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Ensure Your Online Privacy With These VPN Tests & Checks

Are you concerned that your VPN might not be offering all the protection that it should? Put it through its paces with these tests and checks.

For internet users who are concerned with their online privacy, a VPN is arguably the best tool they can use to keep their online activities undercover.

However,  users may not realize that some VPNs let them down by leaking critical private information about their connection and online activities.

A 2016 study of VPN apps revealed that 84% of all VPN apps they tested leaked the user’s real IP address. As you can well imagine, this is a serious problem, as leaks of your true IP address or DNS requests could expose your online travels to prying eyes.

Some VPN apps also don’t do a thorough job of protecting your internet privacy if your VPN connection is interrupted. These apps offer faulty “kill-switch” protection, which leaves your internet activities exposed if you lose your VPN connection.

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Finally, some VPN apps do not adequately secure your local IP address. A few leaked packets here and there can easily expose your online identity and associated activities.

In this article, I’ll walk you through connecting to your current VPN of choice and visiting a few websites that will put your “protected” connection through some quick security tests. While these tests won’t identify all leakage issues with your VPN, they’re still a good indication of whether or not it’s doing its job.

I’ll also share some more advanced methods for testing your VPN for data leaks. However, only advanced users should attempt those tests, as they will require some advanced technical proficiency to run.

How to Test your VPN Connection

In this section, I’ll show you how to test your VPN for the following:

1) DNS Leaks

A DNS leak is when your VPN connection reveals information about your DNS requests to a third party. This is an unencrypted DNS query that is sent by your device outside of your VPN’s encrypted tunnel. This means your VPN isn’t performing its job properly.

2) IP Address Leaks

Your VPN should be “spoofing” your true IP address and assigning your device a new IP, thereby hiding your actual IP and its true location. If it isn’t performing properly, it could expose information about your actual IP address to a third party.

3) WebRTC Leaks

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communications) allows mobile apps and web browsers to make resource requests from external servers and request real-time data and information from other users’ apps and browsers.

It uses STUN (Session Traversal Utilities for Nat), a protocol that allows other users on the internet to discover your public IP address. Your IP address could be exposed to outsiders if your VPN and internet browser aren’t performing properly.

For most of these tests, I’ll be using the IPLeak website.

IPLeak does an excellent job of quickly running your internet connection through a battery of network security tests, and it’s always a good place to start your investigation if you suspect your VPN isn’t fully protecting you.

We’ll also take a look at a website that tests your VPN connection for WebRTC leaks.

How to Test Your VPN for Leaks

Before running each test with your VPN enabled, I highly suggest visiting the IPLeak website and running the tests on your unprotected connection. Then, either save the results as a PDF or print them out as a reference to use when running the tests with your VPN enabled.

Using these results as a reference will make it easier to see exactly where your VPN service might be letting you down.

Once you’ve loaded your VPN app and have connected to a VPN server (your app’s “Smart Location,” “Best Available Server” or similar connection option will be fine for these tests), rerun the tests.

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The IPLeak site will automatically run a battery of tests on your connection and will display the results, which will display as what’s shown in the image above. Below, I’ll explain which results you should take a close look at.

1) DNS Leaks

First, let’s discuss what the Domain Name System (DNS) is used for.

DNS is a system that converts a URL, such as pixelprivacy.com, into a numerical IP address. (For pixelprivacy.com, that IP address is 104.27.166.50).

DNS makes it easy to connect to websites and other services, removing that nasty step of needing to remember the IP address. (Be honest: “pixelprivacy.com” is a heckuva lot easier to remember than “104.27.166.50,” right? Put your hand down, Sheldon, that was a rhetorical question.)

Your Internet Service Provider usually handles the translation process for you, as it can remember the IP addresses for all of the websites and services on the internet.

However, this causes an issue on the privacy side of things. ISPs keep track of every website you visit, and in many countries – the United States included – they can sell those logs to advertisers, who use the information to more effectively target you with ads while you browse.

In still other countries, such as Australia, these logs are recorded and stored for up to two years and can be grabbed by the authorities any time they’d like. While I know none of us are doing anything illegal online, our online travels are no one’s business but our own.

When you’re using a VPN, the VPN provider’s DNS servers keep track of things, sending you where you need to go without your ISP (or anyone else) knowing where you’ve been and where you’re headed.

Identifying DNS Leaks

The true IP and location of your ISP, as well as your browsing history, could be revealed if your VPN is insufficient at keeping your DNS translations inside their encrypted path.

In the screenshot below, you’ll see some of the results from the IPLeak website. These results are from my unprotected, ISP-only connection.

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In the screenshot, you see a highlight from the section showing the DNS addresses the test detected. In this case, it found 50 DNS servers that are being used by my ISP, which is why I didn’t include them all.

While this doesn’t explicitly reveal my IP address, it does expose the IP addresses and locations of the default DNS servers used by my ISP, which could be linked back to me and be used to reveal the history of my online activities.

Now, we’ll take a look at the results when I run the IPLeak test while my connection is being protected by my Virtual Private Network of choice, which is NordVPN.

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As you can see, only one DNS address was detected: the DNS server used by NordVPN to route my requests. NordVPN’s DNS servers are secure, and they don’t save any logs connected to my online antics.

If any of the 50 servers that were listed in my unprotected tests had shown up on the list, it would have indicated a leak. If there is a leak, your current VPN isn’t doing its job, and you should look for a new provider.

2) IP Address Leaks

Your connected device is assigned an IP address whenever it connects to the internet.

An IP address is a numeric identifier, which works much like your home’s mailing address. The IP address offers a way to tell where information is sent from and where it should be sent to. Again, this is just like your mailing address.

Each country around the world is assigned a range of IP addresses for use by connected devices inside the country’s borders. If a website or other online entity can detect your local IP address, they’ll know your geographical location.

Your IP address can be used to track your online movements, display ads based on your physical location, or (worst of all) hit you with Denial of Service attacks that can slow or disable your internet connection.

Identifying IP Address Leaks

In the screenshot from the IP Leak tool seen below, you can see my actual public IP address, provided to me by my ISP. (Well, part of it, at least. Remember these three things: privacy, privacy, privacy!)

Ensure online privacy - screenshot 5

As you can (almost) see, it shows my full IP address and the state it (and myself) resides in. As I mentioned above, this info can be used for all sorts of nasty tricks.

Now, in the screenshot below, I am connected to the internet using NordVPN, and the result is a different story. (I don’t mind if you see this IP address and location, as neither of them will lead anyone back to me.)

Ensure online privacy - screenshot 6

The IP address and location shown in the screenshot belong to a VPN server owned and operated by NordVPN, leading to a dead-end, privacy-wise. Obviously, if you still see your personal IP address, your VPN is not protecting you properly, and you should find yourself a new provider.

3) WebRTC Leaks

I should explain upfront that WebRTC leaks are a vulnerability connected to the web browser you use, not your VPN.

Firefox, Opera, and Chrome are vulnerable to these leaks, while Safari and Internet Explorer users should be safe, as both browsers prevent the leaks by default.

That’s why it’s important to know how to block the WebRTC in your browser or find a VPN that offers full WebRTC leak protection.

Identifying WebRTC Leaks

While IPLeaks does offer a WebRTC leak test, I prefer the one provided on the BrowserLeaks website, which provides more details and does a better job of detecting leaks.

Below is a screenshot of the WebRTC leak test with no VPN (I ran the test using the Chrome browser). As you can see, my public IP address is displayed for all to see. (While it also displays my local IP address, that’s no big deal, as that is the IP my computer was assigned by the router on my private internal network.)

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Now, in the following screenshot, you’ll see the test results while I am connected to NordVPN. As you can see, the public IP address that is displayed is the IP address of one of the VPN provider’s servers, and it even spoofs a local IP address for me.

Ensure online privacy - screenshot 8

If your browser fails the WebRTC leak test, you’ll want to take steps to fix the issue, either by making changes to your browser’s settings or by using a VPN that protects against WebRTC leaks, as NordVPN does.

Advanced Free VPN Checks & Tests

The basic tests I’ve covered in the previous section will help identify any issues you may be having with information leaks.

However, the best way to check for issues is to create a specialized testing suite for your system. This will allow you to run a battery of tests that will analyze all of your internet traffic for data leaks.

Creating a custom testing suite is not for the faint of heart or a beginner. The process can be complex and should only be attempted by technically-proficient users.

Luckily, NordVPN has made the task a bit easier by releasing the leak-testing tools they use to test their apps, making them available for download on GitHub. The tools are free, open-source, and available to all. Instructions for running the tools are available here.

Remember, only technically-inclined users should attempt to use these tools. If you read the instructions for using the tools and are not bewildered or confused, then you can likely handle it.

Additional Considerations for VPN Protection

While ensuring the VPN provider you’re considering will protect you against DNS, IP address and WebRTC leaks are of utmost importance, there are other factors to consider. In this section, I’ll briefly go over these factors and explain why they’re essential.

1) VPN Malware

When considering VPN protection, don’t open the door to malware being installed on your device. This has been a particular issue with VPN apps offered by “free” VPN providers.

If a VPN provider – or any other online service, for that matter – is offering their services to you for free, then they are likely making their money by selling the information they collect from you to third parties, just like Google, Bing and Facebook.

Android VPN apps have been found to be a source of malware – and a recent study showed that 38% of all Android VPN apps contain malware. Stick to reputable VPN providers and stay away from the “free” providers.

If you suspect that a VPN app, or any of your apps, are malware, you can run one of the many available malware scanning apps – one of my favorites is MalwareBytes.

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Users can also upload the file to the VirusTotal website, where it will be subjected to over 60 different tests.

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2) Connection Speed Testing

Connection speed is arguably the most important factor to directly affect your satisfaction with your VPN experience. A slow connection will cause frustration, especially for users who enjoy streaming video and audio content, or who like online gaming.

Keep in mind that various factors can affect your internet speed during testing.

These include:

Bandwidth Restrictions

Many countries have poor internet infrastructure in place, and just like a highway at rush hour, it can get overwhelmed during times of heavy usage, slowing your connection speeds.

The Overhead of the VPN App and Your Device’s Processing Power

The encrypted connection provided by your VPN’s app requires additional processing power, as it continually encrypts and decrypts packets of information on the fly. This slows down your device. No matter how fast your ISP or VPN connection is, your internet speeds could be limited by the power of your device’s processor.

The Distance Between You and the VPN Server You’re Using

As a rule, the distance between you and your VPN server can affect your VPN connection’s speed. The farther away it is, the longer it takes for the data to travel. Opt for a nearby server unless you’re trying to unblock content in a specific region.VPN Server Overload

You’ve been at your local sandwich joint during the lunch rush, right? Everybody wants their lunch now, but it takes a while for the restaurant to process all of those orders. That’s how it is if too many users are on the same server.

Look for a provider that has a large number of servers so the load is better balanced. Also, find out if your provider offers a real-time server status page or a similar feature in their app.

Most VPN providers’ free trial periods or money-back guarantees offer various VPN services and test their connection speeds.

Visit a speed-testing website or a speed test app, like those offered by Speedtest.net, and test your connection speeds both with and without VPN protection.

Try going about your everyday activities to see how well a VPN performs compared to your ISP-only connections. Make sure to try your favorite streaming sites to determine how well they work while using the VPN.

Is There a “Leak-Proof” VPN?

I have found one VPN provider that consistently keeps IP address leaks, DNS leaks, and WebRTC leaks from sinking your internet privacy dinghy. That provider is NordVPN.

NordVPN Logo

NordVPN performs well in all of the leak tests I’ve discussed with you in this article. It offers an automatic kill switch and IPv6 protection, and it does an excellent job of protecting my real IP address and keeping my DNS information and WebRTC information safe from prying eyes. For more information, visit the NordVPN website.

No matter which VPN service you subscribe to, make sure to run the tests I’ve shared here on a regular basis to ensure that your provider is keeping up with your protections.

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How to Test your VPN FAQ

How Do I Know If My VPN Is Safe?

You can test your VPN to ensure that it is properly protecting your privacy by using a website like the IPLeaks website, which can detect IP address and DNS leaks as well as other privacy hazards.

Where Can I Run a VPN Anonymity Test?

There are numerous websites where you can test your VPN anonymity. These include the IPLeaks website, as well as a set of open source testing tools created by NordVPN that are available on GitHub.

How to Test VPN Before Getting to China?

Short of renting a server in China and testing a VPN from inside of the country, there is little in the way of testing you can do to ensure whether a VPN will work from inside of China. As noted in our “Best VPN for China” article, you should contact the VPN provider’s customer support department and ask them if their service is currently working inside China.

Also, before entering Chinese borders, download, install and test your VPN software, as China blocks many VPN provider websites. Also, it should be noted that China has recently increased blocking of VPNs as the government has increased censorship of international coverage of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

What VPN tests Are Available?

There are various VPN tests available. tests include IP and DNS leak testing, WebRTC leak testing, malware testing, connection speed testing, and more available.


Roundup - best VPNs for speed

Position Our Score Verdict
1.
4.5/5
Verdict: Our top rated VPN
Get NordVPN »
2.
4.5/5
Verdict: Best budget option
Get Surfshark »
3.
4.0/5
Verdict: Great privacy options
Get ExpressVPN »
4.
4.0/5
Verdict: Highly versatile
Get CyberGhost »
5.
3.0/5
Verdict: Up to 10 devices
Get PrivateVPN »

PRIVACY ALERT: Websites you visit can see these details about you:

The following information is available to any site you visit:

Your IP Address:

Your Location:

Your Internet Provider:

This information can be used to target ads and monitor your internet usage.

By using a VPN you can hide these details and protect your privacy.

I recommend NordVPN - the top provider in my testing. It offers outstanding privacy features and there is currently a discounted rate available through this link.

Visit NordVPN

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