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 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

HideIPVPN hides your IP address (using VPN technology) and exposes UK or US IP addresses instead of your real one. This allows you to unblock a lost of restricted sites and protect your online privacy.

HideIPVPN Features

HideIpVPN main features:

• No logs are kept.
• It provides high-speed internet connection
• Encrypts and compresses all traffic including Email, IRC, FTP, DNS, VOIP, instant messengers.
• Bypasses your ISP’s traffic shaping.
• Hides your tracks from internet monitoring or web filtering apps like Websense, Barracuda, etc.
• Your IP is hidden while using HideIPVPN.com.
• Works on Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, Linux, etc.
• Easy to install and use.

Why is HideIPVPN special?

• It is, as far as I know, the only  free VPN service that offers both UK and UK IPs
• Unblocks Hulu (I just checked) and other restricted US sites
• Unblocks BBC iPlayer (also checked) and other restricted UK sites

How to start using HideIPVPN free?

In order to get your IP hidden with HideIPVPN you need to create an account. Go to the free VPN page and access the link to the account creation page.

The setup is very simple as the VPN services use PPTP protocol. To see how to do it for your operating system go to Howto/Setup page.

Premium HideIPVPN

For those that need more security, HideIpVPN offers a premium service:

• Offers complete privacy and anonymity by using OpenVPN (more secure and stable than PPTP)
• Anonymous US and UK IP addresses!

In order to maintain the quality of their service, the number of both free and premium accounts is limited. So, hurry up, to get your US/UK VPN account!

Super Premium VPN Package

HideIpVPN proposes the Super Premium Package with 20 servers located in United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands, all allowing PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN and Proxy connections. It’s an excellent choice for those interested in different connection options and wants to use servers from a different location.

HideIpVPN P2P/Torrent VPN Package

Another new package is the one that allows P2P/Torrent connections with servers located in the Netherlands. This is for those looking for more anonymity downloading from torrents.

How can you benefit from a HideIPVPN German VPN?

Firstly, you may secure you Internet while traveling in Germany. Consider the case of free WiFi hotspots from airports. Surely, you don’t want to connect to such a free hotspot without the protection of a VPN. By connecting to a server located in Germany you will get acceptable Internet speed.

Secondly, you can access German restricted content. With such a VPN you can watch Das Erste, DSF, KI.KA, 3sat, ARTE, NDR (with regional options) and even Zattoo Germany with 94 Live FREE Streaming Television and Radio Channels.

Zattoo.com/de has developed a software program that allows you to watch TV on your computer. The service is legal and free of charge.

With their German version, Zattoo offers 94 live FREE streaming television and radio channels; these include Das Erste, DSF, KI.KA, 3sat, ARTE, NDR (with regional options), WDR (with regional options), MDR (with regional options), Bayerisches Fernsehen, SWR, RBB, SR, Phoenix, Das Vierte, DMAX, BR Alpha, EinsPlus, EinsExtra, EinsFestival, ZDF, TV Gusto, LUXE.TV, TIMM and many more.

Thirdly, you may protect your downloads while accessing torrents. When you connect to a VPN all your Internet traffic is encrypted and your IP address is hidden. If you are located in Germany you should consider using a German VPN while downloading torrents.

>> HideIPVPN

How does IP Sharkk work?

IP Sharkk allows you to hide your IP and connect through someone else’s IP who is in your network. That basically means that you will get 100% anonymity because your real IP will be hidden.

IP Sharkk is a Network program that randomly sends a different IP signal to each member of a group of internet users who share their own IP and are concerned about their internet security. Basically, everyone shares their IP with each other and no one knows who is who because the address changes constantly.

How to get started

First, you have to download the setup. The installation is very simple (Next, Next, …) so you will have no problems. After IpSharkk initializes a window will show up on the right-bottom of your screen: 

Press on “Offline” button and you will be asked to fill in your email address and to choose a username and password.

The next step is email verification. Check your email, open the email sent by IpSharkk Team and click on the link.

After your email got verified you are ready to start using the product. Go to Tools -> Login -> enter your info (email, username and password).

The final step: choose a location. You should choose a location close to you as the speed is higher. Go to XMyIP to check your new IP address.

IPSharkk Versions

IPSharkk comes in 2 flavors: the FREE version and the Premium/Gold version that costs $27/month. Below you can see the differences between the free and the premium version.

If you have restrictions on allowing public IP access or don’t want your IP known by anyone, then we have the Premium Version. This software comes with Unlimited IP Changes, is Ads Free, works with secure pages (Https), comes with dedicated Free Online Support and is Secure – No IP Sharing.

Pros and Cons of IPSharkk

Pros

• It hides your IP efficiently
• It has a FREE version which really works
• Very easy to use
• Lists an impressive number of locations/IPs
• The IPs are less probable to be banned from forums and sites
• Good speed

Cons

• Your real IP is used by others to navigate on the internet. This is dangerous, as you real IP can be logged as a source of illegal activities.
• The Premium version is quite expensive: $27/month, higher than other hide IP tools
• POST is not available in the Free version

>> Download IPSharkk

P.S. If IPSharkk does not work for you, then check a VPN service like ibVPN, HideMyAss, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, PureVPN.

———————

I’m glad to be the first blogger that writes about a new tool that can be used to browse anonymously by hiding your public IP address. NotMyIP is a new hide IP tool, and the best thing is that it’s FREE!

Privacy-Gateway.com has released, NotMyIP, a new and free tool that can be used to hide your IP address and browse anonymously. The product is straightforward, similar to other free tools like UltraSurf or GPass.

From the press release:

The simpler it is – the better it is! Internet users do not have to spend time learning complex strategies to achieve their purpose. They only want to hide IP. Is this too much they’re asking? “Not at all!” thought Privacy-Gateway when started developing NotMyIP. Only press one button and the real IP is hidden. A new (fake) IP will guarantee users anonymous web surfing while hiding IP. What can be easier that this? And to make it even better, it uses an exclusive list of premium proxies in order to provide a new IP.

Getting started

First, you have to download it. The installation is straightforward, follow the instructions. After the installation is completed you will see the following screen:

To hide your IP, the only thing you have to do press the Change IP button. To check your new IP address visit XMyIP.com site. That’s it! It automatically configures all browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Opera, and Safari. No need to worry about this anymore.

When you what to browse with your real IP address click Restore IP button.

NotMyIP Pros and Cons

Here is the list of pros and cons I have come up with:

Pros:

• It is FREE!
• It hides your IP address and allows you to surf anonymously.
• Very simple and smooth UI. Suitable for beginners. No user guide needed.
• It provides fast, premium, quality HTTP proxies.
• It works with all browsers tested: Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Chrome, and Safari. No need for manual configuration.
• It does not need any add-ons to run with Firefox.
• It overcomes censorship.

Cons:

• The proxies are from the US only.
• There are only three proxies available. More in the commercial version, called Anonymity Gateway.
• Only English user interface is available.
• Not suitable for P2P applications. If you are interested in anonymous torrenting, you should check some P2P VPN providers.

To sum up: It’s great to have another excellent hide IP software on the market. Let’s hope more proxies will be available in the next versions and they will continue to be fast.

Ultrasurf vs. NotMyIP

Ultrasurf and NotMyIP are two very similar tools to hide/change your IP address. Because Ultrasurf is very well known and consequently blocked by many security products and filter, NotMyIP has gained a lot of popularity lately.

On Privacy-Gateway.com, the home of NotMyIP, I have found an interesting comparison between the two free hide IP products. From the very beginning, Privacy-Gateway team declares that NotMyIP was not built to replace Ultrasurf but more as an alternative when Ultrasurf is blocked.

Further, here is the comparison as found on Privacy-Gateway.com:

NotMyIP vs. Anonymity Gateway

Both applications are practical tools for hiding your IP address. The functioning principle is the same: they use proxies to protect your real IP address. These proxies drive your traffic, and you are not identified correctly by the sites you visit. It’s that simple!

Let’s see how several features that may help you compare NotMyIP and Anonymity Gateway:

What do you think about NotMyIP?

To sum up, is NotMyIP useful? Is it working for you? What features do you think should be added?

Let us know in the comments below.

SmartHide main features

SmartHide exposes 2 core features:

1) It protects your identity by hiding your IP address;
2) It encrypts your current network connection.

The application is not intended to change IP address many times, but to hide IP address using one of the secure servers to give every user a protected anonymous surfing.

What is SmartHide Free Trial Edition?

The new SmartHide Free Trial Edition allows evaluating the power of SmartHide Service. In order to access the trial, all you need is to download SmartHide Free Trial Edition and install it on your computer.

The installation is smooth with no confirmation E-mail, no multiple forms to fill, or secure passwords to remember. All you need to do is enter your E-mail during the installation, and SmartHide will do the rest. Just a few clicks and SmartHide is ready to use.

Trial SmartHide account is alive for 3 days after the registration. As soon as the trial period expires, one can register a full version of SmartHide.

Limitations of the SmartHide Free Trial Edition

Here are the limitations of the new SmartHide:

• 1 USA shared server (used by all trial users);
• No ability to send emails using SMTP protocol;
• It is impossible to visit HTTPS websites;
• Time in use limitation (periodical disconnections with a trial server);
• The option “Automatic connection” is not available for the trial server;
• The option “Reconnect” is not available on the trial server.

How to install and use SmartHide

SmartHide has a very easy-to-use interface and is very simple to set up. The first step you need to do is to register for one of the available packages:

• Personal Subscription ($14.95/month)
• Prepaid License – ($9.95 – 1 month)
• Regular Subscription ($9.95/month)

Then, you need to access the Members Area. After the authorization, you can download the latest paid version of Arovax SmartHide. During the install, you will be required to enter your login and password.

As I previously said, the user interface is very intuitive. You need to choose an IP address/location and then press Make me invisible. When you need to return to the normal browsing press Make me visible button.

The available IP addresses are from United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Malaysia. The last ones did not work for me, but the US servers are quite good (as you can see below in the speed test results). I was able to even watch Hulu smoothly.

Speed test for US server:

Hulu with SmartHide

Watching Hulu with SmartHide:

SmartHide allows port forwarding

Port Forwarding is a technology, which allows connecting from the Internet to your local Computer behind NAT (NAPT). The access is achieved by means of directing traffic of certain Ports from external IP address of a router to a chosen computer in the local network.

Such forwarding is necessary if you, for example, use peering networks or are in need of setting up a server with access to the internet on a local computer. Also, port forwarding is often needed for multiplayer online games (MMOG).

SmartHide Portable Edition

SmartHide Portable Edition allows you to turn ON quickly a safe data transfer in different public places and internet access points all over the world even easier than ever before!

SmartHide Portable does not require installation! Just insert your flash card and launch SmartHide and stay protected and anonymous in the Airports Worldwide, Hotels, Cafes, Wi-Fi Zones and other places to access World Wide Web. Wherever you are – it takes just one button click to get access to blocked web-resources around the World and gain complete anonymity and personal information protection.

Arovax SmartHide Portable Edition is available free of charge for all current clients of SmartHide Service and can be downloaded from SmartHide Members Area.

SmartHide Personal USA IP Service Features

Here are some core features of the Arovax SmartHide Personal USA IP Service:

• Personal Dedicated USA IP address on a powerful and extremely fast server with Unlimited traffic;
• Personal Support Manager;
• Access and Visit US-Only Restricted Websites (Hulu, YouTube, Pandora, Veoh, ABC, CW) from Outside of United States;
• Personal IP address in any spot of the Planet;
• Safe data transfer in the Airports, Hotels Worldwide and everywhere you use SmartHide;

SmartHide Mobile VPN features

New SmartHide VPN has many interesting features that make it very useful for Internet users. General features of SmartHide VPN:

1. Every active SmartHide user gets SmartHide VPN free of charge. From now on, every active and new SmartHide user can use standard SmartHide for PC or Mac, and SmartHide VPN for iPhone, iPad and for any Android device.
2. IP address stays the same. It means that SmartHide registered user will be able to use the same IP address that he owns in standard SmartHide Subscription for any tablet or Android device. This fact makes it possible to get several connections to the same SmartHide Personal IP from PC/Mac and from a mobile device. It is very useful if you surf sites connected to a particular IP.
3. As always, SmartHide protects internal and external Internet traffic through its encryption. It secures regular Internet data and the data going through the free Wi-Fi access points in public places.
4. Everyone can set up SmartHide VPN on any device that supports the PPTP protocol. It can be iPad or Android smartphone.

All in all, SmartHide VPN will help every SmartHide user to access favorite sites and apps from anywhere on the Internet on PC/Mac and smartphones/tablets without extra charges with unlimited bandwidth. SmartHide secures HTTP(S) browsing for all your apps and protects your privacy and security.

You can use SmartHide Mobile VPN all your iOS and Android devices including iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. You just need to register any available subscription and choose a preferable instruction for setting up SmartHide VPN.

>> SmartHide

Tor is one of the top technologies when it comes to anonymity. Due to its architecture, Tor provides (almost) total privacy. And the best thing is that it’s free! Not only by individual users but also by third-party tools. Torfox is one of these applications that use Tor to provide anonymous browsing.

Torfox is, as described on the home site, a simple secure portable open source browser based on The Tor Project and Mozilla Foundation technologies. In short: an anonymous browser which allows users to browse web pages hiding their IP address and other parameters which may be used to identify user data.

The installation is very simple: go to Tor fox site, download the file (.exe, .zip or .sha1), install it and you are ready to browse anonymously. Below are screenshots of this nice hide IP tool.

Torfox in action

Anonymous surfing with ZERO configuration:

Different branding doesn’t affect original Firefox installs:

The browser never connects directly to the internet:

Pros and Cons of Torfox

Torfox has the same pros and cons as Tor has plus several more:

Pros

• It’s free!
• It does change your IP address.
• Very easy to use.
• Familiar look as it is based on Firefox.
• Can be also downloaded as a ZIP file and extracted to a USB drive for a portable version that works anywhere without installation.

Cons

• Quite slow.
• You can’t choose the location (country) of the IP address.

Conclusion

This anonymous browser looks like a tool that still needs some work done and it will probably be fully functional after a few more months. But, as it is free and it comes from a reliable source, it worth trying.

Have you downloaded it and used it? What do you think of it?

The overall results are quite amazing:

• 245 licenses were given away valued at $8,638.
• 2,542 comments were posted.
• The giveaway posts were visited 16,142 times.
• There were 229 winners.

Taking these figures into account I’d say that the giveaway was a real success. Below you can find more detailed hide IP statistics. I hope you will find them interesting.

Products Stats

In the period December 1^st, 2009 – December 22^nd, 2009 there were given away 245 licenses for 22 products in total value of $8,638. As it can be seen in the plot below Anonymity Network gave away the highest number of licenses (30) followed by Hide My Ass (20) and Smart Hide (20).

As far as the giveaway value is concerned the first place is taken by Cryptocloud ($1,668) and Torrent freedom ($1,688) followed by HideIpVPN ($990) and Anonymity Network ($774).

Further, users were more interested in HideIpVPN (290 comments, 1,335 views), Cryptocloud (221 comments, 980 views), Torrent Freedom (123 comments, 1,071 views) and 12VPN (132 comments, 1,151 views).

Users Stats

The users who commented to win were almost from everywhere. Here are two charts, with commentator’s distribution per region and per country. These charts are of course affected by those users who changed their IP addresses.

Winners Stats

Next, here is the distribution of winners per region and per country. In comparison with the previous charts, the distribution is a little bit changed because the duplicates were removed before designating the winners.

Thanks to the providers

Finally, I want to thank all hide IP and VPN providers that were part of this action. It was a great experience working closely with them and I hope we will work together more giveaways and great offers.