Start with a clean baseline

Before connecting, record the public IP, network owner, approximate country or region, network timezone, and any available DNS or WebRTC result. A baseline turns the test into a comparison instead of a guess.

Keep the baseline short-lived. MyIPCheckup stores its comparison baseline only in this browser and expires it after 24 hours.

Confirm the public route changed

After connecting, the observed public IP and often the ASN or organization should change. City-level geolocation is weaker evidence because databases can disagree or lag behind network changes.

A changed IP confirms that this web request used a different visible route. It does not audit every application or prove that the VPN software is free of implementation defects.

Review DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 separately

DNS requests, WebRTC candidate gathering, and IPv6 connectivity can reveal additional paths. Complete the tests your setup supports and treat a blocked or unavailable test as missing evidence.

Do not call an unavailable check safe. A responsible report distinguishes a completed negative result from an inconclusive result.

Interpret timezone carefully

A browser timezone that differs from the network location can be expected while traveling, using a remote desktop, keeping manual settings, or connecting through a distant VPN exit.

Timezone mismatch is supporting context, not proof of a VPN or a privacy failure.

Know what a browser test cannot certify

A website cannot inspect the VPN client source code, encryption implementation, kill switch, routing for every application, or operating-system policy.

Use browser results as observable evidence, then combine them with provider documentation, device settings, and independent security reviews.

Use the relevant MyIPCheckup tool to collect current evidence, then interpret it within these limitations.

Worked example: baseline, connect, compare

This fictional case uses reserved documentation addresses. At 09:00Z the baseline is 192.0.2.10, Example home network, US, America/New_York. At 09:05Z it is 198.51.100.20, Example VPN network; country and timezone are unavailable. The IP comparison is changed; the two missing metadata comparisons are inconclusive. They must not be counted as changes.

  1. Save a baseline before connecting; note browser, intended exit and time. The live baseline stays in this browser for up to 24 hours.
  2. Connect using your VPN application; this website does not configure it.
  3. Compare the same browser request. Use Clear baseline when finished. A changed IP is evidence of a changed visible route for that request, not an encryption or kill-switch audit.

Try the synthetic comparison or inspect both observations. Do not paste a personal IP into public notes.