To ensure your Internet Privacy, there are two things to watch, your IP address and your local Internet traces. In this post, we will focus on hiding your IP address.

First, why be concerned about hiding your IP address? Why do people search on Hide My IP or Hide My IP Address? It’s simple, your IP address is associated with the server you use to connect to the Internet.

For example, I live in Tampa and connect to the Internet with my Road Runner account. When I check my IP address, it shows that I am in Tampa and use Road Runner as my Internet Service Provider (ISP). That in itself is not a problem. However, there are two possible reasons to be concerned. First, some sites block access based on an IP address. You might have been banned from a favorite website, or posted over the daily allowable limit on a given website. The IP address is one of the ways that you can be tracked or blocked. However, as I tell all our customers of our anonymous proxy, Private Proxy, to change IP addresses is often not enough. You also have to make sure you don’t have a cookie stored on your PC that also identifies you. Assuming the cookie issue is solved, hide IP software or services can get you past a blocked website.

If you surf from work, you might need a hide IP address service so that you can not be tracked back to your company. When you surf from work, chances are that you are connecting through your company’s Internet server. This server’s IP address will identify the company. If you are researching a competitor you probably would not want your IP address to show up on the competitor’s website log. Worse yet, if you are surfing for personal reasons at work, you really might not want anyone to be able to track back to your employer.

In both instances, whether surfing from home or work, the server you connect through has a log showing your web surfing. With an IP address that points back to the server, you can be tracked back directly to your home or our desk. Here’s how: The IP address shows the web server. The web server knows who you are. In the case of an employer, all they have to do is look at the log. In the case of an ISP, all it takes is a subpoena or a helpful ISP employee. In either case, with the right questions, you can be traced.

So why do I hide my IP address? It’s mostly principle. When I hide my IP address I know I’ve made it more difficult for someone to trace me. I find it very disturbing that some web sites and most search engines use IP addresses to build profiles. Why make it easy for them? Hence, I hide my IP.

Telegraph UK reported that search-engine giant Google, the proud owners of YouTube, were demanded to give up ALL of their users’ information…that is correct. This started mainly because of a suit brought on by media juggernaut Viacom, who accuses Google/YouTube of hosting copyrighted information on the site. Google will have to hand information over to Viacom such your log-in details, viewing history, and the IP address from which you surf. I hope either A.) you didn’t view any copyrighted movies or B.) you are using a proxy server to mask your IP and surf anonymously.

The EFF website also has some information on this subject, which it is calling a “setback to privacy rights.” Viacom owns MTV and Paramount Pictures (among others) and is demanding this information because copyrighted programs have been appearing on YouTube and has led to an “explosion of copyright infringement.” Googling is countering the $1 billion lawsuit by saying it already goes above and beyond any legal expectations to remove copyrighted materials…a strategy which hopefully works out, especially since I don’t think I know a single person who doesn’t go on YouTube.

Viacom has stated they want the user details so they can statistically compare original videos with copyrighted videos to show “the attractiveness of allegedly infringing video with that of non-infringing video” (I smell something…it smells a lot like b.s.).

I am just glad that Google does have the firepower to fight back against Viacom and that the EFF has also made their stance clear. I do not need my log-in details and IP address taken hostage so that a “statistical analysis” can be done. How does my personal information help Viacom conduct these studies? IT DOESN’T. Viacom promises not to pursue legal action against people who watch copyrighted content…so I guess we can trust them since they said they wouldn’t do it. That has never happened before, why would a huge company like Viacom lie?

While Google has been involved in some privacy rights issues recently I am glad to see they are stepping up and fighting back. They are requesting to encrypt and anonymize the logs before sending them over to Viacom so that individual users are not prosecuted, but so that a statistical analysis can be done anonymously.

Tampa, Florida (April 21, 2008) – PrivacyView Software, LLC the developer of award-winning Internet and computer privacy software, announced today that the latest release of its anonymous proxy server, Private Proxy, automatically connects to private domains.

This recent update allows Private Proxy users to avoid being blocked by outside parties, such as restrictive governments found in Asia or the Middle East. Private Proxy automatically connects to private domain names that are not blocked enabling secure anonymous surfing on the Internet.

Many restrictive governments have banned websites that their citizens wish to visit such as news websites from the NY Times and CNN, reference sites like Wikipedia and popular social media sites such as MySpace and Facebook. With the increase in censorship, people need safe and secure access to the Internet in order to protect their privacy and freedom. Private Proxy allows users to choose an anonymous proxy server where their Internet browsing can not be monitored or blocked. Learn more about censorship issues.

The software comes with a 7 day free trial allowing users to decide if they want to keep the service without having to spend any money. Along with the 7 day free trial, PrivacyView offers two options for its users: they can subscribe to a monthly service for $9.95 or choose a quarterly option for only $24.95.

About PrivacyView Software:

PrivacyView Software, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Founded in 2003, the company creates and markets privacy software for consumers. The company and its products have won numerous technology awards. For more information about PrivacyView, its awards and its affiliate program, please visit http://www.privacyview.com/.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the plan to reopen Tibet…well who knows. Chinese authorities will not release any information regarding the reopening of Tibet’s borders to foreigners. Originally, the date to reopen was set to be May 1st, but now it is uncertain when this will happen. Certain “reliable reports,” according to the article, state that Tibet won’t reopen until the start of this year’s Olympic games.

This isn’t really something that seems unexpected. With all the things that have been going on in Tibet, this is just the icing on the cake. China’s Great Firewall limited all news access about Tibet. Chinese citizens could not search for news updates about the current situation since Google, Wikipedia, and YouTube are all blocked by the Chinese censors. Surfing through a proxy server was the only hope Chinese citizens had to find information, that is until the Chinese government shut down all forms of media in Tibet and made all foreigners leave the area.

I know the use of proxy servers and other internet privacy tools must be on the rise in certain parts of the world. Chinese citizens are not allowed to view websites that are outside China’s borders, severely limiting the news and information flow through the country. Bloggers and media face severe penalties if they post things that the Chinese government finds offense or does not approve of. The need for anonymity becomes more important every day. I know I will be using a proxy server…I do not do anything illegal therefore I shouldn’t be tracked when using the internet, and the same should especially go for the Chinese citizens who can’t even look up information on Wikipedia or use Google.

While I am glad I have certain freedoms that others do not, who knows how extreme censorship can become…therefore I will continue using my proxy server to stay anonymous.

News from PrivacyView Software

PrivacyView Software’s award winning creations are established to help protect users’ Internet privacy and security. PrivateProxy was developed to mask a user’s IP address so search engines, marketing companies, and ISPs can not track your Internet activity. PrivateProxy will mask your IP address through one of their servers so that your “Internet identity” will remain anonymous. Servers will record the IP address from PrivateProxy so you are free to surf anonymously. PrivateProxy allows the user to choose one of their numerous domain names to surf the web, and maintains your anonymity with randomly rotating IP addresses.

PrivateProxy not only acts as an anonymous proxy server, but it is also a bypass proxy. The 128-bit encryption allows the flow of data while keeping your information protected, and eliminating ISPs or network administrators from monitoring the user’s surfing. Records are only kept for 5 days and are then deleted to prevent hackers and spammers from accessing the information.

PrivacyView Software also offers a detailed support section with FAQs and Privacy Resources for both products and general Internet security and computer privacy questions.