You may have heard how amazing VPNs are at providing amazing tools and services. Many VPN services claim that they offer bullet-proof security to their users. While some VPN services do offer amazing security in the form of online encryption, Internet Kill Switch, and so many amazing features, there still remain a few problems that can be harmful for your online privacy.
What if I tell you that despite all the best security features at your disposal, your ISP and the internet as a whole can still locate your actual online identity and read through your browsing history because of a minor flaw? This flaw is referred to as IPv6 leak. And though it is a minor flaw, it can expose your complete online identity on the web even when you are connected to a VPN.
You can run an IPv6 Leak Test yourself if you want to test whether your VPN is leaking your online identity on the web.
Is your VPN leaking your online identity?
Your VPN may offer the best security feature set on the web, but that doesn’t mean that it is fully secured. Most VPN services actually have leaks hidden inside them that can expose your online identity on the web. Though these leaks are minor, they can still do a lot more harm than you think.
One type of leak is referred to as IPv6 leak. But what is an IPv6 leak? More on this below.
What is an IPv6 Leak?
IPv6 is the latest iteration of IP addresses. Moving on from the traditional IPv4, IPv6 can actually be used on more number of devices compared to its predecessor. If you’re using a new smart device then there is a high chance that your device also employs IPv6 instead of IPv4.
The IPv6 format has differences when compared to IPv4. The IPv4 has three digits followed by a dot that is repeated until a quad-digit is formed. An IPv4 address may look like 255.255.255.255. IPv6 is completely different in comparison. It consists of eight numbered strings, with each containing up to four characters that are alphanumeric in nature. These addresses are separated by a colon and it can support up to 128-bit addresses. With IPv6, you get access to 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 IP addresses for use.
Why do you need IPv6 Leak protection?
There are some ISPs and servers that support IPv6 addresses. However, a majority of websites haven’t moved on to the new address as of yet, and can still only support IPv4. This creates a problem that can destroy your online anonymity even when you are connected to a VPN.
For instance, your ISP may prescribe both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses if it supports IPv6. However, if you wish to visit Google.com, or any other website that only supports IPv4, then this may create trouble. This is because the request that you will send will contain both your IPv4 and IPv6 address.
It doesn’t matter if you are using a VPN service or not. Your device would still send IPv6 address even when you are connected to a VPN and this would leak your actual online identity on the web.
Fortunately, there is a way to avoid this problem with a VPN service. It depends on the VPN service that you are using because there are some VPN services such as PureVPN that can put a stop to all kinds of IPv6 leaks. It does that by blocking all of your IPv6 traffic, making sure that your real identity always remains hidden.
How to fix IPv6 leak?
IPv6 leak can become a menace for your online privacy and anonymity. It can reveal your online identity and you won’t even know about it. Imagine surfing the web, thinking all the while that you’re completely anonymous even when you’re not.
To ensure that you remain safe from the menace called IPv6 leak, you need to switch to a VPN that offers exclusive IPv6 leak protection. One amazing VPN service that offers just that is PureVPN. The service keeps you safe from all kinds of online spies and trackers. To protect you from IPv6 leaks, PureVPN blocks all IPv6 communications from your device. This ensures that you remain anonymous on the web at all times.
PureVPN is considered as the most secure VPN provider on the web. With PureVPN, you can ensure safety from all kinds of online leaks that include WebRTC Leak, DNS Leak, and IPv6 Leaks.
PureVPN is a reliable VPN provider. The VPN service has been on the map for over 12 years. It provides access to 2,000+ servers in 180 cities. With PureVPN, you get to ensure your security on the web with the help of amazing features which include military-grade 256-bit encryption. You can download PureVPN on any device. The service can be found on iOS, Android, Mac, and PC.
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