The signals
- Hosting network: most VPN servers sit in data centres, so their addresses belong to hosting companies rather than home providers.
- Tor exit: the address is on the Tor Project's published list of exit relays.
- Time zone mismatch: your device clock is set to a different time zone from where your address appears to be.
- WebRTC: your browser reveals a second public address that differs from the one websites see.
- Reputation data: when AbuseIPDB is enabled, its category for the address.
Why there is no yes or no
None of these signals proves a VPN, and a good VPN can avoid all of them (residential exits, matching time zone, WebRTC protection). Travellers trip the time zone check, and companies route staff through data centres. The result lists what was found so you can judge it.
Questions
- Why do streaming services block my VPN?
- They keep their own lists of addresses used by VPN providers, built from heavy traffic patterns. Those commercial lists are not public.