Beyond encryption, VPN also masks your IP address from the public internet, which in turn conceals your identity. When a user successfully connects their computer to a VPN server, the VPN not only secures their data but also assigns them a new IP address that hides their real one.
How IP Masking Works
This IP assignment can take several forms depending on the VPN provider and configuration:
Shared IP Addresses
One common approach groups multiple users under a single IP address. When dozens or even hundreds of users share the same IP, the activities of any individual user become difficult to distinguish. This creates a form of anonymity through obscurity — your traffic blends with everyone else's, making it nearly impossible to trace specific actions back to you.
Server-Based IP Addresses
Your new IP address may also correspond to the VPN server's IP address. This means the more servers a VPN provider operates worldwide, the more IP addresses you have available to choose from. Want to appear as if you're browsing from Tokyo? Connect to a Japanese server. Need a European IP? Select a server in Germany or France.
Depending on your needs, these options can be configured in your VPN client settings, giving you control over your virtual location.
Location Spoofing Benefits
When a VPN service hides your IP address, it simultaneously spoofs or conceals your physical location. This capability proves useful for:
- Bypassing content blocks — Access region-restricted streaming services and websites
- Circumventing firewalls — Get around network restrictions that rely on IP-based blocking
- Avoiding geographic restrictions — Access services not available in your country
Protection Against Attacks
IP address masking has proven effective against several types of threats:
Doxxing Prevention
Doxxing occurs when your personal identifying information becomes publicly available on the internet. Your IP address can reveal your approximate location and internet provider, potentially leading attackers to more personal details. With your real IP hidden, this attack vector closes.
DDoS Attack Protection
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks flood a target IP address with overwhelming traffic, rendering internet access unusable. Gamers, streamers, and anyone with an online presence can become targets. If nobody knows your real IP address, nobody can launch a DDoS attack against you directly.
The Privacy Equation
Your IP address functions as your digital fingerprint — it identifies your connection and can be used to:
- Track your browsing habits across websites
- Determine your physical location
- Identify your internet service provider
- Build a profile of your online activities
By replacing this fingerprint with an anonymous one shared among many users or tied to a distant server, VPN fundamentally changes the privacy equation. Your online activities become disconnected from your real identity and location, providing a layer of anonymity that's increasingly valuable in today's connected world.
Whether you're concerned about privacy, security, or simply want more freedom in how you access the internet, IP masking through VPN offers a practical solution that addresses multiple concerns simultaneously.