Google Chrome usually releases new features related to security and privacy periodically. In this case, this is a feature that hopes to hide the user’s IP address. It is a new function that is already available in some cases and we are going to tell you what it consists of and who can use it. The objective is to be able to achieve a considerable improvement in terms of privacy when visiting web pages.
This feature is called IP Protect. At the moment, it is only available for Google Chrome Canary. It is hoped that they will also include it in the stable version of the browser soon. Of course, by default it is disabled, but you can configure it to protect your IP address.
Chrome hides IP address
From Google Chrome, they reported this feature for the first time last October. It is similar to another feature it has, Privacy Sandbox. You want to reduce the possibility that websites can track the IP address and what it does is hide it automatically. To do this, it uses a proxy service built into the browser.
Chrome will have a list of sites that use users’ IP to track them. This is when the proxy server acts. Basically, it is an intermediary that will be between your device and the website you visit. When you enter that page, the address that appears is that of the proxy server and not yours.
An interesting factor is that Google Chrome will use proxy servers that are close to the user’s location. In this way, you avoid problems that may arise with certain functions that require geolocation. After this, this browsing will be more private and you will prevent them from seeing your IP address and using it against you.
The proxy servers it uses are from Google. However, they could use, in the future, other addresses through third-party CDNs to hide the user’s real IP.
Function under test
At the moment, this feature of Google Chrome is in testing. It is in “Phase 0”, so it will improve in the coming months. However, it is already present in Google Chrome Canary, the version of the browser where the changes arrive first. This is where they test these things first to later reach the stable version.
To use it, you have to download the latest version of Chrome Canary. Once you have it, you have to go to the menu at the top right, go to Settings, Security and privacy and in the trackers section, enable or disable the IP Protect function. It is something that, little by little, will reach more users.
However, regardless of the settings you make in the browser, it is in your power to improve your security and privacy. It is essential to always install official software, use good security programs and not make mistakes when removing files that may contain malware.
Therefore, Google Chrome has incorporated a new feature to hide the IP address in some cases. For now it is in testing, but it will soon reach all users who want to configure it. Sometimes issues arise and downloads get blocked in Chrome, so going into settings can help.
