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Staying anonymous online — how Norton VPN can help you hide your IP address
Luke Edwards
19 September 2025
See how Norton VPN’s advanced features protect you online
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Norton VPN)
The name Norton has been synonymous with cybersecurity for decades and now it’s fast becoming one of the biggest brands in the VPN world, too. What that means for anyone that prizes anonymity and safety online is that Norton offers a complete package for digital protection.
Norton VPN is built specifically to protect your online identity. While antivirus and malware protection have their place, it’s the VPN element of its offering that you’ll want to look for if anonymity online is your goal. Norton VPN can help hide your IP address and personal information to keep it from the prying eyes of advertisers, hackers and even your own internet service provider (ISP).
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Our lucky readers in North America and Australia can take advantage of discounts on Norton VPN’s feature-packed Plus and Ultimate plans thanks to this exclusive pricing. All subscriptions carry a generous 60-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can give Norton VPN a try risk free!
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5 reason why you need to stay anonymous online
Avoid targeted advertising: Personalized ads based on your private data can be limited with a VPN which will make it harder for the advertiser to track you online and build up a profile to target.
Secure public Wi-Fi: VPN encryption means your private information is safe even when on public Wi-Fi in airports, coffee shops and hotels.
Avoid restrictions: If you’re overseas and want to stream content from home, a VPN can help you appear there so you still get access, wherever you go.
Stop ISP tracking: Your internet service provider can monitor you and even sell your data — but not when you are cloaked by a VPN.
Protection from cybercrime: Masking your IP address makes it harder for hackers to make direct attacks, keeping you and your devices safer. Some providers throw in protection against scams and malware, too.
(Image credit: Future)
How VPNs protect online anonymity
A virtual private network — or VPN — works by creating a secure tunnel between your device and the internet, which it then uses to to send all your data through. This is fully encrypted and routed through the VPN provider’s secure servers.
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The result is that your IP address is masked and you appear to be in the location of that VPN server instead. This not only hides your location but also your identity, while the encryption keeps your data safe so nobody can read it, even if they were to somehow access that.
This means your browsing history, personal details and downloads all remain hidden from prying eyes — including your own ISP, advertisers and malicious potential threats. Using features like automatic server switching and advanced tunneling methods, Norton VPN is able to offer deep layers of security to keep you safe.
Norton VPN: how the provider protects users’ anonymity
The list of Norton VPN features includes several that are specifically tailored to protect your online anonymity:
Norton’s Double VPN, as the same suggests, comprises two VPN servers working in tandem. So rather than bounce your data through just one server, it goes via two. This makes it even more difficult to detect your actual location and IP address. Even if one location was compromised, the second tunnel will still keep your data protected and anonymity ensured.
IP Rotation
A lesser spotted feature offered by Norton VPN, IP Rotation works by regularly changing the IP address of the user. That means you are never tied to a single identifiable location for very long. Any attempts at persistent monitoring should be thwarted with this feature, which breaks the digital trail to stop advertisers or hackers following you online. This is ideal for those online for extended periods where IP Rotation can work to keep you anonymous continuously through that online session.
Kill Switch
A VPN kill switch is essential to ensure security in all situations, even if the VPN connection drops. To make sure your VPN isn’t compromised while you’re still left online and exposed, the kill switch works to cut off all internet connections. That means that both your IP address and data are kept from being exposed, even for a split second. This is particularly helpful if you’re on an unreliable network or are switching between Wi-Fi and network on a mobile device.
Mimic VPN Protocol
Alongside all of the usual protocols (e.g. OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, etc), Norton VPN also offers its own proprietary Mimic VPN Protocol. It’s designed to help you appear as though you’re not using a VPN connection at all. That means that any networks that actively try to block VPN use won’t stop you from staying anonymous and connected at the same time. Available with Norton’s Android, iOS and Windows apps, this stealth feature can help you bypass firewalls and blend in with normal traffic to ensure you maintain privacy and security while not drawing unnecessary attention to your connection.
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Norton VPN’s feature drive makes it a serious VPN option – and the ex-ExpressVPN Head of Product has now joined its ranks
How does a VPN work?
Most NordVPN users are making the same mistake – don’t be one of them
(Image credit: Norton)
What other features does Norton VPN have?
Norton VPN offers more than mere IP anonymity. Ad tracker blocking is one such useful feature, which stops advertisers from following you online by blocking cookies, scripts and more. You also have access to a wider selection of servers which can mean faster speeds and greater reliability, ideal for gaming or streaming.
Split tunneling is a useful feature that Norton offers with its VPN, allowing you to leave it on for some apps and off for others — ideal if you want to keep your banking off the VPN so it stays local, perhaps. Norton also offers 24/7 customer support, perfect if you need to get on a specific server for an exact need. Get a human to advise you, to be confidently set up, securely and safely.
Step up to its Plus or Ultimate tiers, and it includes even more. Cloud backup, parental controls and a password manager all become available, for example.
To find out more and decide what subscription to sign up for, read more on our dedicated guide to Norton VPN plans.
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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Luke Edwards
Luke is a freelance writer and editor with over two decades of experience covering tech, science and health. Among many others he writes across Future titles covering health tech, software and apps, VPNs, TV, audio, smart home, antivirus, broadband, smartphones, cars and plenty more. He also likes to climb mountains, swim outside and contort his body into silly positions while breathing as calmly as possible.
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