What Is a VPN?
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that routes your Internet connection through another server.
When you use a VPN, websites may see the VPN server’s IP address instead of your original public IP address.
Why People Use VPNs
People use VPNs for different reasons, including:
Improving privacy
Securing public Wi-Fi connections
Accessing remote work networks
Reducing exposure of their original IP address
Changing apparent network location
Does a VPN Hide My IP Address?
A VPN can hide your original public IP address from the websites you visit.
However, the VPN provider can still process your connection, and websites may still collect other technical information from your browser or device.
Can Websites Detect a VPN?
Sometimes.
Websites may use IP reputation databases, hosting provider detection, traffic patterns, and other signals to identify possible VPN connections.
VPN detection is not always perfect.
VPN and IP Lookup
If you check your IP address while using a VPN, the result may show the VPN server’s IP address and location instead of your real network location.