Reasons Why People Hide their IP Address

I never really saw the point.
It's not like the FBI are going to track me down for that PDF of a book worth

I assume people hiding IP's either have something to hide, ie viewing dodgy content, downloading stuff thats illegal, or for places like this forum, are a johnny spammer that are trying to get round automated spam tools

That said, I regularly use Chrome in incognito mode, when checking SERP results, testing keywords etc, and also use USA based proxies for the same purpose.

All over the world people hide their IP Address because the reason of security.
there are many reasons for that.
1) For security reason
2)For business reason
3)for downloading reason
4)for entertainment reason
5)Search engine's and marketing companies use IP address to track people.

There are several reasons available.Personally i hidden my ip to avoid ip ban while playing any game.Through the VPN service i hidden my ip.After that i checked my new ip using ip-details.com

I use VPN to get at content (YouTube, etc.) usually in the US that blocks other countries (I'm UK based) accessing it. And buying download products that some companies charge more for UK purchasers. And if you are abroad, BBC iplayer will not give you access, so pull out your proxys and VPNs.

So nothing illegal here though some organisation (customs & excise?) might disagree?

The internet is suppose to shrink the world, but restrictive practices proliferate so the VPNs are a godsend to open up access that small minded organisations try to obstruct!

+1 daisyrogers

Even so, the browser and computer also have some records.

sheer anonymity. some people just don't like to be traceable at all.

i always think if somebody is going to that much trouble to track you, you have bigger problems