First let’s know What Is an IP Leak?
An IP leak is the leaking of a user's real IP address while connected to a VPN service. It can occur in a situation where a user's computer is unknowingly accessing default servers rather than the anonymous VPN servers assigned by the network such as VPN.
IP leaks are common among poorly made VPNs. They can have IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. To check if your VPN leaks, you need to do a VPN test. It will show if you can trust a VPN with your privacy. The best VPNs will never leak your IP and provide you the tools to be protected at all times.
What causes IP leaks?
IP leaks aren’t usually the fault of your VPN provider. They’re often caused by vulnerabilities in existing technology like:
Web browsing software
Browser plugins (flash)
Operating systems
How to Check if VPN is Leaking IP Address?
Luckily, testing for IP leaks is easy. When you want to check if your VPN is leaking IP addresses you need to do a VPN test. IP leak tests will show you if your service is properly configured and verify all types of leaks. IP leaks might be inconsistent, so it’s best to check with a few VPN servers.
Here’s how to check if VPN is leaking IP address:
Step 1: write down your current IP address when you are not connected to a VPN. You can check your real IP address at https://ipleak.net/
Step 2: Connect to a VPN server you wish to test
Step 3: Go to ipleak.net and wait until all automatic tests will finish. It is best to run this test on a clean browser session. You can use the Private Window to avoid any false positives as the websites may cache the data.
Step 4: Check the results. If you are connected to a VPN server and you see your IP address, it means that a VPN is leaking IP address.
Step 5: Double-check. Use browserleaks to verify your results. This is another great website that can check for any of the leaks a VPN might have.
What to Do if a VPN Is Leaking Your IP Address?
You might be able to fix the VPN leak on your own, either by disabling WebRTC on your browser or installing a browser plug-in that blocks it. If you noticed that a VPN is leaking your IP or DNS, you should change to a VPN with DNS protection.
It is not much you can do to fix those issues as it depends on the under-the-hood configurations. Changing to a different VPN server might temporarily help, but a root cause can only be fixed by the provider itself. A VPN with an IP leak is unsafe to use.
It’s important to use a VPN with a kill switch, too. This feature will block your traffic if the internet connection suddenly drops, preventing your real IP address from leaking while the VPN service is down.
