(1.) Starting and Exiting Hide-My-IP

Hide My IP does not automatically hide your IP after installation, unless you configure it to do so.

To START Hide My IP, please do the following:

1. Left click (twice, sometimes) on the desk top icon
2. A smaller icon should appear in the bottom right hand side of your computer (system tray)
3. Righ click on that icon
4. Select "Open Hide My IP" & a gray box should appear
5. Left click "Hide IP"
6. The system should now be hiding your IP.

You can check your IP at
http://www.hide-my-ip.com
http://www.formyip.com
http://www.ipchicken.com

To EXIT Hide My IP, please do the following:

1. Righ click on the samll icon in the bottom right hand side of your computer (system tray)
2. Highlight "EXIT" with your curser
3. Left click "EXIT"
4. The software should now shut down and your real IP is now exposed.

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(2.) Standard Configuration Settings to Hide Your IP

If you are using Firefox 3.0, you need to install our plug-in. You can do so as follows:
Please click this link *in Firefox 3* to install the updated Plugin: http://www.hide-my-ip.com/hideip.xpi

If you cannot install it directly from Firefox, then save it somewhere on your computer.
Then, open Firefox, open the folder where you put the xpi, and just drag the xpi onto the Firefox window. It will install itself.

Once this plug in is properly installed, please check your IP status at any of the web sites listed below.

If the above still does not work *OR* you are using the latest version of Internet Explorer, here is a recommendation for this issue:

1. Click the "Advanced Settings" button on the main Hide My IP window
2. Under "Enable Hide My IP For Selected Browsers":
a. make sure all browsers are selected (i.e. IE, Firefox, Netscape & Opera)
b. make sure "Enable Other Known Browsers" is selected
3. Click "apply"
4. Click "ok"
5. Close out all browsers
6. Open a new browser & check your IP at one of the links, below

If you already have all of the above selected, and your IP is still not hidden, then:

1. Click the "Advanced Settings" button on the main Hide My IP window
2. Check the boxes Use Proxy Field Method for [Browser You Use]
3. Click "apply"
4. Click "ok"
5. Close out all browsers
6. Open a new browser & check your IP at one of the links, below

To check your IP, go to:
http://www.formyip.com or
http://www.ipchicken.com

Please note: Websites are only able to view your external IP address. You may have a separate internal IP address assigned by your router or local network. Hide My IP does not hide your internal IP address because it is not exposed on the Internet.

To make certain that your 3rd party application is being hidden with Hide My IP, please follow these directions:
(You must have a subscription to the Premium Service)
1. Left click "Hide IP" in the main window of the software
2. Make sure that Premium Service is clicked "on" in the main window of the software
3. Select the country of choice from the drop down menu or select "random" (whichever you prefer)
4. Left click "Advanced Settings" in the main window of the software
5. Left click the "Premium Service" tab in the next window
6. Put a "check mark" in the box next to each 3rd party application you wish to use by double clicking that application
7. Left click "apply"
8. Left Click "OK"

Your IP should now be hidden while using the 3rd party applications that you had checked.

Read this post and visit our Discussion / Help Forum to learn more:
http://www.hide-my-ip.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=85

And don't forget to sign up and become a member of the Forum! Along with the rest of our tech support, its FREE!