Anonymous IP Browsing: Types, Risks, and Detection

Learn why Top Industry Analysts consistently name Okta and Auth0 as the Identity Leader

Anonymous IP tools obfuscate your identity and location. Use one, and the host server may know very little about who and where you are.

Think of your IP address as your device's fingerprint. A server can tap into that data point and learn critical information, such as where you are located, how often you've visited before, and what other sites you've seen. An anonymous server makes that research difficult or impossible.

What is an anonymous IP address used for?

The internet runs on trust. Visitors promise that they are who they claim to be, and servers agree to scrape just the information they need to operate. 

Unfortunately, both parties can violate that trust. An anonymous IP browser can perpetrate some violations, and that same tool can be used to retaliate. 

These main anonymous server uses exist:

  1. Manipulation: An anonymous IP browser connected to a bot farm can make a website or digital ad seem very popular. Clicks seem to come from all over the globe, even when they originate from one hacker's company.
  2. Censorship workarounds: Almost every country, including the United States, allows companies to block access by location. If you live in China, for example, you may not be allowed to visit some social media channels. An anonymous IP address helps you skirt that problem.
  3. Privacy: Many people believe companies know too much about them. For example, 44 per cent of Americans think digital advertising is invasive. Anonymous IP browsing blocks data collection. 
  4. Theft: Hackers use anonymous IP addresses in their crimes. They might block locations to keep victims from understanding where the attack begins. They might also block locations to make an attack seem like legitimate traffic.

Note that some anonymous IP addresses uses are legitimate. But the same tool y