- Not having your IP hidden by your VPN can cause a wide range of problems, but this guide should be helpful.
- The first step in solving this problem is to download PIA VPN as it allows you to use multiple gateways.
- If you are interested in other useful information, please visit our detailed VPN how-to web page.
- To make sure you’re never too far from great Windows guides, bookmark our extensive Windows 10 Fix Hub.
If your VPN software can’t hide your IP address and you lose your real location, read this guide to learn how you can fix the problem.
Well, most of the people who use virtual private networks (VPNs) do so to get around location restrictions and for security purposes, mainly to mask or change their current and real IP addresses.
What this does is allow users to bypass geo-restrictions on content or check if their ISP is limiting the connection.
While this is all great and helps users feel more secure online, the unfortunate part is that there is a new security flaw that can reveal or unmask your real IP address to prying eyes, whether you are using a VPN or do not.
Worse still, this flaw is so easy to exploit despite the fact that most VPNs assure their customers of the encryption of their sensitive data while increasing their security when online.
The new security flaw allows remote sites to exploit your browser’s web or WebRTC real-time communication feature, to reveal your real IP address even if you are connected to your VPN, all with a few lines of code.
As much as this is browser-based at the moment, any application that uses WebRTC and can load web pages is vulnerable, so literally any curious or nosy online can see beyond your VPN and know who you are. and its location.
Signs that your VPN is leaking your IP
But how do you know if your VPN is affected by this security flaw?
Here are some steps you can take to determine if you are affected:
- Check your real IP address on sites like What Is My IP Address and write it down
- Connect to your VPN and choose a server in a different country
- Go to the same site and check your IP address again. If you see a new one that matches the one your VPN gives you, that’s fine.
- You can also visit the WebRTC test page and see the IP address it provides
Note: If both sites show the IP address provided by your VPN, you are good to go. If the former shows your VPN location and the latter shows your real IP address, then you are affected by the security flaw. This means that your browser is filtering your real IP address.
Contents index
- What can I do if my VPN is not hiding my location?
- Use a good VPN with multiple VPN gateways
- Private internet access
- Disable WebRTC
- Cookie cutter
- Disable the geolocation API
- Frequently asked questions: learn more about using VPN services
What can I do if my VPN is not hiding my location?
1. Use a good VPN with multiple VPN gateways
If your VPN software isn’t doing the only job it needs to do, then it’s time to explore the capabilities of the powerful private Internet access VPN.
PIA VPN is fully compatible with Windows 10, and most importantly, it uses multiple VPN gateways. This feature ensures that whatever happens, your VPN service will change your IP and location.
The makers of Kape Technologies have ensured that their service runs no matter if an area suffers power outages, using more than 300 servers that are spread across the globe.
To top it all, PIA VPN also allows you to set it up quickly and automatically, so you don’t even have to worry about complicated settings and research the necessary ports.
Here are some other characteristics key to be found in PIA VPN:
- Complete anonymity assured by the company that does not store any traffic logs.
- Incredibly low price for the included highlight
- You can connect up to 10 devices at the same time
- Multiple VPN gateways to ensure you never lose connection
- Automatically encrypt your WiFi network
- Blocks ads, trackers, and malware for a smoother online experience
Private internet access
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2. Disable WebRTC
WebRTC is enabled in browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Opera by default, so those who use Safari and Internet Explorer don’t have it, so they won’t be affected when VPN doesn’t hide location.
If you really want to get out of this rut, you can choose to switch to the last two browsers, or you can disable WebRTC in your browser if you use Chrome, Firefox, or Opera.
Chrome browser
There are no built-in settings that allow you to fix WebRTC leaks, so to disable it, you need to install the correct Chrome extension. Previously, users downloaded the WebRTC blocking plugin / extension for their Chrome browser, but this did not work well and they leaked the IP addresses of the users.
You can get this Chrome extension from PureVPN which has been tested to prevent WebRTC leaks and hide your real IP entirely. It also comes with high levels of encryption so your traffic is safe too.
Firefox browser
- Launch Firefox
- In the address bar, type about: config
- Click on “I’ll be careful, I promise!” (The message varies depending on your version of Firefox). If you get ‘This could void your warranty’, click ‘I accept the risk’
- A list with a search bar will open, type media.peerconnection.enabled
- Press enter
- Double click on the result to change its value to false and close to complete the process.
Installing the PureVPN Firefox extension also helps prevent IP address leaks if you don’t want to go through the steps above.
3. Cookie cutter
If you have previously visited or have an account with a site, replacing your IP address may not change anything, because a site can use one IP and one location from your first visit.
If you logged in through your credentials or social media account, the site may obtain details related to the location of your profile and use cookies to maintain the location in different sessions.
To resolve this, do the following:
- Log out of a website account after your normal session
- Connect your VPN
- Delete any information from the browser by deleting cookies, browser history and other data.
You can also start a private browsing session that does not have previous website information by going incognito if using Chrome or by opening a new private window if using Firefox.
- RELATED: Was VPN Blocked By Windows Firewall? Here’s how to fix it
4. Disable the geolocation API
The Geolocation API is one of the easiest ways for websites and apps to find your location because it is accurate, easier to use, and your VPN may not affect it.
To test this, connect to your VPN and run a geolocation test . Your browser should ask if the site can access your location, so give it permission and it will show a map with your actual location, not your VPN’s.
To disable the geolocation API, do the following:
- Check the browser and apps to see if you have previous permissions and remove the ones you don’t need
- If you use Chrome, click Settings> Advanced> Privacy and security> Content settings> Location to see the list of blocked and allowed sites
- For Firefox, click Options> Privacy & Security> Permissions> Location. Opera is in Settings> Websites> Location. Internet Explorer can allow or block location checks from Tools> Internet Options> Privacy> Location
Tips on how to hide your location and stay safe
- Use a web proxy that encrypts your browsing data
- Use an online VPN that works similar to a web proxy
- Use Tor (The Onion Router) which sends your traffic through various nodes around the world and bounces it, so each node only knows the one that came before and after, making it difficult to trace its location or connection back to you
Please let us know if these solutions helped you by leaving a comment in the section below.
Frequently asked questions: learn more about using VPN services
- Can VPN hide location?
Yes, you can use a VPN to hide your location. To ensure that you are never left unprotected online, we recommend using the powerful Private Internet AccessVPN.
- Can Google Track You With VPN?
Yes, the IP number is not the only way that technology companies use to track their users. Google and Facebook are known to use hidden pixels, battery status, previously stored cookies, etc.
- Should I leave VPN on all the time?
If you never want to be identified online, it is recommended to use a VPN all the time, but in some situations, the VPN can slow down your internet.
