VPN

How to Test Your VPN for Leaks

A VPN leak is a silent failure—your real IP and data slip out, making the VPN useless. Don’t just trust that it’s working; you must verify it. Here’s a definitive, step-by-step method to test for all three major leak types.

What You’re Testing For: The 3 Major Leaks

  1. IP/DNS Leak: Your real IP address or DNS requests are exposed, revealing your location and browsing history.

  2. WebRTC Leak: A browser-specific vulnerability that can expose your real IP even when the VPN is active.

  3. Kill Switch Failure: If the VPN connection drops, your device reverts to your real, unprotected internet connection.

The Complete Test Procedure

Step 1: Establish Your Baseline (Without VPN)

First, know what you’re hiding.

  • Go to a site like DNSLeakTest.com or IPLeak.net.

  • Do not connect your VPN yet. Note your real public IPv4/IPv6 address and ISP name. This is what you must hide.

Step 2: Connect Your VPN & Run the Core Leak Test

  • Connect to your chosen VPN server (e.g., connect to “USA – New York”).

  • Go back to DNSLeakTest.com and run the Extended Test.

  • ✅ PASS: The results should show IP addresses and DNS servers belonging to your VPN provider in the location you chose. Your ISP’s name should be nowhere in the list.

  • ❌ FAIL: If you see your original IP or your ISP’s DNS servers, you have a critical DNS or IP leak. Your VPN is broken.

Step 3: The Mandatory WebRTC Leak Test

WebRTC is a protocol used for browser video calls that can bypass VPNs.

  • With your VPN connected, visit BrowserLeaks.com/webrtc.

  • ✅ PASS: The “Public IP Address” displayed should be your VPN’s IP, not your real one.

  • ❌ FAIL: If your real IP appears here, you have a WebRTC leak. This must be fixed in your browser.

Step 4: Stress-Test the Kill Switch (The Most Important Test)

This simulates a VPN dropout.

  1. With your VPN connected and active, visit a site like YouTube.com to confirm traffic is flowing.

  2. Forcefully disable the VPN connection: Pull the Ethernet cable, turn off Wi-Fi, or use your VPN app’s “disconnect” button.

  3. Immediately try to refresh YouTube or another site.

    • ✅ PASS (Kill Switch Works): Your internet should be completely dead. No sites load. This means the kill switch correctly blocked all traffic when the VPN failed.

    • ❌ FAIL (No Kill Switch): Websites continue to load using your real, unprotected IP. This is a severe privacy risk, especially for torrenting.

How to Fix Common Leaks

If You Have an IP/DNS Leak:

  1. Manually Set Your DNS: In your device’s network settings, set your DNS servers to your VPN’s recommended ones or a trusted third-party like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).

  2. Enable the VPN’s “DNS Leak Protection”: This setting is usually in the VPN app’s security options. Turn it ON.

If You Have a WebRTC Leak:

  • Browser Extension: Install a WebRTC leak prevention extension (like “WebRTC Leak Prevent” for Chrome).

  • Disable in Browser Flags: In Chrome/Edge, go to chrome://flags/, search for “WebRTC”, and disable it. (Note: This may break video calling in your browser).

  • Use a Browser with Built-In Protection: Firefox has strong WebRTC controls. Go to about:config and set media.peerconnection.enabled to false.

If Your Kill Switch Fails:

  1. Ensure it’s enabled in your VPN app settings. Often it’s disabled by default.

  2. If it’s on and still fails, your VPN client may be faulty. Contact support or consider switching to a more reliable VPN provider known for a robust kill switch.

Make Testing a Habit

Test your VPN once a month and anytime you install a major browser or OS update. Settings can reset, and new software can introduce vulnerabilities.

The Final Check: A VPN is only as strong as its weakest seal. Passing these three tests—IP/DNS, WebRTC, and Kill Switch—proves it’s forming a watertight seal around your traffic. Don’t assume; verify. Five minutes of testing is all that stands between you and a false sense of security.

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