proxy and VPN detection test tool used to identify whether or not a user’s connection is being tunneled through a proxy or virtual private network (VPN). The test can be run from a web browser or other software program that supports the execution of JavaScript. The test runs a series of checks on the client to determine whether or not it is attempting to communicate with a proxy server, such as by looking for specific headers or other attributes of the connection.

For businesses that rely on the delivery of digital content to users, it is essential to be able to determine if a user’s location or connection type may be hiding behind a proxy or VPN. This allows them to take corrective action before the fraudster or other nefarious actor can make their way through the system. For example, e-commerce platforms can use the privacy detection API to verify that users are logging in from their usual locations before activating a two-factor authentication process.

Carrier Information Lookup API: Access Real-Time Mobile Network Data

The ad tech world also relies heavily on the ability to detect proxies and VPNs in order to geo-target ads. It is important for them to know if a user’s connection to their website or app is being masked in order to avoid click fraud. This can be done by using privacy detection data that is matched to existing customer records or other intelligence such as carrier name, connection speed, and IP address characteristics.