Casual web surfing may look like an innocent online activity without serious consequences. Watching videos, reading news and blogs or playing games online are considered simple online tasks. You feel free in doing these activities online since you are not using your credit card or very personal information. Since you’re not using sensitive information in these online transactions, any actions or transactions that you do online might not give you any trouble.

But an innocent online activity can cause serious problems in the future. Hackers can use various websites to silently install spyware in your local computer. You may have found a good looking website that hosts funny videos online but this website may implement an attack to your computer as soon as you play the online videos in their site.

Hackers will be able to implement spyware or remotely access your computer because you have revealed your IP (Internet Protocol) address. An IP address is basically your computer’s address. By revealing this type of information, hackers can easily control your computer and extract any information they want.

Covering Your IP Address

This type of online attack can be prevented by surfing anonymously or giving out a different IP address. There two methods in implementing this form of security: through web based tools or an installed software.

A well known web based tool to surf with security is to use proxy servers. Proxy servers will provide a different IP address to the website you’re trying to access. Hackers who monitor your internet activity will never be able to access your computer since a different IP address is used. All you need to do is to enter your targeted website to the web based proxy server and you’ll be securely directed to your preferred website.

The software option will not require you to visit any website before securely surfing online. After installation, you can immediately implement secured surfing and your IP address will be immediately shielded. Software or applications that shield your IP address will also provide a different IP address to websites you’re trying to access.

Before you use any of these options in securely surfing online, be sure to check independent reviews on these services. Some hackers are actually posing as legitimate proxy servers or IP shield applications but instead of protecting your information online, these tools are actually used to extract personal information without any permission. Be sure to check reviews of these tools online to use only legitimate tools for secured web surfing.