For some, they are using ads to subsidize their IP changer.  Others however are more insidious.  They are using IP changers as a way to collect information from your web surfing.  They do this by reading all the information that goes through their servers.  Depending upon what sites you are visiting and what information you are sending, this can be extremely worrisome.

A paid IP changer leaves very little room for doubt as to why they are spending the money to promote their product.  They have service that they are offering and they expect to make a profit.  I don’t know about you, but I like to understand the motives of people I do business with.  I like to know how they are making their money.  And if how they make money is not obvious, I worry.

Maybe this sounds paranoid.  But even the paranoid are right sometimes.  Further I would argue that with all the spyware and viruses on the Internet, this proves that there are a lot of people with very malicious intent.

So we recommend that you don’t skimp on your anti-virus or your anti-spyware.  And obviously we also suggest that you pay for your IP changer.  Your privacy and security should not be left to the goodwill of people you don’t know.

The first thing that you need to understand is that the term IP address is short for “Internet Protocol.” It is a label that has been assigned to a user that allows them to connect to a larger network. An IP address is something that every site on the Internet has, however keep in mind that it is something that serves multiple functions. It has been stated that an IP address is a location as well as a route. If you want to get online, if you want to make sure that you have access to the information that is on the Internet, you will find that you need to have an IP address; essentially, it acts as your “passport.” At the most basic level, if your computer cannot find an IP address to use, it is not going to be able to get online As an Internet user, you will get your IP address from your Internet service provider, which is often abbreviated to ISP. When you hook your computer up to the Internet, whether you are using a cable modem or a direct Ethernet connection of some sort, you are putting your computer on your ISP’s network. In most cases, you will find that your computer is immediately given an IP address that you will be able to get online right away. At the beginning, you might need to go through a procedure where you confirm who you are and that you have service with the company in question, but you will find that in many cases, you can simply plug your computer in and get connected right away.

Another thing that you should keep in mind, when you are looking at an IP address is that it is not just your ISP that can give one out. For instance, do you have a wireless router in your workplace or in your home? You are still only getting one IP address through that router; the router’s role is to split up the connection and to allow you to use multiple devices on the same connection. The IP address goes through your router and then the router gives you another IP address, one that it generates. If you see an IP address that begins with 192.168.1.1, or 192.168.1.0, you will know that you are going through a router rather than being directly connected.

Finally, remember that an IP address is not a MAC address. In terms of computing, you will hear “MAC address” as often as you hear the term IP address, but you will find that they do not have much in common! A MAC address is string of 12 numbers and letters, usually separated into pairs by dashes, and you will find that this is essentially the name of the device in question. Every object that hooks to a network has a MAC address, and you will find that when you are on a network, the MAC address serves as your “name.” An ISP will allow the IP address to be received by one device, and in many cases, for many households, that device is the router. The router has a MAC address that is seen by the ISP, and because of this, the ISP will not see the MAC addresses of the devices behind the router. MAC addresses are used for a number of different things, but you will find that they are very important when it comes to securing your network. One way to secure a wireless network, for instance, and to ensure that no unauthorized person gets on it, is to make sure that your router is programmed to only grant access to a certain list of devices, as determined by their MAC addresses.

This makes the public a bit uneasy. For one, the Internet is supposed to be a free place, void of many tyrants who might wish to control it or pull the strings behind the scenes. Second, with decreased browsing speed, their favorite sites and games could take much longer to load. Sure, there are other things that will be expedited, but there are other programs that will be slowed to a crawl.

Some people think this is no big deal, and while it might not be a matter of life and death, slowing certain things down indiscriminately could prove to have detrimental consequences. Imagine services like AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and Skype. The premise of all of these is simple; instant communication. When in any AIM conversation, people get antsy if the reply doesn’t come within thirty seconds. Imagine if this service was the one cut back, and responses were carried slower than ever, and sometimes lost completely. It would defeat the purpose of the word “Instant”. Skype is a video chatting program where business people often go to arrange deals and speak with their clientele face to face without having to be with them. Imagine the loss of impact a salesman would have if every word he spoke to his potential customer was delayed or distorted! A person will not buy if they think the businessman is not competent, but many other things factor in. For example, if throughout the delivery of the speech, the businessman was slurring his speech, the delivery might not have the same impact. However, this is not his fault! He was perfectly audible and coherent; the reduced bandwidth simply cut the information out that he was trying to say.

While this all paints the ISPs as the bad guys, they have a side as well. They say that people complain of long downloading times, and that they have to meet these demands. They are in a tough position; their consumer base is divided. The half that downloads and streams videos and music all day loves the idea of getting more bandwidth, while the casual Internet civilian is adamantly against this practice because it will slow them to a crawl. You can see their predicament!

There are also security concerns with these changes as well. Perhaps with decreased speed will come decreased security for surfers on those affected sites. Anything is possible, just be prepared. Using a change IP proxy can keep you safe and anonymous if hackers have infiltrated and entrenched themselves in these damaged sites. They will try and locate people or get into their hard drive by using their IP addresses. By using an IP changer, you can effectively re-route your IP throw off any potential criminals in this new unbalanced Internet.