A VPN sends your traffic encrypted to a server run by the VPN provider, and from there on to the internet. Websites then see the VPN server’s IP address, not yours.
What changes
- The IP address websites see, and with it the network and approximate location.
- What your ISP sees: that you are connected to a VPN, but not which sites you visit.
- Who can see your traffic: the VPN provider now sees what your ISP used to. You move trust; you don’t remove it.
What doesn’t change
- Logins and cookies still tie you to your accounts.
- Your browser fingerprint stays the same.
- What you share yourself.
Check that your VPN works
- Note the address on the homepage without the VPN.
- Turn the VPN on and reload. The address and network (ASN) should now belong to the VPN provider or a data centre.
- Run the IPv6 test: if it still shows an IPv6 address from your own provider, IPv6 bypasses the tunnel.
- Run the WebRTC leak test.
Common leaks
- IPv6 leak: the VPN tunnels only IPv4 and IPv6 traffic goes out directly.
- DNS leak: lookups still go to your provider’s resolver.
- WebRTC leak: the browser reveals your real address while setting up a call.
- Split tunnelling: some apps bypass the tunnel on purpose.
Most modern VPN apps have a leak-protection setting and a kill switch that stops traffic if the tunnel drops.
Why do sites show the wrong country?
Location databases often know an address belongs to a VPN or data centre, but the location follows where the server is — or where the database believes it is. Some services block known VPN addresses. See How IP geolocation works.
Can websites tell I’m using a VPN?
Often, yes. The address usually belongs to a known data centre or VPN provider, and the IP lookup shows the network. Using a VPN is legal in Norway and most of Europe, but some streaming services forbid it in their terms.