VPNs are amazing tools to encrypt your internet traffic, but like all widely used tools, they have vulnerabilities. If you’re not using a top tier VPN, you might be experiencing some form of an IP leak. Since VPNs are designed to protect your IP address, this can be a huge problem. IP leaks can be in the form of DNS leaks, IPv6 leaks, and WebRTC leaks.

If you want to check if you have an IP leak, go to ipleak.net. Here you can click to check for all forms of IP leaks except for IPv6 leaks. For IPv6b leaks, visit test-ipv6.com. If you recognize your real IP anywhere, this means that you have a potential IP leak.

DNS Leak

A DNS leak is a vulnerability in your VPN that leaks out your information so your internet service provider can see it.

The way it’s supposed to work is that your domain names (for example Facebook.com) are translated from IP addresses (21.321.213.123) by a dynamic name system or DNS. This is so you don’t have to remember numbers. When a DNS leak happens, the DNS request is routed to your ISP (internet service provider) instead of through your VPN. When your DNS request is routed through your VPN, everything is encrypted. The problem occurs when your traffic isn’t being routed through a VPN and is leaking out to your ISP.

IPv4 Leaks

IPv4 is a protocol that defines IP addresses. Sometimes your operating system can produce errors and send requests to the wrong DNS server, creating an IPv4 leak.

IPv6 Leaks

Most websites use IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4) to define IP addresses. However, since the web continues to expand quickly with IPv4 assigned IP addresses running out, more and more websites are being built with the new IPv6 standard. Most VPNs don’t support IPv6 DNS requests, however, which results in IPv6 IP leaks.

Smart Multi-Homed Name Resolution

Windows 10 has a new feature called Smart Multi-homed Name resolution. A DNS request should only go through a VPN, but Windows 10 automatically routes DNS requests to the fastest resources available– meaning that requests can be directed to your ISP through your local network interface and not through your chosen VPN.

WebRTC

Web Real-Time Communication is a standard that allows browsers to add features like voice calling, video chat, and P2P file sharing within your browser. Unfortunately, WebRTC allows websites to detect directly your host machine’s real IP address even if you’re using a proxy service or VPN.

VPN dropouts

Sometimes with poorly designed VPNs, your connection to the VPN might drop. If you’re torrenting with a VPN, that could be appalling since the torrent will continue to download with your exposed IP address.

End-All VPN solution to Ending IP leaks

There’s a ton of third party tools that can help you fix IP leaks regardless of the VPN you’re using. However, getting all of these tools installed and working together alongside your VPN is a huge hassle. Shouldn’t a VPN be a complete security solution after all? Well, you’re right. Some are.

Out of all of the VPNs we’ve reviewed so far, TorGuard VPN is the ONLY VPN to protect against DNS leaks, WebRTC leaks, and IPv6 leaks. Not only that, but it also has application and network kill switches that ensure dropped VPN connections will cut the application or stop your outgoing internet traffic. TorGuard VPN is also powered by the strongest encryption available (256-bit), with a 2048-bit RSA key that can’t be cracked even in censored countries that utilize million-dollar security firewalls.

While TorGuard is your best secure solution, other VPNs do offer some similar security measures (but not all on their own). Private Internet Access protects against DNS leaks, has IPv6 Protection, and has a Network kill switch. It’s only missing an application kill switch and WebRTC protection.

AirVPN and VyprVPN are some other solid contenders with strong security, but they only have a network lock switch. BolehVPN features DNS leak protection while CactusVPN features DNS leak protection with another network kill switch. MullVad VPN surprisingly protects against both IPV6 leaks and DNS leaks, and features a network kill switch–but as a service, we can’t recommend them.

Thanks for reading our guide on “end-all VPN solution to ending IP leaks (DNS,WebRTC, IPv4, IPv6). Let us know if you have questions below!