Not sure if your VPN is working? The easiest way to tell if your VPN connection is working as expected is to check your IP address before and immediately after connecting to the VPN. In this post, we’ll explain how to do that so you can ensure you’re properly connected.
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The quickest way to check if your VPN is working is to take note of your current IP address, connect to a VPN server, and to check the IP address again. If it’s different from the one you originally noted, your VPN is working.
Here’s the best way to check if your VPN is working.
To check if your VPN is working, follow these 3 simple steps:
Your IP address says a lot about you, like your location or the websites you visit. A VPN protects you from snoopers trying to access this information, so if your original IP leaks it defeats the purpose of using a VPN. This usually happens due to two internet protocols, IPv4 and IPv6 and their incompatibility. Once someone has your IP address, it will allow them to monitor your online behavior.
Sometimes IPLeak tests fail to detect DNS leaks, which can also reveal your identity. So it’s advisable to check it on DNSLeakTest.
Sometimes your IP might stay hidden while your DNS address secretly reveals your location. The DNS server changes plain text URLs into numerical IP addresses. If you’re not using a VPN, this process is handled by your ISP and their servers, which can see who visited what websites. If your DNS leaks, then anyone snooping on your traffic will be able to access this information too. It could even lead to a DNS hijacking attack.
NordVPN prevents DNS leaks by sending all your DNS queries through a secure VPN tunnel to keep them private at all times. When you’re connected to NordVPN, your device will only use DNS servers operated by us.
The easiest way is to change your VPN provider to one that has dedicated DNS servers or offers DNS leak protection, like NordVPN. Or you could manually turn IPv6 off on your device. However, this might require some technical know-how.
Web Real-time Communication (WebRTC) allows a website or app to provide video and audio communications, and can even provide some file-sharing services without the need of extra software. A WebRTC leak is when your browser will inadvertently reveal your IP address when using the WebRTC services. A strong and robust VPN with up-to-date security protocols typically prevents WebRTC leaks, although not all VPNs have that capability.
This time, changing your VPN or tinkering with your settings won’t help. However, you can:
Online security starts with a click.
With NordVPN, you won’t have to worry about DNS or IP leaks.
There are many reasons why your VPN software might not be providing 100% security and exposing your private information. Here are the most common ways that your VPN could be leaking:
Your IP address says a lot about you, like your location or the websites you visit. A VPN protects you from snoopers trying to access this information, so if your original IP leaks it defeats the purpose of using a VPN. This usually happens due to two internet protocols, IPv4 and IPv6 and their incompatibility.
Sometimes your IP might stay hidden while your DNS address secretly reveals your location. The DNS server changes plain text URLs into numerical IP addresses. If you’re not using a VPN, this process is handled by your ISP and their servers, which can see who visited what websites. If your DNS leaks, then anyone snooping on your traffic will be able to access this information too. It could even lead to a DNS hijacking attack.
Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is built into most popular browsers (i.e., Firefox, Opera, Chrome, and Brave). It enables real-time communications such as voice and video chat, but it also presents another vulnerability for VPN users.
Some websites can take advantage of WebRTC by inserting a few lines of code to see past your VPN and discover your original IP. This is very useful for websites that provide or block content based on your geo-location.
PRO TIP: It’s possible to prevent these leaks, but first, you have to identify them. You can do so by running some basic VPN tests that anyone can do.
If you’ve performed all of these VPN tests and there’s still an issue, there may be other reasons why it might seem that your VPN isn’t working:
Sometimes your VPN connection might drop for no discernable reason, or your VPN speed might be slow. Here’s a few tips for solving your VPN issues:
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