Detect whether any IP address is using a VPN, proxy, Tor, relay, or datacenter connection. Our VPN & Proxy Detector identifies anonymous and masked connections by cross-referencing multiple detection databases, giving you a clear picture of the connection type and its implications.

Why Detect VPNs and Proxies?

VPNs, proxies, and anonymization tools are widely used for legitimate privacy. However, they are also frequently exploited for fraud, account abuse, geo-restriction bypass, and bot activity. Detecting these connections helps businesses make informed decisions about trust and risk without blanket blocking. According to industry data, a significant portion of online fraud originates from anonymized connections, making detection a key component of any security stack.

Connection Types Explained

VPN (Virtual Private Network) — Encrypts traffic and routes it through a server operated by the VPN provider. The destination sees the VPN server’s IP, not the user’s real address. Common providers include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Mullvad. Our detector references known VPN IP ranges from multiple sources.

Tor (The Onion Router) — Routes traffic through three or more volunteer-operated relays, each adding a layer of encryption. Only the exit node’s IP is visible to the destination. Tor provides the strongest anonymity but is also associated with higher risk due to its use in both privacy-sensitive and illicit activities. Exit node lists are published by the Tor Project.

Proxy Server — Acts as an intermediary between the client and destination. Unlike VPNs, most proxies do not encrypt traffic. Types include HTTP proxies, SOCKS proxies, and transparent proxies. Open proxies are frequently abused for spam and attacks.

Relay (iCloud Private Relay) — Apple’s privacy feature for Safari users on iCloud+. It uses a two-hop architecture where Apple knows the user but not the destination, and a third-party relay knows the destination but not the user. General location is preserved, making it lower risk than traditional VPNs.

Datacenter / Hosting — The IP belongs to a cloud provider (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, DigitalOcean, etc.) or hosting company rather than a residential ISP. While not inherently malicious, datacenter IPs are commonly used for bots, scrapers, and automated attacks.

How Detection Works

Our detector combines multiple data sources for accurate identification:

VPN IP ranges — Maintained lists of IP ranges allocated to known VPN providers
Tor exit nodes — Real-time list of active Tor exit relay IPs, updated every 30 minutes
Datacenter ASNs — Over 950 Autonomous System Numbers identified as hosting or cloud providers
Cloud provider CIDRs — Published IP ranges from AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Cloudflare, and others
Relay detection — Apple iCloud Private Relay egress IP lists
ASN cross-referencing — IPs matched against ASN data to identify hosting networks not in explicit lists

Practical Applications

E-commerce — Flag orders from VPN/proxy IPs for manual review to reduce chargebacks
Account security — Detect suspicious logins from anonymized connections
Content licensing — Identify users bypassing geographic restrictions
Ad fraud prevention — Filter bot traffic from datacenter IPs in advertising campaigns
API protection — Rate limit or block automated requests from hosting providers

Related Tools

For a complete threat assessment including blacklist checks and sanctions screening, use our IP Reputation Check. To scan an IP against email blacklists, try the IP Blacklist Check. For full IP intelligence, visit the IP Lookup tool.

VPN & Proxy Detector