Is My IP Leaking? What Can I Do To Prevent That From Happening?

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical identity assigned to devices connected to a computer network using IP communication. It allows them to send and receive data packets over the internet. IP addresses are fundamental in routing data to an intended destination.

Table of Contents

IP addresses reveal information like user location and internet activity, so many people employ techniques to hide their IP addresses. However, certain circumstances can leak your IP address, which can land it on block lists that prevent you from performing tasks like web scraping.

If you’re having issues with internet browsing and are worried your IP is leaking, there are steps you can take to protect your IP address from being revealed.

What Is an IP Leak?

An IP leak is when your device address is inadvertently exposed on the internet. If your IP is leaking, it typically happens because of technical vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. Below is an overview of common reasons your IP is leaking:

• Incorrect VPN configuration: Many people use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to preserve their anonymity and security when browsing the internet. Any misconfigurations in your VPN settings, like the client not being set up correctly, can cause an IP leak that exposes your actual IP address.
• Browser settings: Your web browser may have default settings that cause your IP address to leak. Some features, like Web Real-Time communication (WebRTC), can expose your address if it’s not set up correctly.
• DNS leaks: A Domain Name System (DNS) leak can happen when DNS requests are not routed through your proxy or VPN. That can expose your real IP address to your ISP’s DNS servers.
• IPv6 leaks: VPNs and networks incapable of handling IPv6 traffic can cause IP leaks.
• WebRTC leaks: WebRTC technology can reveal your IP address because of improperly configured browser settings.
• HTTP referrer header: Clicking on a link to another website causes your browser to generate a “referrer” header to the new site. It contains a URL from the previous site you visited. If the former site is untrusted or one that monitors your activity, you can end up exposing your IP address.
• Cookies: Many websites use cookies to track visitor activity and personalize their experience. If that website sets a cookie on your device, they can use it to locate your IP address.

Why Should You Fix a Leaked IP Address?

Anyone not taking steps to hide their IP address, like using a proxy service or VPN, is at risk of leaking their IP address. While it might not reveal much more than your state and country, that’s enough to act as a starting point for someone to learn more about you. It’s also enough for many websites to enact a ban when you attempt to collect information using web scraping tools.

Another reason to be concerned that your IP is leaking is the risk of a DDoS attack. Your device can end up overloaded from internet traffic and no longer function correctly. The loss of privacy from an IP leak can give third parties the ability to invade your privacy or disrupt any processes you have running from a proxy server.

Malicious actors could also hijack your information if they determine your exact location. Many online services and content providers restrict access to certain areas. If you’re attempting to collect data from one of those places, failing to double-check if your IP is leaking can lead to your IP address getting blocked from certain content.

How Can You Check for an IP Leak?

Luckily, figuring out why your IP is leaking isn’t difficult. Below are some standard methods you can employ to figure out if your IP is leaking.

• Use an IP leak testing site: Use an online service or website designed to check for IP leaks.
• Review VPN logs: If you use a VPN, look through the logs or settings for any IP addresses listed other than the one for your VPN server. The presence of different IP addresses can be a sign of an IP leak.
• Use IP leak detection tools: Look for software tools and applications designed to detect leaks caused by DNS or WebRTC issues.
• Monitor network traffic: Those with more advanced technical skills can leverage tools designed to review traffic that appears to bypass privacy tools.
• Kill switch testing: Check if your VPN provides a kill switch feature that disconnects you from the internet if your VPN connection drops. Test it to ensure it’s working as designed, which can prevent IP leaks when you have connection issues.

You may have to try more than one of the above options to determine whether your IP is leaking.

Below are a few examples of how to check for different types of IP leaks.

DNS IP leak test

1. Find a DNS leak tool you trust, like dnsleak.com. Avoid using the DNS leak testing sites of VPN providers.
2. Turn your VPN off.
3. Use your chosen site and write down the information provided, including your ISP address and name.
4. Turn on your VPN and select a geographical location.
5. Run your test on your DNS leak test tool site.
6. If you don’t see a different IP address or location, it’s likely your IP is leaking from your VPN.

Email IP leak

Another reason your IP is leaking could be the email client you use. Some send your IP address to recipients as part of the header information. Email client policies vary when it comes to showing IP addresses. Below is an example of how you can check the header information of a Gmail account to see if your IP is leaking.

1. Open your Gmail account and look for an existing email.
2. Go to the menu on the right-hand side (three dots) and select the Show original option.
3. Press Ctrl+F, then look for Received: from. That often shows a sender’s IP address.

You can also perform an email IP leak test to determine if your IP is leaking. Follow the steps below with email IP leak software:

1. Save your original IP address to access it as needed, then turn on your VPN.
2. Go to the email IP leak software website you chose, then click Start.
3. Send an email to a specific address.
4. Review the results to see if that caused your IP address to leak.

How To Fix IP Leaking

Once you’ve figured out where your IP is leaking, you take steps to address the issue.

1. Update the configurations on your privacy tools

Many IP leaks happen when DNS requests get past your VPN or proxy server. Updating your privacy tool (ex., VPN routers, firewalls, anti-virus, secure cloud storage services) configurations lets you route DNS requests correctly and stop the exposure of your IP address. You can also make sure that your VPN is set to handle IPv6 without revealing information about your device. It’s also a good idea to set your privacy tools to automatically accept updates, including bug fixes and security enhancements, to address vulnerabilities that might cause an IP leak.

2. Switch VPN servers

Changing your VPN can mitigate some issues if your IP is leaking. Some servers are prone to technical issues or configuration problems that lead to IP leaks. High server loads or network congestion can impact VPN security and performance. That can lead to connection drops or increased vulnerability to IP leaks. Switching to a less-crowded server can provide a more secure connection.

3. Try a proxy server

Proxy servers act as an intermediary between your device and the internet. They add an extra layer of anonymity to help conceal your IP address. One way proxy servers can help if your IP is leaking is by masking your actual IP address. That makes it harder for websites or bad actors to track your activities.

Proxy servers also allow you to bypass restrictions around geo-locked content in different regions. Proxy servers offer additional benefits like:

• Distributing loads evenly across multiple servers to reduce congestion and ensure a more stable internet connection
• Providing advanced security features like traffic encryption and malware scanning
• Allowing the filtering of certain types of content

Boost Data Collection Processes With Scraping Robot

Every device connected to the internet has a unique IP address identifying the user and location. If your IP address leaks, bad actors could hijack your information and websites could block your web scraper from collecting data.

You can fix your IP leaks by reviewing the configurations of your VPN or proxy server and using tools designed to find IP leaks. It’s also a good idea to check your privacy tool settings to ensure DNS requests are routed correctly.

You can remediate IP leaks by switching VPNs or finding a new proxy server provider. Relieve the burden of managing your proxy servers by partnering with Scraping Robot. We help companies achieve optimal results via their data collection processes. Learn more about how we can enhance the quality of your data by testing Scraping Robot tools out for yourself.

The information contained within this article, including information posted by official staff, guest-submitted material, message board postings, or other third-party material is presented solely for the purposes of education and furtherance of the knowledge of the reader. All trademarks used in this publication are hereby acknowledged as the property of their respective owners.

Scraping Robot