Hide my IP, bad idea?

Erenoth02 · Wed 01/06/2011 14:59:12

So, first it was my Guild Wars account, and then my Steam account, I came across a webpage for a program called Hide my IP, has anyone used this? its inexpensive it also claims that it protects you against hackers which is something I could use.

Im just wondering if anyone can advise me on purchasing it or something like it, unless hiding my IP address would be detrimental?

Thanks in advance guys

Khris · Wed 01/06/2011 15:51:49

Well, this program won't protect you from hackers.

If people hack your accounts it's time to use passwords other than 123456.
Also keep in mind that if sites offer a custom question & answer in case you forgot your password, don't use "who lives in a pineapple under the sea".

If you are browsing a website, the only "personal data" the other end can see is the IP address and the hostname.
There's no immediate way to get from that to any other data, much less hacking your accounts; that's way copyright infringement people have to get your data from your ISP.

That's also the reason why people who use keyloggers and phishing use a different method: they send their emails and spread their trojans and the info will come to them. They couldn't care less about your IP address.

Guybrush Nosehair · Wed 01/06/2011 16:55:07

I used the trial version a while back and it worked okay. From time to time, I'd lose connection and need to reconnect, but it worked. My intent was to be able to use it to access the BBC iPlayer (I live in America.) It got done what I needed.

As far as protecting you from hackers, all I can say is "fat chance."

Babar · Wed 01/06/2011 16:56:48

Does this slow down your connection speed, though, then? Because grim's idea appeals to me. TAKE THAT, HULU!

Radiant · Wed 01/06/2011 17:03:14

Quote from: Khris on Wed 01/06/2011 15:51:49
Well, this program won't protect you from hackers.

If people hack your accounts it's time to use passwords other than 123456.

That's amazing! I've got the same combination on my luggage!

Ponch · Wed 01/06/2011 17:44:38

Quote from: Radiant on Wed 01/06/2011 17:03:14
Quote from: Khris on Wed 01/06/2011 15:51:49
Well, this program won't protect you from hackers.

If people hack your accounts it's time to use passwords other than 123456.

That's amazing! I've got the same combination on my luggage!

Prepare Spaceball 1 for immediate departure! ... And change the combination on my luggage!

Erenoth02 · Wed 01/06/2011 21:17:33

Quote from: Khris on Wed 01/06/2011 15:51:49
Well, this program won't protect you from hackers.

If people hack your accounts it's time to use passwords other than 123456.
Also keep in mind that if sites offer a custom question & answer in case you forgot your password, don't use "who lives in a pineapple under the sea".

If you are browsing a website, the only "personal data" the other end can see is the IP address and the hostname.
There's no immediate way to get from that to any other data, much less hacking your accounts; that's way copyright infringement people have to get your data from your ISP.

That's also the reason why people who use keyloggers and phishing use a different method: they send their emails and spread their trojans and the info will come to them. They couldn't care less about your IP address.

lol, my passwords are numbers letters and capital letters

and i take random letters from the secret questions for my secret answer.

all which i keep on a card in my wallet, which never leaves my pocket.

LimpingFish · Wed 01/06/2011 22:23:30

You seem to be an unlucky dude, dude.

The best passwords are usually the ones you can't easily remember. Microsoft has tips for creating random passwords here.

If you are susceptible to malware and keyloggers, try running SpyBot S&D on your system, and see if anything turns up.

vertigoaddict · Wed 01/06/2011 23:12:47

Quote from: Khris on Wed 01/06/2011 15:51:49

If people hack your accounts it's time to use passwords other than 123456.

Awesome this may give me ideas for a puzzle...

Anyways back on topic, my passwords are often a collection of numbers and letters that have absolutely no meaning, I memorize it in my head or let my fingers remember their position on the keyboard.

Any 'questions and anwers' that are used to remind me of the password, has no relation to the password itself, but I use it as a sort of trigger or cue if you may.

I think that's really one of the best ways to avoid hackers.

NB: I'm glad I've never used any of those passwords on that most used list, except for 'password' but I was like 10 $:-\$ .

Guybrush Nosehair · Thu 02/06/2011 19:39:20

My mistake. I didn't use Hide My IP. I used Easy Hide IP http://www.easy-hide-ip.com/.

Quote from: Babar on Wed 01/06/2011 16:56:48
Does this slow down your connection speed, though, then? Because grim's idea appeals to me. TAKE THAT, HULU!

If you're just using it for Hulu, you may be able to get off with a free proxy. Try this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kaeu9AX5EU. I've been using it the last few days to watch the BBC iPlayer. You may need to try a bunch of different proxies before you get a working one, or you may be lucky and get it first attempt. I don't know what's up with the "Reliability" field, because it's not been accurate for me.

Khris · Thu 02/06/2011 23:30:53

I use Stealthy. It's a bit slow but lets me watch most of the youtube vids that are blocked otherwise.

Guybrush Nosehair · Fri 03/06/2011 19:51:11

Quote from: Khris on Thu 02/06/2011 23:30:53
I use Stealthy. It's a bit slow but lets me watch most of the youtube vids that are blocked otherwise.

Khris, how does Stealthy compare to FoxyProxy?

Khris · Fri 03/06/2011 21:59:25

I didn't know FoxyProxy and only looked at the description so I can't really compare the two, I don't think they do the same though.
Stealthy just adds a small icon to the status bar that you can click to turn it on. All http stuff is now routed through a proxy but you can't really edit the proxy list or something like that. It's very basic but effective. You can choose to pretend to be from a specific country though.

Mr Flibble · Sat 04/06/2011 13:26:19

I think it's a fairly common misconception that there are "hackers" out there watching your every move, just waiting for you to slip up so they can intercept your insecure transmissions.

I'm impressed that you guys are reporting success in streaming video via a proxy, I've never been able to do that at a watchable pace (trying to access Hulu from the UK...).

Guybrush Nosehair · Sun 05/06/2011 02:59:40

Quote from: Mr Flibble on Sat 04/06/2011 13:26:19
I'm impressed that you guys are reporting success in streaming video via a proxy, I've never been able to do that at a watchable pace (trying to access Hulu from the UK...).

I've never streamed video from the BBC iPlayer. I've only downloaded it, and connected via proxy so than WMP could obtain the license to play it. When I last did this using FoxyProxy, I averaged about 120 kbs download per second.

Emy · Mon 27/06/2011 12:53:23

Not a bad idea if you are going to use a VPN. Proxies will most probably slow down your Internet connection.

I recommend you to use ibVPN service: http://www.ibvpn.com or you can Google for another service.

suicidal pencil · Tue 28/06/2011 13:26:23

The best defense against hackers is to not make yourself a target! Fly low, under the radar. If you look like just another random person in the crowd, one of the masses, they usually wont bother or they'll target someone randomly out of said crowd.

Having said that, LulzSec has been hacking in to the systems and databases of large companies (sometimes with nothing more than a simple SQL injection...), and releasing the information they find. So it's much more likely that your accounts or your computer will be compromised from these leaks then a hacker breaking in to your computer.

(Leaking info isn't the only thing LulzSec is up to. They're DDOSing as well, which is more of an annoyance then a threat.)

dbryceo · Wed 29/06/2011 09:06:22

Quote from: grim107 on Wed 01/06/2011 16:55:07
I used the trial version a while back and it worked okay. From time to time, I'd lose connection and need to reconnect, but it worked. My intent was to be able to use it to access the BBC iPlayer (I live in America.) It got done what I needed.

As far as protecting you from hackers, all I can say is "fat chance."

I have found that using a proxy is a much better way of accessing the iPlayer. There are a number of free sites out there. Personally I'd use them over the pay alternatives...

Guybrush Nosehair · Wed 29/06/2011 17:38:10

Quote from: dbryceo on Wed 29/06/2011 09:06:22
Quote from: grim107 on Wed 01/06/2011 16:55:07
I used the trial version a while back and it worked okay. From time to time, I'd lose connection and need to reconnect, but it worked. My intent was to be able to use it to access the BBC iPlayer (I live in America.) It got done what I needed.

As far as protecting you from hackers, all I can say is "fat chance."

I have found that using a proxy is a much better way of accessing the iPlayer. There are a number of free sites out there. Personally I'd use them over the pay alternatives...

You actually found some proxy sites that work with iPlayer? I spent hours and couldn't find ANY! Which ones did you find? By the way, no I use FoxyProxy.