IP (Internet Protocol) address is assigned to your device when you connect to the internet. Among other things, this label is used to identify you in the network. This is where the pitfall lies - anyone knowing your IP address, knows everything about you:

• your geolocation and movement in real time
• your online activities
• sites you visit
• content you view
• services you use
• wares you buy, etc.

You’d probably agree that all this info isn’t something you’d like to see in the wrong hands, e.g. hackers, spies, or datasellers. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Modern-day technologies allow third parties to utilize all the mentioned data to:

• Learn your habits and preferences
• Build an extensive database on you for marketing and ad-targeting purposes
• Restrict your access to certain content based on your location (also called geo-blocking) or network rules

VPN servers are the solution to these issues. Once you connect to one, your real IP address becomes “masked” behind the IP of the VPN server. This is as far as anyone would be able to trace your activities. Using VPN servers , your real identity effectively becomes invisible to all observers.