For many internet users it may not occur to you that a Latvian IP address could be cool. For Latvian internet users, it's taken for granted. For Latvian people overseas, having a Latvian IP address may seem impossible. But it is. You don't actually have to be in the country to have an IP from Latvia. You can change your IP address with a VPN.

Some people like to use proxies to change your IP, but I don't. Though they're easy to use, and probably used more because more people know about them, anyone serious about their online activity would almost never choose one. Open proxies are more of a security risk that they're worth - sure you'll save about $5 per month by using this free option, but you're also trusting your passwords and other sensitive internet traffic data to a proxy admin with NO GUARANTEES! Though there are bound to be some Latvian web based proxy portals on Latvian websites that are trustworthy, limiting your activity to web based apps and browsing is very limiting. This means that any streaming programs outside your browser, downloading software, or other non web based apps will still use your local IP.

So I use a virtual private network.

I think that the main thing that stops people from using VPNs is that they've never heard of them, and you've got to pay a monthly fee. What people don't know is that they're really common, they're easy to use, and you can find Latvian IP addresses for as little As $3 per month.

Setting up a VPN is easy. You can use a VPN on Android and iPhone (+ their tablet forms), Mac, Windows, Linux, and Symbian devices. Some other smartphones like blackberries won't be able to use a VPN. Consoles and internet TV are not able to use VPNs by themselves, but you can get a VPN router (hardware) or hook your laptop up to share the VPN connection.

Basically, those devices I just listed come ready to use the VPN. Each VPN service will have their own version of the software, but all VPN software works pretty much the same. A VPN connection will encrypt and tunnel all of your phone or computer data, meaning that all activity will use the VPN IP, not just your browser. Once the VPN software is downloaded you just connect to a VPN server in Latvia. That's it.

You might be surprised to find out that Latvian VPN servers are very common. The US and The UK are probably the most common locations, but many European countries including France, Holland, Germany, and even Latvia are very common as well. Many times a VPN service will allow you unlimited switching between all servers on their network.

I think that part of the reason Latvian IP addresses are popular is that users are looking for privacy on the internet. Because Latvia is in Eastern Europe, things like copyright laws are relaxed and invasive internet policies of the government are almost nonexistent. This is a legitimate reason to get a Latvian IP. But for Latvians across the world, you can also access Latvian-Only websites, or even make some local Latvian websites work faster by using the local Latvian VPN IP address.