A Complete Guide to IP Leak Protection

Abeerah Hashim  - Security Expert
Last updated: November 14, 2023
Read time: 15 minutes
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What is a VPN leak? How a VPN leaks IP? What is a WebRTC leak? Get in-depth answers to all those concerns and more in this IP leak protection guide.

THE TAKEAWAYS

VPNs are the preferred tools for hiding the original IP address from prying eyes. However, despite having an active VPN connection, sometimes your real IP gets unveiled, exposing your location, browsing history, and other important data. This phenomenon, called “IP leak” or “VPN leak,” nullifies the purpose of using a VPN. It may happen due to a fault in your chosen VPN service or a sudden connection drop. In this guide, let’s look at the common glitches in VPNs that cause IP leaks and effective workarounds to protect them.

When it comes to protecting your online security, hiding your IP address is imperative. Hence, you should have enough knowledge about IP leak protection.

If you are a new VPN user, you might question, “I use a VPN; what else do I need to do to protect my IP? Isn’t using a VPN enough?“

The answer is, unfortunately, “IT IS your VPN that mainly LEAKS your IP address.”

So, what should you do now?

This guide explains how and why VPNs leak IP addresses online. Also, we will guide you on how to prevent these IP leaks.

What is an IP leak or VPN leak?

An IP leak, also sometimes called a VPN leak, is just what the word says – leakage of your real IP address by your VPN.

IP leak happens due to multiple reasons. Sometimes, your device’s browser extensions or other installed software cause IP leaks. In other instances, brief disconnection moments in your VPN connection can leak your actual IP address online. (We’ll discuss how it all happens in the following sections.)