Nearly all major browsers have a private browsing setting. These exist to hide the browsing history from other users on the same computer. Many people think that private browsing or incognito mode will hide both their identity and browsing history from internet service providers, governments and advertisers. They don’t. These settings just clear the history on your system, which is helpful if you’re dealing with sensitive personal information on a shared or public computer. { -brand-name-firefox } goes beyond that.

Nearly all major browsers have a private browsing setting. These exist to hide the browsing history from other users on the same computer. Many people think that private browsing or incognito mode will hide both their identity and browsing history from internet service providers, governments and advertisers. They don’t. These settings just clear the history on your system, which is helpful if you’re dealing with sensitive personal information on a shared or public computer. { -brand-name-firefox } goes beyond that.

Private browsing mode will not delete any new bookmarks you make from a private browsing window, or protect you from malware or viruses. It also doesn’t prevent the websites you visit from seeing where you are physically located or stop your internet service provider from logging what you do. You’ll need a <a href="{ $vpn }">trustworthy VPN</a> for that.

Private browsing mode will not delete any new bookmarks you make from a private browsing window, or protect you from malware or viruses. It also doesn’t prevent the websites you visit from seeing where you are physically located or stop your internet service provider from logging what you do. You’ll need a <a href="{ $vpn }">trustworthy VPN</a> for that.

This is a bit of a tricky question — the answer is both yes and no. More than one device can share the same external (public) IP address, but each device will have its own local (private) IP address. For example, your ISP (internet service provider) sets your home up with one external IP address. Since your router is what actually connects to the internet, the IP address is assigned to your router. Your router then assigns a local IP address to each device that is connected to the internet at a time. The external IP address is what is shared with the outside world. Your local IP address is not shared outside of your private home network.

This is a bit of a tricky question — the answer is both yes and no. More than one device can share the same external (public) IP address, but each device will have its own local (private) IP address. For example, your ISP (internet service provider) sets your home up with one external IP address. Since your router is what actually connects to the internet, the IP address is assigned to your router. Your router then assigns a local IP address to each device that is connected to the internet at a time. The external IP address is what is shared with the outside world. Your local IP address is not shared outside of your private home network.

Yes. Even if you are only using the internet at home, the IP address for your home can change. You can contact your internet service provider (ISP) to change it, but even something as routine as restarting your modem or router because of internet connection problems could result in a change.

Yes. Even if you are only using the internet at home, the IP address for your home can change. You can contact your internet service provider (ISP) to change it, but even something as routine as restarting your modem or router because of internet connection problems could result in a change.

You don’t need to hide your IP address, but there are some times where you may want to. The most common reason is privacy. In the U.S., <a href="{ $congress }">Congress overruled</a> privacy regulations designed to protect the privacy of broadband users. Internet service providers can see your browsing habits, what you are using the internet for, and how long you spend on each page. This communication is not encrypted, so third-parties can see what website you’re visiting. One way to combat this is <a href="{ $doh }">DNS-over-HTTPS</a> (DoH). This encrypts your DNS (Domain Name System) traffic, making it harder for ISPs to see the websites you are trying to visit. For US <a href="{ $firefox }">{ -brand-name-firefox } users</a>, by default your DoH queries are directed to trusted DNS servers, making it harder to associate you with the websites you try to visit.

You don’t need to hide your IP address, but there are some times where you may want to. The most common reason is privacy. In the U.S., <a href="{ $congress }">Congress overruled</a> privacy regulations designed to protect the privacy of broadband users. Internet service providers can see your browsing habits, what you are using the internet for, and how long you spend on each page. This communication is not encrypted, so third-parties can see what website you’re visiting. One way to combat this is <a href="{ $doh }">DNS-over-HTTPS</a> (DoH). This encrypts your DNS (Domain Name System) traffic, making it harder for ISPs to see the websites you are trying to visit. For US <a href="{ $firefox }">{ -brand-name-firefox } users</a>, by default your DoH queries are directed to trusted DNS servers, making it harder to associate you with the websites you try to visit.

Encrypting your traffic between you and your VPN provider so that no one on your local network can decipher or modify it.

Encrypting your traffic between you and your VPN provider so that no one on your local network can decipher or modify it.

VPNs and secure web proxies have shared goals: they secure connections. They can, and do, mask your original IP address and protect web traffic that you send between you and your VPN or secure proxy provider. But when would you want to use a VPN vs a proxy?

VPNs and secure web proxies have shared goals: they secure connections. They can, and do, mask your original IP address and protect web traffic that you send between you and your VPN or secure proxy provider. But when would you want to use a VPN vs a proxy?

When you <a href="{ $firefox }">use { -brand-name-firefox }</a>, <a href="{ $etp }">Enhanced Tracking Protection</a> automatically blocks many third party <a href="{ $trackers }">web trackers</a> from following you around the web. But here’s an interesting fact: your internet service provider (ISP) that you are paying for an internet connection — can still observe and track you.

When you <a href="{ $firefox }">use { -brand-name-firefox }</a>, <a href="{ $etp }">Enhanced Tracking Protection</a> automatically blocks many third party <a href="{ $trackers }">web trackers</a> from following you around the web. But here’s an interesting fact: your internet service provider (ISP) that you are paying for an internet connection — can still observe and track you.

A VPN is a tool that allows you to access the internet securely wherever you are. A VPN works by creating a secure “tunnel” between your device and your VPN provider, and it protects you in two key ways:

A VPN is a tool that allows you to access the internet securely wherever you are. A VPN works by creating a secure “tunnel” between your device and your VPN provider, and it protects you in two key ways:

A VPN provider typically offers a number of connection gateways in different global locations, which allows you to use an IP address from a locale different from your own. That way, the place you’re connecting to sees the VPN’s IP, not your actual IP address, as the source of your traffic. <a href="{ $mozvpn }">{ -brand-name-mozilla-vpn }</a> routes your traffic through a secure server and lets you choose a location from more than { $countries } countries.

A VPN provider typically offers a number of connection gateways in different global locations, which allows you to use an IP address from a locale different from your own. That way, the place you’re connecting to sees the VPN’s IP, not your actual IP address, as the source of your traffic. <a href="{ $mozvpn }">{ -brand-name-mozilla-vpn }</a> routes your traffic through a secure server and lets you choose a location from more than { $countries } countries.

A VPN will protect traffic that you send between you and your VPN provider, whether through your browser, apps or other services. To set up a VPN, you’ll need to create an account with a VPN provider and install the VPN software on your computer or phone. When enabled, a VPN will handle traffic from all apps and software running on your device, so you can browse and communicate freely over a secure private network connection.

A VPN will protect traffic that you send between you and your VPN provider, whether through your browser, apps or other services. To set up a VPN, you’ll need to create an account with a VPN provider and install the VPN software on your computer or phone. When enabled, a VPN will handle traffic from all apps and software running on your device, so you can browse and communicate freely over a secure private network connection.

Encrypting your traffic between you and your VPN provider so that no one on your local network can decipher or modify it.

Encrypting your traffic between you and your VPN provider so that no one on your local network can decipher or modify it.

Some service providers block visits made through VPNs, making their content inaccessible when a VPN is turned on. Some VPNs can slow you down, or they might restrict your bandwidth. And some VPNs rank poorly in terms of respecting user privacy and security.

Some service providers block visits made through VPNs, making their content inaccessible when a VPN is turned on. Some VPNs can slow you down, or they might restrict your bandwidth. And some VPNs rank poorly in terms of respecting user privacy and security.

When you’re at home, the risk of bad actors showing up on your home network is lower. However, your internet service provider (ISP) can track and share your online activities because all the data that you access on the web is routed through your ISP’s network, some of which may not be encrypted. A VPN can prevent ISPs from spying on you by encrypting your traffic to your VPN provider no matter where you are.

When you’re at home, the risk of bad actors showing up on your home network is lower. However, your internet service provider (ISP) can track and share your online activities because all the data that you access on the web is routed through your ISP’s network, some of which may not be encrypted. A VPN can prevent ISPs from spying on you by encrypting your traffic to your VPN provider no matter where you are.

Because your internet traffic at home moves to and from your devices through your internet service provider — ISP for short — they can see where you go online. An ISP can see what sites you visit, how long you’re on them, your location and information about your devices. An ISP may not know the specifics of what you did on those sites (like what you bought, searched for or read) thanks to encryption, but they could make inferences about you based on the sites that you visited. That personal data can be used by ISPs to create detailed profiles about you. Browsing in private mode doesn’t prevent ISPs from seeing where you go online. But sending your web traffic through a VPN can make it much harder.

Because your internet traffic at home moves to and from your devices through your internet service provider — ISP for short — they can see where you go online. An ISP can see what sites you visit, how long you’re on them, your location and information about your devices. An ISP may not know the specifics of what you did on those sites (like what you bought, searched for or read) thanks to encryption, but they could make inferences about you based on the sites that you visited. That personal data can be used by ISPs to create detailed profiles about you. Browsing in private mode doesn’t prevent ISPs from seeing where you go online. But sending your web traffic through a VPN can make it much harder.

Encrypting your traffic between you and your VPN provider so that no one on your local network can decipher or modify it.

Encrypting your traffic between you and your VPN provider so that no one on your local network can decipher or modify it.

Low video streaming quality due to slower and restricted bandwidth from your internet service provider (ISP)

Low video streaming quality due to slower and restricted bandwidth from your internet service provider (ISP)

<strong>GUI client:</strong>{ -brand-name-mozilla-vpn } has a GUI client (graphical user interface), whereas some VPN providers only provide a CLI version (command line).

<strong>GUI client:</strong>{ -brand-name-mozilla-vpn } has a GUI client (graphical user interface), whereas some VPN providers only provide a CLI version (command line).

<strong>It helps restore net neutrality:</strong> { -brand-name-mozilla-vpn } helps you take back control of your online activities by preventing internet providers from throttling your bandwidth, or from blocking websites or services that they don’t like, or that compete with their own offerings.

<strong>It helps restore net neutrality:</strong> { -brand-name-mozilla-vpn } helps you take back control of your online activities by preventing internet providers from throttling your bandwidth, or from blocking websites or services that they don’t like, or that compete with their own offerings.

A VPN (virtual private network) is a must-have for your online privacy and security when you use your Mac. Hackers, and internet providers can spy on your online activity, or steal your personal data.

A VPN (virtual private network) is a must-have for your online privacy and security when you use your Mac. Hackers, and internet providers can spy on your online activity, or steal your personal data.

Prevent internet providers from throttling or blocking websites or services that they don’t like, or that compete with their own offerings. For more information, you can read about Net Neutrality.

Prevent internet providers from throttling or blocking websites or services that they don’t like, or that compete with their own offerings. For more information, you can read about Net Neutrality.

Your internet service provider (ISP) may throttle your bandwidth if they know you are watching movies, listening to music, or streaming.

Your internet service provider (ISP) may throttle your bandwidth if they know you are watching movies, listening to music, or streaming.

If you’re a heavy user of online video or music streaming, you can potentially avoid having your bandwidth restricted or throttled by your internet service provider by using a VPN.

If you’re a heavy user of online video or music streaming, you can potentially avoid having your bandwidth restricted or throttled by your internet service provider by using a VPN.