Detect VPNs

The simplest way for businesses to determine whether someone is using a VPN involves a bit of sleuthing. Any website operator that uses web analytics can see a range of data points, including where visitors are located. If a business owner notices that a high number of visitors are coming from Germany and New Zealand, they might suspect that people are using VPNs to access their site.

Another common method for Detect VPNs, proxies, and TOR users instantly involves analyzing network traffic patterns. This is done by monitoring how much data flows through each connection. VPN servers tend to handle a lot of data, which stands out from the relatively small amount that comes from home Internet connections. In addition, VPNs often use ports that are blocked by firewalls and routers, which also makes them stand out.

Other detection methods focus on identifying discrepancies between the timezone set in a user’s device and the geolocation associated with their IP address. This is a fairly effective technique, but it can be complicated by users who manually adjust their device’s timezone settings or install browser extensions that do so.

Free IP Lookup Tools to Detect Proxy and VPN Users

Finally, some companies that specialize in cybersecurity offer APIs that enable them to identify incoming connections from VPNs, proxy services and hosting providers. This can help organizations prioritize alerts and security incidents from potential threats. However, checking a user’s IP address against a list of known VPNs and proxy services raises privacy concerns. Consequently, this type of analysis should be used in conjunction with other fraud indicators.