WebRTC Leak Test

What Is a WebRTC Leak?

A WebRTC leak occurs when your web browser exposes your real public IP address while you are using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a technology built into browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari that enables voice and video chat to work seamlessly without extra plugins. To establish a direct connection between you and another user, WebRTC gathers a list of your network's IP addresses, known as ICE candidates.

If your VPN is poorly configured or lacks WebRTC leak protection, your browser may accidentally send your true, ISP-assigned IP address directly to the website you are visiting, completely bypassing the secure VPN tunnel. This exposes your true location and identity.

Why Does a WebRTC Leak Matter?

A WebRTC leak matters because it defeats the primary purpose of using a VPN. You could be connected to a secure server in another country, but a website can still query your browser's WebRTC API and instantly see your real home IP address in the background. Because WebRTC runs inside the browser, it requires a dedicated WebRTC leak test to detect - a standard IP check will only show the VPN's IP address and miss the underlying leak.

How Does This WebRTC Leak Test Work?

This diagnostic tool actively queries your browser's WebRTC API and requests it to generate ICE candidates. We then analyze this list. If we detect a public IP address in the candidate list that differs from the public IP address your browser is actively using to load the page, it indicates that your real IP address is leaking outside your VPN tunnel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a WebRTC leak reveal my IP while on a VPN?

Yes. A WebRTC leak can expose your real IP address to any website that uses JavaScript to query the WebRTC API, even when your VPN is active. This is why running a dedicated WebRTC leak test is essential when verifying VPN security.

How do I fix a WebRTC leak?

You can fix a WebRTC leak by switching to a high-quality VPN that features built-in WebRTC leak protection, or by disabling WebRTC directly in your browser settings. In Firefox, you can set media.peerconnection.enabled to false in about:config. Chrome users can install a WebRTC control browser extension to prevent the browser from exposing private IP data.