making ur ip not visible on the net

Hiii all

Recently, my computer was hacked into and i lost certain very valuable data...Ever since then i have got paranoid about making my computer secure...i have installed zone labs freeware firewall and updated my computer and removed almost all malware...however, a few days back i visited a security website and that website informed me that my ip address and certain personal info was not hidden...i am very distressed...cud someone plz advice me as to how to hide my ip address on the net...
thanx
swatii

There's really no way to hide your IP. you could make it harder to find, ie. using proxies etc....

Oh no, not again..

http://www.antionline.com/showthread...hreadid=270305
http://www.antionline.com/showthread...hreadid=255459

You cannot hide your IP adress, the data needs to get to your pc..
You can however use proxy's to masquerade your IP.

O.K.

First off your public IP is just that PUBLIC. When you connect to a server, the server knows your IP - It has to or else it couldn't give you the information you requested. Lots of people like to show you your Public IP address in an attempt to get you to purchase something.


Ignore these little pop ups.

Things to do.

Install and configure your firewall

Restrict access to your Computer. since you are using zonealarm, I assume you are using windows.

What Version?

edit: Man you guys are fast

Lol, this is like the 3rd one in a week.

*edit*
Copied and pasted my post from the other day's similar thread...

Quote:

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In plain English, a computer's IP address is similar to a mailing address. In order to send information to it, one needs the address. It is something you need, but also something worth protecting because it's possible for someone to scan your system for vulnerabilities IF they have your IP address and that can be a very bad thing if you haven't updated Windows with all the patches and if you do not have a firewall. I also highly recommend anti-virus, anti-trojan (sometimes AV covers trojans/worms but can't remove them), and anti-spyware.

Here is the link to download Ad-aware. This is a very effective free (for personal use) spyware detection and removal tool.

At the bottom of this page is a link to download AVG free antivirus. Try to use a "junk" email address that you never use when you sign up for it. I also highly recommend Symantec's Norton Antivirus, which is excellent but you have to pay to use it. Whatever you use, keep your definitions up to date (on both antispyware and antivirus applications) and run a scan weekly.

Here is the link to download ZoneAlarm; a free, very user friendly firewall. There are better ones out there, but this one is pretty solid and especially user friendly. Again, I recommend Symantec's Norton Firewall if you want to shell out some cash.

I'm sure others will give their input on what they like best and what you should/shouldn't use soon. Good luck.

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To hide your IP address, first, open your network settings dialogue. Delete any and all entries. Save all changes. Then, unplug any USB, cat-5, or other factor cabling that connects your system to a router, switch, modem, or other communications device. Third, well, if you've already done the first two, this last one isn't being read by you, so ta-ta.

</L-user abuse>

Zen has it died on, the perfect way to do the job.
No cause, no consequence. Good rule for a smart boy.

zencoder, you chould get a special title of "Luser Abuser" :P

Instead of abuse or telling them only what they can't do, some more suggestions on what they can do might be appropriate.

Beyond making your own system/network more secure, have you become more paranoid about doing regular backups or your valuable data?

Quote:

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Instead of abuse or telling them only what they can't do, some more suggestions on what they can do might be appropriate.

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Fair enough.

Here is one way to mask/hide your IP. (it wont protect you from Government agencies).
It will do a good job of hidding where your coming from whilst surfing the net and hidding your true IP in applications that can be configuered to use the software.

Install Tor[1]
Install Privoxy[2]

Set up and configuer as per instructions on their websites.

[1] http://tor.eff.org/
[2] http://www.privoxy.org/

1)Pull the cable out the wall
2)Fill your PC with fireworks, leave a fuse hanging out, light it and go for a pint.

Real answer, if you are that paranoid don't use a pc for sensitive work. If you must go online use the computers at your local library.

Quote:

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Originally posted here by Noia
zencoder, you chould get a special title of "Luser Abuser" :P

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Isn't that one already taken?

Quote:

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Originally posted here by zencoder
Isn't that one already taken?

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Half of it is already taken by Gore ....

AO BOFH: Luser Abuser

Still possible to use it ... :D

Hey Swati !

There's actually no possible way to hide your ip. Think of your ip as your address and the Internet as a Postal Service. If your address is hidden, there's no way you can get letters !.
Get the point ?. If you are looking way to hide your ip to browse the web, consider using a proxy.

http://anonymizer.com

Its alright to be paranoid. A cracker can't do anything with your ip, if you adopt some security practices. Stick around in AO and learn more about ways to secure your box.

Cheers

My best advice is: use a proxie server

several things you can do:
1- back up your system, data files
2- use good soyware detector(spyware doctor)
3- follow security instructions (password generation/regeneration rules, system scan, ...)

Wow, a lot of great advice on here.

I agree with practically everyone on here, try using a proxy server.

You're using a firewall, just make sure you configure it correctly. Also configure your firewall on your router if it's applicable. I'm sure the guys and gals on here have some pretty sweet tutorials that can get you started.

Just like everyone said, use spyware detection programs like adaware and spybot S&D. Keep them updated and every now and then, run them in safemode.

I also recommend AVG, keep it up to date and also try running it in safemode now and then.

If all else fails, switch to sneakernet and you wont have any trouble with people finding your ip. :D

Hi swatii,

My advice...unless you have serious data on your computer...you know, secret agent stuff :D...don't sweat it...any secret, classified material, documents, manuscripts you have...you know...vital information for your eyes only...use paper...buy a safe...errrrr, the steel kind NOT the latex...latex will NOT keep your documents safe! ;)

Eg ;)

I know this is a bit late but let us look at the original post?

Quote:

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Recently, my computer was hacked into and i lost certain very valuable data

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swatii , you have been given very good advice already, but I would make the point that you were hacked either via your internet connection, or physical access to your box. Your IP address is pretty much irrelevant. Trojans, backdoors, keyloggers, rootkits etc. do not need IP addresses in general, just a vulnerable machine connected to the net. They will "get you" even through a proxy.

I would recommend that you try to figure out how you were hacked, and take steps to prevent it.



;)

Nihil my friend, his intentions are straightforward, he wants to hide his IP address to do some dirty work .... needless to say, ilegal work.

Hi Black Cluster you may well be right :)

My thinking was that the OP says he has a security breach and seems to think that the solution is to mask his IP address? Several posters mentioned using a proxy..............

At best that is "security through obscurity" and not to be relied on.

The scenario I had in mind was when he logs on to his ISP he is assigned an IP address. He then goes to a proxy server which is all that any site he visits will see. He is still logged on to his ISP in plain sight . Now, if someone is running a bot scanning his ISP address blocks and finds him running a vulnerable machine.............he is owned!

That is why I suggested that he needed to find the cause of his problem and that other security considerations need to be taken into account, as mentioned by previous posters.

I was a little concerned that newbies might read the thread and think that using a proxy will protect them, without considering all possible attack vectors and security measures.

:)

Ah geez, why is it that whenever someone asks a question that could be legit, everyone assumes they're going to hack something. His story seems true enough, if I didn't know much about computers, and I see my IP address flashing around on some site, I'd be paranoid to. How am I suppose to know that it's just javascript?? Cut him a break...

Hi The Duck,

His question calls suspicion, he could ask us, if he is not certain ... "Is it possible anyway to hack my computer using my IP?" .... "What can I do to protect myself?" "How can my IP address be used against me?" ...

I think this way things are better clarified .... giving no way for suspicions to flick around ... :)

nihil, your explanation, is cool enough ..... but I said what I said, just becasue a I think he is up to no good .... ;)

Well,

My feeling is that the OP has probably heard something somewhere and thinks that they have a "solution".................I am questioning the suitability of that solution in isolation.

For example, we have not asked if his IP address is static or dynamic ?

If it is static, and he has already been hacked then yes, he should use a proxy, but he needs to get his ISP to change his address and change his password(s).

If he has been "owned" then my personal recommendation would be to save important data, reformat and reinstall THEN UPDATE making sure to have installed a firewall or downloaded the updates on a secure machine first.

He still needs to harden his machine as already suggested. If he visits a dodgy website with a vulnerable machine he will get zapped, no matter how many proxies he goes through.

Similarly, his initial ISP connection will be vulnerable to bot scans.

What I see here is a great danger of getting lulled into a false sense of security?

:eek: