Some free VPN services expose your real public IP address.
Some free VPN services expose your real public IP address.
I rely on a VPN service for my Chromebook. These free options from the Play Store, such as ThundervPN and SetupVPN, are popular but often limited. People worry that even though they mask your IP address, it might still expose your real public IP. For instance, visiting www.ip8.com showed a different location with the free VPN, yet revealed my actual IP. It seems these services can disclose your true IP to websites. To protect yourself, some suggest using browser extensions or paid VPNs like NordVPN. There are discussions about disabling WebRTC in Chrome to hide your real IP, and tools like uBlock Origin offer options to block certain traffic. Using a free VPN alongside these methods might help, but it depends on the specific service you choose.
Showing your IP address is largely exaggerated marketing from VPN providers. Yes, when you visit a site their server can detect your IP. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be able to reach you. It’s similar to the return address on a letter—needed for them to reply. If they want to respond, they need your details. This isn’t usually a major concern. Knowing your IP is generally harmless unless you’re playing online games or dealing with a script kiddie trying to interfere. A typical website won’t pose that risk. Even with your IP known, your router’s firewall should block any attempts to access your internal network.
The issue involves checking your IP address when using www.ip8.com. It shows both your VPN IP and your primary IP, which raises concerns about tracking. Using a free VPN from Google Play might expose your real IP, as seen with the leak warnings on other sites. Paid VPNs are generally more secure, but free options can still leak information. There may be no completely free VPN that fully protects your IP without compromises. Consider exploring paid services or alternative methods to ensure privacy.
What VPN service are you currently using? It displays both your VPN IP and your actual IP address. Which browser do you prefer for this check—Chrome? Are you wondering if Orbit VPN works on a Chromebook? And what about the Tor Browser for Chromebook?
I'm relying on a VPN I bought a long time ago for a low price (not something I'd suggest), running Linux with Firefox. It doesn't reveal my real IP address—Chrome showed the same result. For the Chromebook, I'm unsure about using Orbot—it was available on the Android Play Store last time I tried it.
in theory, a vpn creates an encrypted connection between your computer and the server you link to. it typically displays only your local ip address when available. behind a private router, you should see addresses like 192.168.x.x or 172.16.x.x, or 10.x.x.x, if you have a public ip on your device. if they display your nat address, it suggests they’ve configured it to conceal your real identity.