What is a WebRTC leak?
WebRTC is a browser technology for real-time communication. During setup it gathers ICE candidates, which can include local and public addresses depending on browser policy, extensions, and network state.
- What an ICE candidate is.
- Why WebRTC can reveal addresses a normal page request would not.
- How browsers have changed to reduce leaks.
Why it happens
Browsers try multiple possible network paths for real-time communications.
Those candidate paths can reveal local LAN addresses, relay addresses, or direct public candidates.
Why users care
A VPN may hide the main page request IP while WebRTC still reveals local or alternate connectivity information.
That matters for privacy checks and for understanding browser behavior.
What a result means
One or more candidates does not automatically mean a severe privacy failure.
The question is which addresses were exposed and whether they were expected in your environment.
What to do next
Use the WebRTC check before and after enabling a VPN.
Compare browser behavior because some browsers mask candidates more aggressively than others.
Can WebRTC leak my private IP?
Yes, depending on browser policy and networking state.
Does disabling a VPN fix it?
It may change what candidates appear, but the right fix depends on the browser and privacy tools in use.
Last updated: March 29, 2026