Google Chrome to get new ‘IP protection’ feature: Here’s all you need to know

Google is set to trial a new 'IP protection' feature for Chrome users, granting them greater control over their online privacy. This upcoming feature, owned by the tech giant, aims to prevent websites from tracking users by concealing their IP addresses through Google's proxy servers.

What is an IP address? 

IP address is a unique numeric identifier that can be utilized to pinpoint a user's geographic location. Advertisers commonly use this information to monitor users' online behaviour, track their website visits, and deliver tailored advertisements.

Google's approach to implementing the IP protection feature involves several phases. In Phase 0, Google plans to redirect domains it owns, such as Gmail, to a single proxy server. This initial phase serves as an infrastructure test and will involve only a select group of users in the United States.

Furthermore, when launched, the IP protection feature will be accessible to users who have logged into Chrome. To deter misuse, Google will introduce an authentication server to assign usage quotas to individual users. In subsequent phases, Google will employ a 2-hop proxy system. This system reroutes a website's requests first to a Google server and subsequently to an external Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare.

It's worth noting that Google acknowledges that the IP protection feature is not entirely foolproof. In the event of a security breach granting access to Google's proxy server, a hacker could potentially analyze all data flowing through the network and redirect users to malicious websites.

Considering that a substantial portion of Google's revenue is generated by tracking users across the internet and delivering personalized advertisements, how the company balances user privacy with revenue generation remains an intriguing aspect to watch.