Check if an IP is using a VPN or proxy

Check if an IP is using a VPN or proxy or VPNs, are a popular tool for protecting privacy and bypassing geographic restrictions. However, sometimes these connections can cause problems for online businesses and services. This is why it’s important for cybersecurity teams to be able to detect VPN or proxy connections.

The good news is that there are several ways to identify VPN or proxy usage. One way is to use a reverse DNS lookup. Since VPNs often use generic or obscure hostnames, this can be a strong indicator that the connection is coming from a VPN server. Another way is to look for open ports associated with common VPN protocols like PPTP and L2TP/IPsec. Finally, checking against blacklists can also be an effective method. These lists are often maintained by security companies or online services and contain a list of IP addresses that are commonly associated with VPN or proxy activity.

Why VPN Detection Matters for Online Security & Fraud Control

For the most accurate detection, it’s recommended to combine multiple methods in order to get the best results. For example, a time zone mismatch detection is a great method that can be combined with other indicators such as identifying whether the connection uses a SOCKS5 or HTTP proxy and checking for open ports. For more advanced detection, integrating this functionality into a cybersecurity SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system can be an effective way to ensure that suspicious connections are flagged for further investigation by security teams.