What is WebRTC leak?

WebRTC stands for Web Real-time Communications. As its name suggests, WebRTC involves peer-to-peer communications between browsers and devices.

Have you ever noticed that you can make phone-calls or video-calls through your browser? Or you can download torrents, or stream videos directly from your browser without using any app for the matter. This happens because of WebRTC.

This communication can happen in any form, i.e., real-time text or data sharing and video conversations. To simplify, WebRTC allows web applications to use features like:

·         Video Conferencing

·         Screen Sharing

·         File Sharing

·         Broadcasting, etc.

What is WebRTC leak?

If you’re a VPN user who wants to unblock websites for streaming or any other purpose, chances are that you’ll be caught because your WebRTC would give out your original IP address rather than the VPN’s to the website.

When you want to visit any particular website, the WebRTC service communicates with the STUN server. Before sending your communications forward, the STUN server requests to see your original IP address. If you’re using an ordinary VPN service, chances are that the WebRTC will give out your original IP address rather than your VPN’s to the STUN server.

This has been a major problem for VPN and proxy providers. Because of DNS leaks, your original IP is exposed to the internet and you no longer remain anonymous, or free to access the website of your choice. Because of WebRTC leak, any blocked website that you try to visit will find out your original IP and will refuse you access to its content.

How to avoid WebRTC Leak?

WebRTC leaks has been a headache for most VPN and Proxy brands out there. Only some VPN brands have looked into the issue and are providing a complete solution to the WebRTC Leaks problem. One of these awesome VPN services is PureVPN. But the question is, how do they do that?

When the STUN server requests the original IP address of the user, PureVPN provides the option of WebRTC protection on its VPN extension. What it does is that it sets up a kind of a firewall between the STUN server and your system. When your system gives out your original IP address, this firewall changes it to the VPN address from the server you’re connected to.

This is an effective solution as instead of receiving your original IP address, the STUN server receives the VPN address from the location you’re connected to. This not only makes you anonymous on the web, but also gives you complete access to website that you want to visit.

Bottom Line

WebRTC is an issue that you may face when using a VPN or proxy service. Because of how your WebRTC works, your original IP address is often leaked to the website that you’re visiting. Fortunately, major VPN brands, including PureVPN, provide the option to avoid WebRTC leaks. Using this feature will hide your original IP address and use the VPN provider’s IP address instead. This helps you stream your favorite content, or make calls or share files via your browser with ease.