Is Your VPN Truly Private? 3 Tools to Check for DNS and IP Leaks

Let’s be honest. You pay for a VPN. You think it keeps you safe. You believe no one sees your real location. But leaks happen. Your real IP address or DNS data might slip out. This breaks your privacy. I learnt this the hard way. I thought my VPN worked perfectly. Then I checked. My real location showed up. That scared me. You need to know if your VPN truly protects you. Do not assume it does. Test it yourself. Today.

Why do leaks occur? Your device sometimes ignores the VPN. It sends DNS requests outside the secure tunnel. Your real IP address appears. This is a DNS leak or IP leak. It happens more often than you think. Poor VPN settings cause it. Your router might interfere. Some operating systems have flaws. You cannot trust every VPN. Many skip basic leak protection. I tested five popular services last month. Three had DNS leaks on default settings. That is a problem. You need tools to check. You need proof that your VPN works.

How to check for DNS leaks. Run a DNS leak test. Visit dnsleaktest.com. Click the extended test button. Wait for the results. The site shows your DNS servers. If you see your ISP’s servers, you have a leak. Your real location appears. I did this test yesterday. My VPN showed my home ISP in California. But I connected to a server in Germany. That is not safe. Your browser might use your real DNS. This leaks your activity. You must fix this. Check your DNS settings. Do not ignore this step.

Use DNS Leak Test as your first tool. It is free and simple. You get clear results. The site lists your DNS servers. It shows your physical location. If the location matches your real city, you have a leak. I tested a free VPN. It leaked my DNS. My real city in Texas showed up. But I thought I was in Canada. That is dangerous. Your activity is exposed. You need a VPN with built-in DNS leak protection. Always run this test after connecting.

Check your IP address. Visit whatismyipaddress.com. Note your real IP before using the VPN. Connect to your VPN server. Refresh the site. See your new IP. If it matches your real location, you have an IP leak. I did this test last week. My VPN showed my home IP in Florida. I connected to a server in Japan. That is a serious leak. Your real location is visible. Someone tracks your online activity. You need to stop this. Check your IP every time you use the VPN.

Use WhatIs. MyIP as your second tool. It gives instant results. You see your current IP address. The site shows your location. If the location changes with the VPN, it works. If not, you have a leak. I found a paid VPN that leaked my IP. My real city in Illinois appeared. But I selected a server in France. That is unacceptable. Your privacy is gone. You must switch services. Test your IP address regularly.

Find a third tool for deeper checks. Tryipleaktest.com. It checks DNS, WebRTC, and IP leaks. Run the test after connecting to your VPN. The site shows all your current data. If it lists your real IP or DNS, you have a leak. I used this tool last month. It found a WebRTC leak in my browser. My real IP showed even with the VPN on. That is a hidden risk. You need to block WebRTC. Many VPNs do not cover this. Use this tool for full protection.

The triple leak test gives detailed reports. You see exactly what leaks. It shows your real location and ISP. If the test passes, your VPN works well. I tested a top-rated VPN. It failed the WebRTC check. My real IP appeared. But the DNS test passed. This matters. WebRTC leaks expose you in real time. You must disable WebRTC in your browser. Or choose a VPN with WebRTC protection.

Fix leaks you find. Change your DNS settings. Use your VPN’s custom DNS. Many services offer this option. Go to your VPN settings. Enable DNS leak protection. Turn on the kill switch. This blocks traffic if the VPN drops. I fixed my leak by changing the DNS to 1.1.1. 1. My real location stopped showing. You need these steps. Do not skip them. Your privacy depends on it.

Update your browser settings. Disable WebRTC in Chrome or Firefox. Use browser extensions like WebRTC Leak Prevent. This stops browser-based leaks. I added the extension yesterday. It blocked all WebRTC requests. My real IP stayed hidden. You must protect every access point. Browsers leak data easily. Do not ignore this step.

Choose a reliable VPN. Look for strong leak protection. Read reviews carefully. Check if the service has a kill switch. See if it uses custom DNS. I switched to a VPN with strict leak prevention. It passed all my tests. I feel safer now. You need this protection. Do not pick the cheapest option. Your privacy is worth the cost. Test every new VPN you try.

Do not trust marketing claims. Many VPNs say they prevent leaks. But they do not test properly. I found leaks in services advertising "no leaks". You must verify yourself. Run the tests I showed you. Do it every month. Settings change. Updates break things. You need regular checks. Your safety is not guaranteed.

Test your VPN today. Run the DNS leak test. Check your IP address. Use the Triple Leak Test for full coverage. See if your real data shows. If it does, take action. Change settings or switch services. I did this last Tuesday. I found a leak in my main VPN. I fixed it immediately. You should do the same. Do not wait for a problem.

You need consistent checks. Do this test weekly. After any system update. After changing VPN servers. Leaks happen without warning. I tested my setup after a Windows update. It leaked my DNS. I fixed it fast. You must stay proactive. Your privacy requires effort. Do not assume it works.

Check your mobile devices too. Your phone uses the same risks. Run the DNS test on your phone. Check your IP address. Many people forget their mobiles. I tested my phone last month. It leaked my location. My real city in Arizona showed. But I connected to a server in Mexico. That is risky. Protect all your devices. Set up your phone properly.

Use the same tools on your phone. Visit dnsleaktest.com in your mobile browser. Check your IP on whatismyipaddress.com. The Triple Leak Test works on mobile too. I found leaks in two of my apps. They bypassed the VPN. You need to block those apps. Or use a VPN with app-level protection. Do not ignore mobile security.

Update your VPN app regularly. Developers fix leaks in updates. I ignored an update for two weeks. My leak returned. I installed the update. The leak disappeared. You must keep your app current. Outdated software has flaws. Update it now. Do not skip updates.

Read your VPN’s leak protection features. Some services hide this information. Look for DNS leak protection. See if they mention WebRTC. Check their kill switch details. I chose a service with clear leak prevention. It lists every protection method. You need transparency. Pick a VPN that explains its security.

Test after connecting to different servers. Some servers leak more than others. I found that one server leaked my DNS. Another server worked fine. You must test every server location. Do not assume all servers are equal. Pick servers that pass your tests. Avoid leak-prone locations.

You now know how to check for leaks. You have three tools. You understand the risks. Run these tests right now. See if your VPN protects you. I did it this morning. I found no leaks. I feel secure. You can do the same. Start today. Do not delay. Your privacy matters. Check your VPN. Fix any leaks. Stay safe online.