Why and how to hide your IP address while traveling

When you travel, you have a multitude of details to worry about, from ensuring you have the right documents to staying safe. It can be easy to overlook some less obvious points. However, one thing to always keep in mind as a digital nomad is the importance of protecting your online privacy, especially if you connect to a lot of public wi-fi during your journeys.

Your IP address can be used to track your whereabouts. If you're traveling and don't want others to see your movements, hide your IP.

What is an IP address, and how can it be used to track your location?

When you connect to the internet, your device is assigned an IP address - a string of numbers, and decimals that identifies your device and location (country, city, down to a zip code level of detail). If you connect to the internet from multiple locations, your IP address changes accordingly. Your public IP address is unique and visible to everyone on the internet. You can find out yours by googling "my IP address”.

Why digital nomads need to hide their IP

There are a few reasons digital nomads might choose to hide their IP addresses.

To stay anonymous on the internet. By hiding your IP, you can make it more difficult for others to track your online activity and learn your personal information.

To prevent profiling and monitoring. Hiding your IP is the first step to stopping data brokers from collecting your information. It can help you avoid being tracked by your government. In many countries, the government monitors internet activity to track potential criminals and dissidents.

To access content that might be blocked in your new location. Whether for work or fun, digital nomads sometimes need to bypass geographical restrictions and access websites and stream services that might be blocked.

How to hide your IP address while traveling

A VPN is the most secure option. It encrypts all the data sent and received by your device, and it routes your traffic through a server in a different location.

Bitdefender Premium VPN offers a wide range of features and is very easy to use. Plus, with 4,000+ high-speed servers in over 49 countries and cities, you'll always find a server that meets your needs no matter where you are in the world.

Here's how to hide your IP address with Bitdefender Premium VPN:

1. Choose your VPN plan here:
2. Download the VPN app onto your device (Windows, Mac iOS and Android, up to 10 devices)
3. Install the VPN app and run it.
4. Select a server location. Your new IP address will be that of this server.
5. Turn on your VPN. You are now connected through a private network.

Check out more Bitdefender Premium VPN benefits.