If you’re a Google Chrome user, here’s some great news for you. Google is set to introduce a new feature called ‘IP Protection’ to the browser, which will prevent websites from tracking your location and browsing history.
Currently, when you visit a website, the site’s host can trace your online activities and pinpoint your location, which is often used for targeted advertising.
To safeguard users from this intrusion, Google is launching ‘IP Protection,’ where the company will employ its own proxy server, concealing your internet address from website hosts.
In simple terms, an IP address is a unique number assigned to your device that reveals your internet access location. Advertisers use it to monitor your whereabouts and online behavior.
Initially, the ‘IP Protection’ feature will be accessible to a limited group of users. According to Google’s plan, it will roll out the IP address feature in phases.
In the initial Phase 0, Google-owned domains like Gmail will be rerouted through a single proxy server.
Initially, this feature will be available to select users in the United States, with the possibility of a broader release later.
It’s important to note that this upcoming IP address feature is exclusive to users who log in to Chrome. To prevent misuse, the company is implementing an authentication server that will set user quotas.
Google is also adopting a 2-hop proxy system, redirecting website requests to a Google server before directing them to an external content delivery network (CDN) like Cloudflare.
However, it’s essential to understand that while Google’s IP Protection feature enhances user privacy, it’s not foolproof.
Google acknowledges that if a hacker gains access to its proxy server, they could redirect all the traffic to a different location, potentially compromising user security.
