How to Prevent Websites from Knowing You Are Using a VPN
If you are reading this, I assume you already use a VPN to protect your privacy online. You’re hiding your IP address, preventing websites and apps from learning your real location. But did you know that even when you’re using a VPN, your computer can tell what website you’re trying to visit? Your phone? Your fridge?
Here’s how to prevent websites from knowing you’re using a VPN:
Use A Different IP Address
The first and most basic step to keeping your VPN private is to use a different IP address from what you normally use. Typically, a VPN will assign you a free IP address from a pool of IP addresses that are shared among users. You can ask the provider for help choosing a VPN IP address that is both private and memorable. For example, if you use Netflix, you can ask for a VPN IP that allows you to stream without experiencing buffering problems.
Use A Different DNS Server
DNS is an abbreviation for Domain Name System. It’s a naming service that translates easily memorized domain names into IP addresses. For example, if you know that Netflix is unavailable in your area but you still want to be able to stream, you can use a VPN and point your computer’s DNS settings to a different DNS server. This will cause your device to try and access Netflix when you type in the domain name instead of the IP address. The advantage of this approach is that you’re not reliant on a single service like Netflix, but rather are keeping your options open.
Use Anonymously Hosted Websites
Anonymously hosted websites are websites that are designed to be accessible via a VPN. They don’t require a connection to a specific server, so there’s no way for the site owner to identify you. If you visit a site like this in private mode, it will not be able to tell that you’re using a VPN. The downside is that you’ll be unable to access certain websites if they’re operated anonymously.
Use A Free Or Pro Version Of VyprVPN
Free VPNs are usually limited to basic privacy and security features. They don’t offer any advanced functionality, so you’ll have to decide whether or not that’s a priority for you. If you want to ensure that your VPN is always up-to-date and offers the best possible service, you can pay for a premium version. Most VPNs offer a free trial or a free tier that you can use for the first year. After that, you’ll have to decide whether or not you want to continue using the service.
Choose A VPN That Doesn’t Log
As much as you want to keep your VPN private, you don’t want to leave any traces of your online activity behind either. Most VPNs keep a record of your activity somewhere. It’s always best to choose a VPN that doesn’t log any activity. This way, you can be sure that your private information will remain secure.
VPNs are not a perfect solution to your privacy issues. While they can protect you from online tracking, they can’t perfectly shield you from every type of snooping. Since VPNs work by changing your IP address, they can’t protect you from companies and government agencies that have physical access to your device or service provider’s equipment. At the end of the day, it’s always a good idea to be smart about what kind of data you’re sharing online and who could potentially be watching.
Consider Using A Proxy Or VPN On All Your Devices
If you use multiple devices for surfing the web (e.g., a desktop computer at work, a mobile phone, and a tablet), you’ll have to ensure that all of them are using the same VPN. The reason is that each device will have a different IP address, and thus will be able to access the internet independently. To keep everything synchronized and secure, you should always use a VPN on all your devices. This is especially important if you use public Wi-Fi while traveling. You don’t want to leave any of your devices open to the risk of tracking or interrogation by others.
Keep Your Devices Up-To-Date
It’s always important to keep your devices up-to-date. This means updating the firmware on your computer and mobile phone and keeping your OS software (e.g., Windows, macOS, Android) up-to-date. The advantage of this is that your devices will be less vulnerable to attack and malfunction and you’ll have greater peace of mind. Some companies specialize in providing security updates for your devices automatically (e.g., Samsung, Google, and Apple). If you own or use any of these devices, it would be wise to make sure they are always kept up-to-date.
Use A VPN To Protect All Of Your Devices
If you’re still reading, you must be wondering how to protect all of your devices from being tracked online. One way to do this is by using a VPN to securely connect to the internet on all of your devices. The best VPNs for this purpose will allow you to connect all of your devices (e.g., desktop computer, tablet, and mobile phone) at the same time so they can share the same secure connection. This will help keep your personal information secure, even if one of your devices is compromised. You can further enhance the security of your devices by changing the login credentials for each one. It’s always best to make this change on your desktop computer first so all of your devices sync automatically whenever you log in.
Hopefully, these tips on how to prevent websites from knowing you’re using a VPN will inspire you to continue using the protection. Remember, no VPN is ever truly private or secure unless you keep all of your devices and software up-to-date and use a different IP address for each one. At the very least, you’ll want to make sure that your mobile phone isn’t sharing its IP address with any other device or system—unless, of course, you plan on using Wi-Fi while traveling.