Update 5/18/2011: Free Hide IP is not available anymore. You should check ibVPN, HideMyAss, NordVPN, PrivateInternetAccess, PureVPN or other hide IP tools.

In case you are looking for a free tool to hide your IP address, here is a good news: recently, a new proxy tool was released – Free Hide IP. It’s a small tool that changes your browser proxy settings and redirects your Internet traffic through various proxies.

According to the developer, “It is a lightweight and useful software designed to protect your privacy when surfing the Internet by changing your IP address. The software will protect your Identity and Prevent tracking of your online activities.”

Free Hide IP Features

  • Protect and hide your identity through hiding your IP address.
  • Changes your IP address.
  • Unblocks restricted websites

The usage is very simple: after the installation, a small window is shown that allows you to hide/show you real IP address and to update your proxy list. It easily configures Internet Explorer and Firefox.

Free Hide IP

Free Hide IP ON

Free Hide IP Tested

I have tested it for about an hour and I think it has some potential. It’s simple to use, but there still bugs to be fixed and features to be added.

My main concerned is related to the fact that Free Hide IP uses open proxies, so it’s NOT 100% safe to use it. Open proxies may hide your IP address, but you never know who owns them and whether they monitor the traffic or not.

Before using open proxies you should also read Risks of using a proxy site. As it is said, “Better safe than sorry“.

Update 4/9/2010: After installing the tool, I had trouble with an adware/spyware called MyWebSearch. I’m not 100% sure that it came with Free Hide IP, but it’s highly possible. So, take care with this application.

>> Free Hide IP – No longer available