari.
- Scroll down until you find the Privacy and security section .
- Click on Hide IP address.
