Is My VPN Working Properly? A Simple Guide to Check for VPN Leaks

Hey there! Do you ever worry that your virtual private network (VPN) has leaks that expose your true identity online? I totally get it. VPNs are supposed to encrypt all your internet traffic and assign you an anonymous IP address. But sometimes VPN apps have vulnerabilities that compromise your privacy.

Not sure if your VPN is securely encrypting your browsing? Don‘t sweat it. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to test your VPN connection for leaks. I‘ll also explain how to fix any issues you find.

By the end, you‘ll be able to confidently answer the question: is my VPN working properly? Let‘s get started!

How Do VPNs Work? A Quick Refresher

But first, let‘s recap what a VPN does.

A VPN routes your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server located elsewhere. This hides your real IP address, making it seem like you‘re browsing from another location.

Your traffic then exits the VPN server and continues its journey to the website or app you‘re accessing. Since your data is encrypted, your internet service provider (ISP) and anyone else monitoring traffic can‘t see what you‘re doing online.

This provides several key benefits:

• Privacy – Stops ISPs and spies from tracking your online activity

• Anonymity – Masks your identity and physical location

• Security – Encrypts traffic to protect from data theft on public Wi-Fi

• Accessibility – Bypasses geography-based content blocks

But VPNs only work properly if they‘re configured correctly and don‘t have any leaks. Next I‘ll go over how to test for the most common types of VPN leaks.

Checking for IP Address Leaks

One easy way to check if your VPN is working is to do an IP address leak test. This verifies that your VPN is actually masking your real IP address with one from the VPN server.

Here‘s how to test for IP leaks:

1. First, connect to the site WhatIsMyIPAddress using your normal internet connection without a VPN enabled. WhatIsMyIPAddress shows your current public IP address assigned by your internet provider. Copy down the IP address so you can compare later.

2. Now launch your VPN app and connect to a server in a different country, like Canada or the UK for example. This will assign you a new IP address from the VPN server location.

3. Once connected, head back to WhatIsMyIPAddress and check your IP again. It should now display an entirely different IP than before, corresponding to your VPN server.

If the IP address looks exactly the same with your VPN enabled, you have an IP leak. This means your true IP isn‘t being masked by the VPN.

Here‘s an example of what a leaked IP might look like:

As you can see, the IP remains the same even after connecting to the VPN. Not good!

On the other hand, if your IP changes to match your VPN server‘s location, that indicates your VPN is working correctly:

How to Fix an IP Address Leak

If you do notice an IP leak, don‘t panic! Here are a few troubleshooting tips to fix it:

• First, make sure your VPN app is fully updated. Older versions can have vulnerabilities that allow leaks.

• Check your VPN protocol settings. Try switching from UDP to TCP configuration, or enable the "Scramble" option if your VPN offers it.

• Adjust your encryption settings to use the strongest cipher like AES-256 bit encryption.

• Connect to a different VPN server location in case the current one you‘re using has issues.

• Verify your VPN kill switch is enabled. This will cut off your internet access if the VPN disconnects to prevent leaks.

• If problems persist, contact your VPN provider‘s customer support for help. They may suggest changing specific settings.

• As a last resort, switch to a new VPN service known for excellent leak protection like ExpressVPN or NordVPN.

With a little tweaking, you should be able to resolve any IP leaks and keep your true location hidden while browsing the web.

Checking for DNS Leaks

DNS, or the "Domain Name System", is like the phonebook of the internet. It translates domain names like example.com into the numerical IP addresses computers need to route traffic.

By default, your internet provider manages your device‘s DNS queries. But when connected to a VPN, your traffic should be routed through the VPN‘s own private DNS servers.

A DNS leak happens when your device accidentally uses your standard DNS instead of the VPN‘s, exposing which sites you visit to your provider.

To check for DNS leaks:

1. Visit the site DNSLeakTest.com and click "Extended Test."

2. This will analyze your DNS settings. If you see your ISP‘s name listed or the DNS server IPs don‘t match your VPN‘s, you have a leak.

For example, if you‘re connected to a VPN server in Canada but see "Verizon" or another ISP listed as your DNS, that‘s a dead giveaway of a leak.

Here‘s an example of a DNS leak:

As you can see, this user is connected to a VPN server in Sweden, but the DNS queries are being handled by their true ISP rather than the VPN.

To fix a DNS leak:

• First, reconnect to your VPN app to reset the connection. DNS leaks can happen if the VPN drops, so this might resolve it.

• Try connecting to a different VPN server location in case the current one you‘re using has DNS issues.

• Contact your VPN provider. They may suggest adjusting DNS-specific settings.

• Manually change your device‘s DNS servers to match your VPN‘s DNS IP addresses, which removes your ISP‘s servers.

• Consider switching to a VPN that offers encrypted DNS servers as an extra layer of protection, like Private Internet Access or ExpressVPN.

With a little effort, you can plug any DNS leaks and prevent your browsing history from getting back to your internet provider.

Checking for WebRTC Leaks

One other way your true IP can be exposed is through WebRTC leaks.

WebRTC is a browser-based technology that allows things like real-time voice and video chats without any extra plugins. Handy, but also risky…

Here‘s why: WebRTC can bypass VPN encryption to reveal your real IP address for connectivity purposes. Sneaky!

Thankfully, checking for WebRTC leaks only takes a few seconds:

1. Head to the site IPLeak.net and scroll down to the WebRTC section.

2. If your public IP address shows up here, you have a WebRTC leak and your VPN isn‘t blocking it properly.

3. If it just shows your VPN‘s IP address, then your WebRTC activity is being tunneled safely through the VPN.

Here‘s what a WebRTC leak would look like:

And if your VPN is configured correctly to block WebRTC access to your real IP, you‘ll only see something like this instead:

Now let‘s discuss how to prevent any WebRTC leaks from happening:

• Use your VPN provider‘s own WebRTC protection if it offers the feature. For example, NordVPN has CyberSec technology that automatically blocks WebRTC access.

• Install a WebRTC blocking browser extension that disables WebRTC at the plugin level. Examples include uBlock Origin and WebRTC Network Limiter.

• Completely disable WebRTC in your browser‘s settings, like in Chrome‘s privacy section. But this also prevents any WebRTC services from working.

• Switch to a VPN that blocks WebRTC leaks by default like Private Internet Access or Surfshark.

With a few simple steps, you can close up any WebRTC leaks and maintain ironclad protection.

Speed Testing Your VPN

In addition to checking for various leaks, you‘ll also want to see if your VPN is slowing down your internet connection. This speed drop is common with VPN usage.

Here‘s a quick and easy way to test the impact of your VPN:

1. First, connect to a speed testing site like Speedtest.net and run the test. This will measure your base speed without a VPN.

2. Now launch your VPN app and connect to a server. Make sure you choose a server location that‘s nearby where you are physically so it has the best chance of maximum speed.

3. Run another speed test. Compare the results to your original baseline.

If the difference is minimal, your VPN isn‘t significantly reducing performance. But if you notice a major speed decrease, your VPN is likely the culprit.

For example, here‘s what a VPN speed reduction might look like:

In this case, the VPN dragged speeds down from over 200 Mbps to under 50 Mbps. Ouch!

Here are some tips to boost speeds if your VPN is slowing things down:

• Connect to a VPN server that‘s geographically close to your location for faster routing.

• Try switching VPN protocols in the app settings. OpenVPN and IKEv2 are typically faster than alternatives.

• Consider upgrading to a paid VPN tier with unlimited bandwidth for max speeds.

• Ensure your device‘s VPN app is updated to the latest version for performance improvements.

With a speedier VPN connection, you can confidently stream, game, and browse without annoying lags.

Recommended VPN Leak Testing Tools

There are a wide variety of tools and sites available for analyzing your VPN setup. Here are some of the best options:

Leak Testing Sites

• IPLeak.net – Offers tests for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. Very thorough for finding any vulnerabilities.

• DNSLeakTest.com – Specializes in detailed DNS leak checks. Also checks IPv6 and other DNS specifics.

• Perfect Privacy Leak Test – All-in-one suite with DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak tests.

Speed Testing

• Speedtest.net – The standard for internet speed tests. Easy to use with tons of global server options.

• Fast.com – Sibling site to Netflix that provides a quick speed test. No frills but accurate.

• TestMy.net – Alternative speed test with minimal interface. Uses HTML5 for improved accuracy.

VPN Provider Tests

Many VPN providers have their own proprietary testing tools:

• ExpressVPN Leak Test – Checks DNS and WebRTC for leaks.

• NordVPN Security Check – Assesses DNS and possible data leaks.

• Surfshark VPN Test – Suite of 5 leakage and security tests all in one.

6 Best VPNs for Leak Protection

If your current VPN just isn‘t cutting it, switching services might be the best solution for bulletproof security.

Here are my top recommendations for leak-proof VPNs based on hands-on testing and analysis:

VPN	Cost	Server Locations	Highlights
ExpressVPN	$8.32/month	160 in 94 countries	Fast speeds, great for streaming, 24/7 live chat support
NordVPN	$2.99/month	5,308 servers in 59 countries	Double VPN, CyberSec ad & malware blocking, strict no logging policy
Surfshark	$2.49/month	3,200+ servers in 100+ countries	Unlimited devices, private DNS & IPv6 leak protection
CyberGhost	$2.25/month	7,400+ servers in 91 countries	Great free trial, dedicated streaming profile
Private Internet Access (PIA)	$2.69/month	35,000+ servers in 78 countries	10 simultaneous connections, port forwarding available
ProtonVPN	$4/month	1,700+ servers in 54 countries	Swiss privacy, NetShield ad & malware blocking

NordVPN is my personal top choice for an affordable VPN with excellent leak protection. It passed all my tests with flying colors! The zero logging policy plus advanced security features like Double VPN and CyberSec give me peace of mind.

But you really can‘t go wrong with any of these solid VPN options that encrypt your data and hide your IP.

VPN Security FAQs

You probably still have some questions about staying secure with a VPN. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions:

Should I use a VPN at all times for protection?

Yes, I recommend always staying connected to a trusted VPN app whenever you access the internet. A VPN encrypts all of your traffic 24/7, stopping surveillance and hacking attempts. It basically functions as an invisibility cloak for your online activity!

Can my VPN get hacked? How safe is it really?

It is possible, but extremely unlikely, for a VPN to get hacked. The bigger risk is vulnerabilities at the VPN provider‘s infrastructure level, not your individual connection getting compromised. As long as you choose a top-quality VPN with up-to-date software, you should feel comfortable relying on it to keep your data safe.

What are the limitations of a VPN? What does it NOT protect against?

A VPN is excellent for hiding your IP address, circumventing censorship, and encrypting traffic over public Wi-Fi. But it doesn‘t replace other security tools you need. You still require antivirus software, firewalls, and safe browsing practices. A VPN also won‘t mask your online habits from the sites themselves that you access.

The Bottom Line

I hope this guide gave you a better understanding of how to fully test your VPN for leaks and troubleshoot any vulnerabilities you find. Just remember to regularly check for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks to ensure your true identity stays hidden. Consider switching to a new leak-proof VPN if your current one underperforms.

With the right VPN setup, you can browse and stream worry-free knowing your data is safe from prying eyes! Let me know if you have any other questions down below.