VPN location claims don't match real traffic exits
3 days ago
- #VPN
- #IP-geolocation
- #privacy
- 17 out of 20 popular VPNs route traffic through different countries than claimed.
- Many VPNs claim to support 100+ countries but actually use a few data centers in the US or Europe.
- Only 3 VPNs (Mullvad, IVPN, and Windscribe) had zero mismatches in tested countries.
- Virtual locations are common, where traffic labeled as one country actually exits from another (e.g., Bahamas traffic exits from the US).
- IPinfo's ProbeNet uses live RTT tests from 1,200+ points to verify real IP locations, unlike legacy IP datasets that rely on self-reported data.
- 97 countries had at least one VPN brand appearing only as virtual or unmeasurable.
- 38 countries were 'unmeasurable'—claimed by VPNs but never observed as actual exit points in the study.
- Examples: Bahamas and Somalia VPN exits were actually in the US and Europe, respectively.
- Legacy IP datasets often misplace VPN exits by thousands of kilometers compared to ProbeNet's measurements.
- VPN users should verify claims, check for virtual locations, and use measurement-based IP data for accuracy.