Most VPN identification checkers reasons such as staying safe on hotel Wi-Fi, avoiding geo-restrictions of websites or services, or as an additional layer of privacy online. Unfortunately, some users do not take the time to test their VPN is working and may be unknowingly leaking their real IP address when using it. This is why it is important to use a VPN identification checker regularly.
Several different methods exist to identify VPN usage, but they each have their limitations and can result in false positives. One of the most effective approaches is to compare the operating system information reported by the browser with the operating system detected by packet inspection. However, this method can be fooled by many factors such as the use of a proxy, VPN or network configuration changes.
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Another popular detection technique involves identifying the presence of the Tor network. This is accomplished by recognizing the IP addresses associated with Tor nodes and exit relays. Using this approach, websites can be prevented from accessing the website when a user is connected to a Tor-enabled VPN.
Finally, analyzing DNS responses can also help detect the presence of a VPN. This is because, in some cases, a VPN fails to handle DNS lookups properly and allows the website to determine the real IP address of the device. A simple DNS leak test on sites like DNSLeakTest can help to diagnose this issue. For more comprehensive DNS analysis, Digital Element’s Nodify solution offers key IP address contextual insights including VPN classification (masked, public, private), provider name/URL, whether the VPN is a proxy, languages of the target market for the VPN provider, and more.