Should you use IP address hiding software?

Well, there's a couple of ways to attack this questions.  If you're thinking about using IP address hiding software, then you've got to decide two things.  One, you've got to decide if you really need to hide your IP address, and two, what kind of software is going to suit you and your needs.  Here are some ideas to get you started.So they say that everyone can benefit from an anonymous IP address.  I'm not sure if I totally agree with this.  I didn't start using an anonymous IP until recently, and that's because I have to.  I'm in China, and have to hide my IP address because The Great Firewall of China blocks many sites.  But before this, I had never heard of it, never used it, and never ran into any problems. If you access the Internet from home, and just do general browsing, then I think you wouldn't get much benefit, other than general privacy, from IP hiding software.However, if you download stuff using torrents or P2P file sharing, you could definitely benefit from the privacy.  Depending on where you live, sharing media online could get you fined or into other types of trouble.  If you access the Internet form public areas, hiding your IP address could keep you safe from packet sniffing and other forms of online crime.  If you transfer information from your home to your business and are worried about the security of the data, you could surely use the added security of anonymity online.So lets say you do want to get some kind of IP address hiding software.  There are basically two routes you can go down.  One is proxies, and one is VPNs.  For general browsing, open proxies are free, and can  help you become anonymous or change your registered IP location temporarily.  If you need to run any kind of software, transfer files, send emails, download, or anything outside of general browsing, VPNs are the way to go.  There are some companies selling paid proxy software out there, but most of the time, the software is only able to help you find quality open proxy servers, which are free anyway.The advantage of using that type of software is that its a one time fee, while a VPN will cost you a monthly fee.  This is a matter of quality vs. cost.  With a VPN you'll get higher quality servers that are faster and safer, but with proxies you'll save money.