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How to Fix WebRTC Leaks (All Browsers)

WebRTC leak

When discussing online privacy and VPNs, the topic of WebRTC leaks and vulnerabilities frequently comes up.

While the WebRTC issue is often discussed with VPN services, this is, in fact, a vulnerability with web browsers . WebRTC leaks can affect these browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Brave, and Chromium-based browsers.

So what is WebRTC?

WebRTC stands for “Web Real-Time Communication”. This basically allows for voice, video chat, and P2P sharing within the browser (real-time communication) without adding extra browser extensions.

What is a WebRTC leak?

A WebRTC leak is when your external (public) IP address is exposed via your browser’s WebRTC functionality. This leak can de-anonymize you via WebRTC APIs, even if your VPN is working correctly.

If you have not protected yourself against WebRTC leaks in your browser, any website you visit could obtain your real (ISP-assigned) IP address through WebRTC STUN requests. This is a serious problem.

While the WebRTC feature may be useful for some users, it poses a threat to those using a VPN and seeking to maintain their online privacy without their IP address being exposed.

How to test for WebRTC leaks

Our guide on testing your VPN lists a few different WebRTC testing tools:

  • ipleak.net – In addition to WebRTC leaks, this website also tests for IPv4, IPv6, and DNS leaks.
  • BrowserLeaks WebRTC test
  • Perfect Privacy WebRTC test

What does a WebRTC leak look like?

If you see your ISP-assigned (external) IP address, then this is a WebRTC leak. Below is an example of WebRTC leaks that I found when testing out a VPN service. You can see that my public IPv6 address (beginning with 2) is leaking in the WebRTC area, even while the VPN is connected and stable.

webrtc leak with vpn

Note that a local IP address is blacked out on the left. These cannot be used to identify you. (An explanation of the difference between your local/internal IP and your public/external IP is here .)

The WebRTC Vulnerability

Anyone seeking to be anonymous online through privacy technology should take action against WebRTC leaks.

Daniel Roesler exposed this vulnerability in 2015 on his GitHub page , where he stated:

Firefox and Chrome have implemented WebRTC that allow requests to STUN servers be made that will return the local and public IP addresses for the user. These request results are available to javascript, so you can now obtain a users local and public IP addresses in javascript. Additionally, these STUN requests are made outside of the normal XMLHttpRequest procedure, so they are not visible in the developer console or able to be blocked by plugins such as AdBlockPlus or Ghostery. This makes these types of requests available for online tracking if an advertiser sets up a STUN server with a wildcard domain.

Essentially, this means that any site could simply execute a few Javascript commands to obtain your real IP address through your web browser.

WebRTC leak solutions

Here are two options for dealing with the WebRTC issue:

1. Disable WebRTC in the browser ( Firefox ) and only use browsers with disabled WebRTC capability. (Instructions are below.)

2. Use browser add-ons or extensions if disabling WebRTC is not possible. (Disabling WebRTC is not possible with Chrome and Chromium-based browsers, such as the Brave browser.)

Note : browser add-ons and extensions may not be 100% effective . Even with add-ons, the vulnerability still exists in the browser to reveal your true IP address with the right STUN code.

WebRTC fixes for different browsers

Below are different fixes for various browsers.

Firefox browsers

Disabling WebRTC is very simple in Firefox. First, type about:config into the URL bar and hit enter . Then, agree to the warning message and click the continue button.

firefox webrtc disable

Then, in the search box type “ media.peerconnection.enabled “. Double click the preference name to change the value to “ false “.

how to disable webrtc firefox

That’s it.

WebRTC is now disabled in Firefox and you won’t have to worry about WebRTC leaks.

Chrome WebRTC (desktop)

Since WebRTC cannot be disabled in Chrome (desktop), add-ons are the only option (for those who do not want to just give up on using Chrome).

As pointed out above, it is important to remember that browser add-ons are may not be 100% effective . In other words, you may still be vulnerable to WebRTC IP address leaks under certain circumstances. Nonetheless, here are some add-ons that may be worth considering:

  • WebRTC leak prevent
  • uBlock Origin

Note : Unlike with Firefox, these extensions only change WebRTC’s security and privacy settings.

Recommended solution: stop using Chrome.

Disable Chrome WebRTC on Android

On your Android device, open the URL  chrome://flags/#disable-webrtc in Chrome.

Scroll down and find “WebRTC STUN origin header” – then disable it. For safe measure, you can also disable the WebRTC Hardware Video Encoding/Decoding options, though it may not be necessary.

webrtc chrome android disable

Note : Android users can also install Firefox, and disable WebRTC via the steps above.

Chrome iOS WebRTC

Chrome on iOS does not appear to implement the vulnerable parts of WebRTC that could expose local or external IP addresses (yet).

Brave WebRTC leaks

Because the Brave browser is based on Chromium , it is also vulnerable to WebRTC IP address leaks, even when you are using a VPN.

There are two ways to block WebRTC in the Brave browser:

Method 1: Fingerprinting protection

Go to Settings > Shields > Fingerprinting blocking > and then select Standard  or Strict . This should take care of all WebRTC issues – at least on desktop versions of Brave (Windows, Mac OS, and Linux).

Disable WebRTC Brave browser

Note on WebRTC handling policy

You can also adjust the WebRTC handling policy if you go to Settings , click on the search glass in the upper-right corner, and then enter WebRTC . Under the WebRTC IP Handling Policy click the drop down menu and you can see the options below.

Note : To understand the different options with WebRTC handling, Brave has an article on the topic here . Below are the different options:

WebRTC handling policy Brave

I have now tested this with the latest versions of Brave for Windows and Mac OS. Based on my tests, if you already have Fingerprinting blocking set to enabled , you should not experience any WebRTC leaks.

Note : I have seen some complaints from users who claim that WebRTC is not getting blocked on iOS, even after making the changes above. Brave developers appear to have confirmed this issue and are working on a fix.

Safari WebRTC

WebRTC leaks have traditionally not been an issue with Safari browsers (on Mac OS and iOS devices). However, Apple is now incorporating WebRTC into Safari, although it’s still technically an “ experimental ” feature. Nonetheless, it’d be wise to disable WebRTC in Safari for privacy reasons. Here’s how:

  • Click “Safari” in the menu bar
  • Then click Preferences
  • Click on the “Advanced” tab, then at the bottom check the box for “Show Develop menu in menu bar”
  • Now, click on “Develop” in the menu bar. Under the “WebRTC” option, if “Enable Legacy WebRTC API” is checked, click on it to disable this option (no check mark).

webrtc leak safari disable

That should effectively disable WebRTC in Safari.

Opera and other Chromium browsers WebRTC

Just like with Chrome, the only way (as of now) to address the WebRTC vulnerability in Opera and other Chromium browsers is to use an extension.

First, download the extension “ WebRTC Leak Prevent ” to your Opera browser.

Then in the Advanced options for the WebRTC Leak Prevent extension, select “ Disable non-proxied UDP (force proxy) ” and then click Apply settings .

disable webrtc chromium opera

Again, because this is an extension solution, it may not be 100% effective.

Now verify you don’t have any WebRTC leaks

Now that you have disabled or blocked WebRTC in your browser, you should test to verify that it is working. Here are our favorite tools for identifying WebRTC leaks:

  • Perfect Privacy WebRTC Test
  • BrowserLeaks WebRTC Test

Note : If you are seeing a local IP address, this is not a leak. A WebRTC leak will only be with a public IP address.

Here I’m running a test in the Firefox browser while also connected to  ExpressVPN :

browser secure from webrtc

You can see the ExpressVPN client on the right, with the test results on the left. No leaks!

Note: ExpressVPN is currently our top VPN recommendation and they also have a discount for three months free, see our ExpressVPN coupon page for details.

Conclusion on WebRTC leaks and browser vulnerabilities

The WebRTC leak vulnerability highlights a very important concept for those seeking a higher level of online anonymity and security through various privacy tools .

The browser is usually the weak link in the chain.

The WebRTC issue also shows us that there may be other vulnerabilities that exist with your privacy setup, even if you are using a good VPN to hide your IP address and location. (The WebRTC issue was not publicly known until 2015.)

One other problem to be aware of is browser fingerprinting . This is when various settings and values within your browser and operating system can be used to create a unique fingerprint, and thereby track and identify users. Fortunately, there are effective solutions for this as well.

And lastly, there are many different secure and private browsers to consider, many of which can be customized for your own unique needs.

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About Sven Taylor

Sven Taylor is the lead editor and founder of RestorePrivacy, a digital privacy advocacy group. With a passion for digital privacy and accessible information, he created RestorePrivacy to provide you with honest, useful, and up-to-date information about online privacy, security, and related topics.

Reader Interactions

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December 1, 2023

Some additional tools what I use for long time:

– https://dnscheck.tools/ – https://cmdns.dev.dns-oarc.net/ (more extended DNS test as above) – https://webbkoll.dataskydd.net/en – https://browserbench.org/Speedometer2.1/

January 19, 2024

I just installed brave on Fedora 35, and tested webRTC leaks on mullvad.net. I had to disable non-proxied UDP as well as having fingerprinting disabled-strict.

November 16, 2022

Hi Sven Taylor! Every time I open up Ebay page on Firefox, Google pop up a window ask me to sign in to Google Account! Can you show us how to get rid of this annoying thing? I did turn the WebRTC to False. Thanks, CT

August 25, 2022

Hi Sven, iOS has changed greatly since your guide. Instead of the one Safari toggle you mention there are now many experimental WebKit toggles, including 20+ that look to relate to canvas. A new guide on what to do with them sure would help! Is this already available somewhere?

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August 26, 2022

Hi Milton, we’ll get this out but we need an updated iOS device to verify settings first.

March 11, 2023

iOS app’s & browsers leak like sieves. VPNs mostly leak & do not work anymore Nordvpn leaks true location: 2 examples paramount plus, & Firefox tying to use bbciplayer FYI 3-11-23 everything is most recent updated versions

July 14, 2022

I’m trying to disable WebRTC in Amazon Silk browser (based on Chrome) on the newer Echo Show devices. The Chrome web store extensions are unavailable to this browser and side-loading on the Echo Show seems difficult at best. I also wish I could install the NordVPN extension for Silk, but it’s only available for Edge and Chrome, and maybe Firefox. Surely there must be a way to get into the Developer settings on Silk. Is there any hope? I these days of hackers and snooping, I don’t see any reason why Amazon needs total control over knowing my actual IP address.

April 19, 2022

Firefox for Android does not allow you to disable WebRTC. This is due to the fact that as of April 2021, Androids have been denied access to about:config in Firefox stable and beta channels. Install Firefox Nightly.

October 16, 2022

Really? So does that mean that when I put about:config in the iceraven for Android browser I use and the full developer page pops up and I then find the section to disable WebRTC and able to toggle to Disable along with a couple more WebRTC related setting also. That this is not actually disabled?? Actually you CAN Disable WebRTC for Android thru Iceraven, Nightly, Firefox, and Icecat (unfortunately abandoned).

WebRTC disabled in browser. Microsoft softwares and Android apps WebRTC is leaking?

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  • VPN & Privacy

How to stop WebRTC leaks on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge [SOLVED]

How to stop WebRTC leaks

WebRTC is used by web browsers for voice and video chat applications like Skype for Web, Discord, and Google Hangouts. The free and open-source project lets apps set up peer-to-peer connections without the need for any extra plugins or applications, allowing for efficient real-time communication (the ‘RTC’ in WebRTC). Most modern web browsers now support and enable WebRTC by default, including desktop browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, as well as mobile browsers on Android and iOS.

The problem is that WebRTC compromises the security provided by VPNs, or virtual private networks. When a user connects to a VPN server, all of the internet traffic from their device should go through an encrypted tunnel to the VPN server. Among other benefits, this prevents websites and apps from determining the user’s real IP address, which is masked by that of the VPN server. An IP address is a string of numbers and decimals unique to every internet-connected device that can be used to determine location.

Whenever a VPN user visits a site that has WebRTC enabled, WebRTC can transmit data outside the encrypted tunnel. This exposes the user’s real IP address and location to the website, which means the user can be tracked by advertisers and other third parties.

In this article, we’ll explain how to prevent WebRTC leaks when using a VPN on all major browsers.

Preferred solution: Use a better VPN

Not all VPNs suffer from WebRTC leaks. Some have added security features to their apps that prevent WebRTC traffic from traveling outside the encrypted VPN tunnel. Of the many VPNs we’ve tested, two stand out:

While many VPNs claim to prevent IP leaks, many fail to live up to their promises. We’ve put these two VPNs through rigorous leak tests to ensure they never allow WebRTC leaks to occur under any circumstances. Both NordVPN  and ExpressVPN prevent WebRTC leaks on any web browser or app.

By signing up for and installing either of these VPNs, you don’t need to worry about WebRTC leaks. No further tweaks are required.

How do I know if WebRTC is leaking?

When you connect to a VPN, your WebRTC IP address should either change to that of the VPN or be disabled entirely.

As an example, here’s my connection info while connected to a VPN that suffers from WebRTC leaks :

webrtc leak

Notice that my standard IP address and WebRTC address are different. That’s because my real IP address is being leaked through WebRTC, and WebRTC traffic is not going through the VPN. While connected to the VPN, both addresses should both be identical.

You can run this test on your own using our VPN leak tester .

WebRTC leak severity depends on permissions granted

Before we get into other ways to prevent WebRTC leaks, we want to clarify that not all leaks are equal. When it comes to WebRTC leaks, we categorize them into two levels of severity:

  • Leaks when permissions granted – less severe
  • Leaks when permissions not granted – more severe

When you visit a website that uses WebRTC, your browser will usually ask your permission before allowing a website access to your camera or microphone.

webrtc mic permission

If a VPN leaks your IP address before you’ve even granted that website permission to use your camera or microphone, that’s a big red flag. That means any website could use some simple javascript to monitor your IP address and expose your real location. We label this a “persistent vanilla leak,” which is the most severe type. Most VPNs that claim to prevent WebRTC leaks can at least stop this from happening.

Except for the two mentioned above, almost all VPNs suffer from the less severe version of WebRTC leaks, in which your IP address is exposed to the website only after you grant it permission to use your microphone or camera. Even though this leak is less severe, it’s still cause for concern. A VPN user should be able to safely visit WebRTC-enabled sites without exposing their IP address.

How to stop WebRTC leaks in Chrome

chrome webrtc limiter settings

Google Chrome requires a simple browser extension to disable WebRTC. WebRTC Network Limiter lets you choose how WebRTC network traffic is routed. You can easily configure it to use only your VPN’s public IP address.

Alternatively, you can use the WebRTC Control browser extension to enable or disable WebRTC via a simple toggle switch.

See also: Best VPNs for Chrome

How to stop WebRTC leaks in Firefox

In Firefox, you can disable WebRTC in the browser settings:

  • In the URL bar, enter: about:config
  • Run a search for: media.peerconnection.enabled
  • Double-click the entry to change it to False

Note that changes you make to the settings may not carry across updates, so you might need to re-adjust this setting again if your browser updates.

How to stop WebRTC leaks in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge now supports both WebRTC plus its own proprietary version, dubbed ORTC. Unfortunately, Edge does not allow you to disable either. You merely get the option to hide your local IP address over WebRTC connections, but not your public IP address.

To conceal local IP addresses with mDNS hostnames, do the following

  • Types “about:flags” in the browser’s address bar and hit “Enter”
  • Scroll down until you see “Anonymize local IPs exposed by WebRTC” or enter it in the search field
  • Choose “Enabled” from the drop-down menu

A “WebRTC Leak Shield” extension is available on the Microsoft app store , but given it has no user feedback at time of writing and sparse details about the developers, we would avoid it for now.

If you’re an Edge user and you want to prevent WebRTC leaks, ExpressVPN and NordVPN will both get the job done. Websites will only see your VPN server’s public IP address and not your own when connected through either of their respective apps.

See also: Best VPNs for Microsoft Edge

How to stop WebRTC leaks in Safari

safari webrtc

Safari blocks sites from accessing your camera and microphone by default, so we’re really only concerned about the less severe type of WebRTC leak here. You can turn WebRTC off in the developer settings:

  • Open Safari and go to Safari > Preferences…
  • Go to the Advanced tab and check the box at the bottom that says Show Develop menu in menu bar
  • Close the preferences menu and go to Develop > Experimental Features
  • Check the option for Remove Legacy WebRTC API

See also: Best VPNs for Safari

How to stop WebRTC leaks on Android

Those with old versions of Android — such as 8.1.0 Oreo — are often advised to disable WebRTC Stun origin header in the flags menu. However, in our experience this does not work. Even if we disable every WebRTC-related setting, our real IP address leaks. In any event, this will be irrelevant to those using recent versions of Android — such as Android 13 — where the “WebRTC Stun origin header” feature is not available. You can check availability on your own device as follows:

  • Open Chrome
  • Type “chrome://flags” in the address bar
  • Search for “WebRTC” in the “Search flags” field

Notably, ExpressVPN and NordVPN do prevent this leak when we connect through their Android apps. Websites can still see an IP address, but it’s the VPN server’s IP address and not our real IP address.

See also: Best VPNs for Android

How to stop WebRTC leaks on iOS

You can only disable WebRTC in mobile Safari on iOS 11 or earlier. The setting to disable it was removed in iOS 12. For later versions of iOS (12+), you can use ExpressVPN’s or NordVPN’s iOS app to mask your real IP address and prevent WebRTC leaks.

Disabling WebRTC on the Safari browser in iOS 11 or earlier is fairly similar to the desktop version:

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad
  • Scroll down and tap on Safari > Advanced > Experimental Features
  • Tap the switch next to Remove Legacy WebRTC API so it turns green

We will update this article if we come across a way to plug WebRTC leaks in iOS 12 and later.

See also: Best VPNs for iPhone

How to stop WebRTC leaks with uBlock Origin

ublock origin webrtc

uBlock Origin is a popular browser add-on/extension for Firefox and Chrome. It can prevent your browser from leaking your device’s local IP address, but not your public IP address . For this reason, we recommend uBlock Origin more as a supplement to the other solutions in this list, and not a standalone solution.

After installing it, just go into the Settings and check the box that says, Prevent WebRTC from leaking local IP address.

What about VPN browser extensions?

NordVPN Firefox add-on page.

There’s no shortage of browser plug-ins that claim to work like VPNs by redirecting internet traffic through a secure proxy. The vast majority of VPN browser extensions won’t protect you from WebRTC leaks. The only standalone VPN add-on we know of that does stop WebRTC leaks is NordVPN. In addition to its native desktop and mobile apps, its browser extension for Chrome and Firefox protects against WebRTC leaks.

The ExpressVPN browser extension stops WebRTC leaks, but isn’t a standalone product. Instead, users must already have installed the native VPN app. The browser extension is a way to conveniently control the app, and allows users to change the WebRTC network path so that it passes through an ExpressVPN server.

Disabling WebRTC won’t break VoIP apps

If you want to stop WebRTC leaks but like to use voice and video chat apps like Google Hangouts, Discord, and Skype, worry not. Disabling WebRTC doesn’t usually break those apps; they just have to fall back on a different method of communicating. While the call quality might suffer a bit, you can still use voice and video chat normally with WebRTC disabled.

Test for WebRTC leaks

dns leak test comparitech

Once you’ve applied a fix, you can check to make sure it’s working using Comparitech’s DNS leak test . This page runs a test in two parts: with the VPN connected and with the VPN disconnected. The results will show you in plain terms whether your VPN is leaking DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC traffic. You can even choose whether to allow or disallow microphone and camera permissions to determine leak severity.

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PRIVACY ALERT: Websites you visit can find out who you are

The following information is available to any site you visit:

Your IP Address:

Your Location:

Your Internet Provider:

This information can be used to target ads and monitor your internet usage.

Using a VPN will hide these details and protect your privacy.

We recommend using NordVPN - #1 of 73 VPNs in our tests. It offers outstanding privacy features and is currently available at a discounted rate.

webrtc leak prevent safari

How to Stop a WebRTC Leak on Your Favorite Browser

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Some pages may include user-generated content in the comment section. The opinions expressed in the comment section do not reflect those of DataProt.

As we have moved so much of our lives online, privacy has become a priority. For that particular reason, we at DataProt advise using one of the recommended VPN services to protect your information and privacy. However, not everything can be solved with a gadget-like extension or app. It’s important to familiarize yourself with potential breaches and vulnerabilities some VPNs have; a WebRTC leak is one of the most common ones.

WebRTC: What Is It and Why It’s Useful

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is open-source software that’s free to use and add through JavaScript APIs (Application Programming Interface) to allow for video and audio communication through P2P (peer-to-peer) protocols.

The technology reduces video and audio lagging, even for large files. WebRTC is an excellent choice for software enabling group calls and webinars with improved sound quality. Now that we have answered: “What is WebRTC?” we’ll move on to analyzing why it represents a potential privacy issue.

WebRTC and IP Address Leaks

WebRTC is supported by modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Brave, Edge, etc. Because of browser vulnerabilities, leaving your public IP address unprotected may cost you your anonymity through a WebRTC STUN (Session Traversal Utilities for NAT) server request, even though your VPN is properly functioning.

Windows makes it possible to send data over routes that weren’t set up as the default ones, and a STUN server sends requests to any interface it can reach from the user’s side. A UDP packet can sometimes include your actual IP address, and a WebRTC IP leak is the result of that.

Testing for Leaks

Thankfully, plenty of services online test for potential leaks so you can diagnose your VPN. According to our tests, ExpressVPN prevents IP leaks and has an online service for checking if WebRTC is enabled and if the IP address is encrypted and tunneled through VPN. Websites like BrowserLeaks test WebRTC as well, and you can get an in-depth report.

WebRTC-Leak-Test

If your VPN service is working correctly, your report should show something similar to the one displayed here.

How to Prevent a WebRTC Leak in Chrome

The most straightforward way of preventing WebRTC from leaking your IP address is to use a VPN with a Chrome extension. However, if you are not looking to solve the leak issue with a VPN service, you need to know that you can’t disable it manually. Instead, you will have to use an external solution. While VPN extensions are more reliable, there are few free non-VPN options available. Also, keep in mind that, besides dealing with WebRTC, these extensions don’t protect your privacy further.

WebRTC Leak Shield

This is a Chrome browser extension with a simple interface, as you can see from the screenshot.

WebRTC-Leak-Shield

The only options available are to turn the shield on or off and run the extension’s leak test. After conducting a few tests of our own, we found that the extension reliably shielded us from public IP address leaks through WebRTC services. However, unlike a VPN, the extension doesn’t encrypt your connection, nor does it hide your IP address during your online browsing experience. This is something you need a virtual private network for.

The extension is also available for Microsoft Edge users and can be found on the Microsoft Edge Add-ons page.

WebRTC Leak Prevent

This is another go-to solution a large number of Chrome users prefer. When you add the extension to Chrome, it will present you with a few options.

WebRTC-Leak-Prevent

The first option that uses the default public interface will route WebRTC traffic directly through the VPN adapter. The second option will also use the default network adapter for your local network. The third option forces the use of a proxy and only allows for WebRTC traffic over UDP proxies. It can also affect your WebRTC communication and can end up disabling it altogether for some users.

Stopping a WebRTC Leak in Firefox

Unlike Chrome, Firefox does allow for these WebRTC related settings to be changed within the browser. It just takes three simple steps:

preventing-webrtc-leak-in-firefox-step-1

Remember to check these settings regularly after updating Firefox, since updates can sometimes revert it to default, i.e., turn it back on.

How to Disable WebRTC in Safari

Safari takes a more cautious approach than Chrome and Firefox by blocking camera and microphone access by default. Therefore, the only potential leak you need to worry about with this Apple product is not that severe. To turn off WebRTC, you will need to do the following:

  • Open Safari;
  • Open Preferences and find the Advanced tab;
  • Check the option that says “Show Develop menu in menu bar.”
  • From the Develop drop-down menu, go to WebRTC;
  • Mark the option called “Disable Legacy WebRTC API.”

How to Disable WebRTC on Android and iOS

The option for disabling WebRTC directly through the Android version of Chrome isn’t currently available. We have tested solutions that have worked for previous versions of the browser, but with our test phone running on Android 11 and Chrome version 90.00.4430.82, it wasn’t possible.

At DataProt, for that particular reason, we recommend using a dedicated Android VPN. Users with a tendency of connecting to public Wi-Fi need to think about their security and privacy even more.

Unfortunately, the situation with iOS is similar to Android. To prevent a WebRTC Leak, you will have to see what VPN for iOS is the best fit for your needs.

Further reading

webrtc leak prevent safari

How to Use ProtonVPN: A Step-by-Step Guide

webrtc leak prevent safari

Does NordVPN Work with Netflix in 2024? YES! It Does

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WebRTC leaks: what they are and how to prevent them

Even with a VPN, your privacy can still be exposed to dangers

Graphic of a laptop with the browser leaking

Even the best VPN services cannot prevent your privacy from being exposed at times. This is something that can occur from a leak on your browser, for example. 

First discovered in 2015, WebRTC leaks are a serious vulnerability with web browsers that anyone concerned about their online anonymity should be aware of. 

Chrome, Firefox, Safari , Opera, Brave, Chromium-based browsers: all these can be affected.     

But what even is WebRTC? Here we assess the risks of it leaking as well as the best practices to help prevent it - even if you're somebody who already uses a VPN to try and stay anonymous online. 

What is WebRTC?

Short for Web Real-Time Communication, WebRTC it is an open source tool first introduced in 2011 that allows web browsers to manage real-time peer-to-peer connections with the websites they visit.

WebRTC basically enables voices and video communication to work inside web pages, without the need to add any extensions to your browser. 

As the Covid-19 pandemic made working from home and other remote communications a necessity, there's been a huge surge in its use. Today, WebRTC is widely popular for video calling and data transferring applications.   

Although users can find WebRTC technology really useful, its intrinsic vulnerabilities pose a threat to those concerned of their privacy - whether or not they are using a VPN.

When does a WebRTC leak occur?

It's worth noting from the outset that for WebRTC to work, it must expose your IP address in order to establish its connections. A leak then accordingly occurs when you are trying to establish communications with someone through a browser that uses WebRTC technology. So if you're somebody who is privacy conscious or doesn't like the idea of being tracked as you navigate the internet, this is likely to be of alarm.

And even if you're a conscientious web user who takes care to cover their tracks by using a VPN, WebRTC leaks can still bypass the encrypted tunnel through which your VPN is supposed to protect your privacy. If a leak occurs, your real IP will be then revealed.

How to prevent WebRTC leaks 

Thankfully, there are a few tips and tools that can help you prevent these leaks. 

The first step for people already using a VPN is is to see whether your real IP address is actually leaking . Carrying out a test is one of the best ways to prevent WebRTC leaks from endangering your privacy, and it's really simple:

  • If you have one, disconnect your device from the VPN service
  • Note down your IP address - you can simply find it out by searching 'What’s my IP' on the internet
  • Exit the browser
  • Re-connect to your VPN
  • Refresh the page and look for your IP again on a WebRTC leaks online checker . Among those, there are ipleak.net – which also tests for IPv4, IPv6, and DNS leaks - BrowserLeaks WebRTC test and Perfect Privacy WebRTC test . Plus, Some VPN providers like ExpressVPN offer their own WebRTC Leak Test to make monitoring breaches even easier. 

If your IP is not being revealed, it should come out a completely different address each time. But if the the series of numbers is the same, a WebRTC leak is likely exposing your IP address.  

It is worth mentioning that WebRTC leaks can vary per browser. So if you use Chrome and Firefox for instance, you should test both. You may also want to verify your results by checking your IP address on different platforms. 

Once you are sure that there is a WebRTC leak affecting your browser, you have some options to secure your online privacy:

1.  Disable WebRTC on your browser 

Depending on which search engine software you're using, the process to follow will be different.

Disabling WebRTC technology on Microsoft Edge couldn't be any easier. Simply type into the address bar  about:flags to enter the settings. Scroll down and enable the option Hide my local IP address over WebRTC connections before restarting the browser. 

Also doing so on Opera is quite intuitive. Open the settings on the left window and tap on Privacy & security . Head down to the section WebRTC and enable the option  Disable non-proxied UDP . Restart then the search engine. 

With Safari, go to Preferences and click on the Advanced tab. Here, check the box saying Show Develop menu in menu bar . Click on Develop in the menu bar and head on Experimental Features tab you can find in the drop-down menu. Scroll down to disable the WebRTC mDNS ICE candidates option.

If you are using Firefox, write on the search bar about:config . A warranty warning will appear, click on Accept the risk for carry on. At this point tap on Show all . You will see a long list of settings - be careful not to mess them up. To make it easier, search for media.peerconnection.enabled in the top bar. Press the Toggle button on the right so that the value in the middle will be identified as False .

If WebRTC tech can be disabled in Google Chrome for Android via the URL chrome://flags/#disable-webrtc , it cannot be switched off for the desktop version. That's where you must add a dedicated browser extension.

It is worth nothing that Chrome on iOS does not seem to apply the vulnerable parts of WebRTC technology responsible to expose local or external IP addresses - for now, at least. 

2. Use a browser extension

Adding a browser extension to your search engine software can be an effective way to prevent WebRTC leaks from happening. As we mentioned before, it may be the only way if your browser doesn't permit switching it off.

Compatible with Chrome and Chromium browsers, WebRTC Leak Prevent prevents WebRTC leaks by controlling hidden WebRTC privacy settings.

While WebRTC Leak Shield protects you from this security threat by disabling the WebRTC technologies and prevent IP leaks.

3. Choose a better VPN service

While many providers claim to prevent WebRTC leaks, many fail to do so. But the good news is that the best VPNs work hard to protect users from WebRTC leaks in their apps. 

The  ExpressVPN browser extension - currently available from Chrome, Firefox and Edge - is meant for protecting your privacy by preventing websites from discovering your true IP address and location. Among the providers offering a similar feature there also are NordVPN , Surfshark and Avast SecureLine VPN . 

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Chiara Castro

Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life—wherever cybersecurity, markets and politics tangle up.   She mainly writes news, interviews and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, cybercrime, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for TechRadar Pro, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide. Got a story, tip-off or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to [email protected]

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What Are WebRTC Leaks and How Can You Prevent Them?

Your real IP address could leak thanks to WebRTC. Here's why that's bad for your privacy and what you can do about it.

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is an open-source technology that enables peer-to-peer communication in web browsers and similar applications.

Initially released in 2011, WebRTC eliminates the need for browser plugins and third-party software. If you've ever used Discord or Google Hangouts, for example, you've used a WebRTC-powered service.

But there's one problem with WebRTC: the possibility of IP address leaks.

What's a WebRTC leak?

Tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Apple use WebRTC. Most browsers nowadays use this technology as well, which means there's always a chance your IP address (a string of characters unique to your computer or network) leaks without you knowing. But what are WebRTC leaks exactly, and how would one take place?

Let's say you're using a VPN to browse the internet, whether to protect your privacy or just because you need to bypass geographical restrictions. A good VPN uses strong encryption, obscures your real IP address , and spoofs your location, making it seem like you're based in a different country and thus protecting your privacy.

But even with a VPN turned on, a browser using WebRTC technology may be leaking your real IP address. So if you're trying to video chat with somebody through your browser, or talk through Google Hangouts, WebRTC might be bypassing the protections you've put up and leaking your real IP address.

WebRTC leaks don't just defeat the purpose of using a VPN, but also represent a major security vulnerability that a competent threat actor could exploit, were they to intercept your communications in some way. For example, they might launch an IP spoofing attack and deploy malware to your computer.

How to Check If WebRTC Is Leaking Your Real IP Address

If you don't have VPN software installed, your real IP address is visible regardless of which browser or device you're using. But, as explained above, even if your VPN is on, your IP address might be visible due to a WebRTC leak.

Here's how to check if your IP is leaking.

The first thing you need to do is disconnect your VPN, and then head over to a site like WhatIsMyIP —here, you can easily check what you real IP address is.

After you do that, turn on your VPN and go to BrowserLeaks . This is a free online tool anyone can use to test their browser for different types of security and privacy issues. Once on the BrowserLeaks website, navigate to WebRTC Leak Test . Click the hyperlink, and let the page load. Your real IP address will be displayed here.

What you need to do next is repeat the process with your VPN turned on. So, turn on your VPN, go to BrowserLeaks, and launch the WebRTC Leak Test once again. If your VPN is doing its job properly, your real IP address will not be visible.

This test was conducted on ProtonVPN, which—as you can see below—does not seem vulnerable to WebRTC leaks. Instead of showing our real IP address, it's showing the IP address of a random server it connected to in the Netherlands.

Evidently, using a safe and reliable VPN is a good way to prevent WebRTC leaks, but to ensure maximum protection you should disable WebRTC in your browser.

How to Disable WebRTC In Your Browser

The good news is, it's possible to disable WebRTC in many popular browsers, and so prevent leaks. Here's how to disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

How to Disable WebRTC In Chrome

It is not possible to manually disable WebRTC in the Chrome browser. However, there are several free extensions that can do just that. WebRTC Leak Prevent is one of them. It's available on the Chrome Web Store , and should work in most Chromium-based browsers, including Brave. All you need to do is install the extension and turn it on.

How to Disable WebRTC In Firefox

If you're using Firefox, launch the browser and type "about:config" in the address bar and hit Enter . If you see a warning page, click the Accept the Risk and Continue button. Next, type "media.peerconnection.enabled" in the search box. Change the value from true to false by pressing the toggle button.

How to Disable WebRTC In Safari

If you're using Safari, you can disable WebRTC in the Preferences menu. Once you enter it, navigate to the Advanced tab at the bottom, and check the Show Develop menu in menu bar box. After that, click Develop and select Experimental Features . Find WebRTC mDNS ICE candidates , and click on it to disable WebRTC.

Disabling WebRTC: What to Keep In Mind

After you disable WebRTC in your browser, head over to BrowserLeaks once again to check if your IP address is leaking. Conduct the test with and without your VPN turned on. If you followed the steps outlined above, your real IP address should not be visible in BrowserLeaks' WebRTC Leak Test.

However, keep in mind that disabling WebRTC in your browser does not come without its downsides. Doing so may cause websites and services that use WebRTC technology to malfunction, or not work at all. In any case, you can refer back to this guide, and enable or disable WebRTC however you deem fit.

Using a good VPN and disabling WebRTC are certainly steps in the right direction if you want to boost your security and privacy. But there are other things you can do to protect yourself online; switch from Chrome or Microsoft Edge to a more secure browser , start using encrypted email services and chat apps, and familiarize yourself with Tor.

Prevent WebRTC Leaks to Stay Safe

WebRTC is an ambitious project that will likely stick around for years to come. As useful and convenient as it is, it does have some security issues that need to be addressed. If you want to protect your online privacy, you should probably consider disabling WebRTC in your browser.

And if you're using a VPN, make sure it does a good job protecting you from different types of leaks. However, leak protection is not the only feature you should look for when choosing a VPN provider, so do your research accordingly before making any major decisions.

webrtc leak prevent safari

WebRTC Leaks and Your Privacy (+ how to fix them)

This post was originally published on 31 JAN 2021 ; it has since been updated and revised.

WebRTC can prove useful when users need to use it, which is most commonly during peer-to-peer (P2P) calling in the browser.

However, a critical flaw yet to be directly and adequately addressed across all browsers exists in WebRTC that leaks users' internal IP addresses? Even if using a trusted and leak-resistant VPN service, the IP address can leak through this flaw.

This phenomenon is known as a WebRTC leak and it can have an impact on privacy while remaining "invisible" to the user.

What is WebRTC?

WebRTC = Web R eal T ime C ommunication

WebRTC allows users to communicate by voice, video chat, and other forms of P2P sharing from directly inside the browser - without downloading any additional extensions or add-ons. WebRTC was released officially in 2011. However, only in recent years has it become more popular.

WebRTC is an open-source project, but it is created, backed, and heavily endorsed by Google.

WebRTC leaks and privacy

WebRTC leaks a user's internal IP address and can leak the external IP address as well. This leak can occur from even behind a well implemented and trusted VPN provider. WebRTC leaks are not the same as DNS leaks or IPv6 leaks which are almost entirely a problem with VPN configuration settings.

Your internal IP address is not the same as your external IP address. Your external IP address is assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and is "meant" to be shared with the internet. However, users who wish to hide their IP address via a VPN are compromised via these leaks.

The internal IP address is meant to only be shared with other devices connected to your local network, such as a user's home Wi-Fi. If leaked to the outside world, it can serve as an even more unique identifier than the external IP address meant to be shared with other machines on the internet.

Naturally, this poses a problem in protecting and maintaining online privacy.

While IP addresses exposed on the internet aren't necessarily a large concern of itself, the collection of IP address data alongside other tracking methods and fingerprinting methods pose a serious hurdle for users seeking improved online privacy. This is especially true if a user is accidentally and silently leaking their IP address even while taking privacy and cybersecurity enhancing measures.

IP addresses can be used to collect or infer with reasonable accuracy information such as:

  • Your precise geo-location (frequently within 1-2 miles accuracy)
  • Excessive details about the device you're using (make, operating system, software version{s}, exact model, etc.)
  • Information about other devices on your network
  • ISP information

Perhaps the worse thing about WebRTC leaks is that most methods websites use to pull an IP address via WebRTC are silent. In fact, just a few lines of JavaScript executing silently can use a WebRTC leak to pull an IP address even from behind a VPN as WebRTC traffic doesn't always route through the VPN.

Most times, the end-user would be totally unaware of this happening.

Is your browser leaking your IP address?

Tools are available to evaluate whether the browser is leaking information via WebRTC:

  • BrowserLeaks

These tools emulate the common techniques websites use to pull from this information from the browser. Again, as noted earlier, most of these techniques happen silently and without the expressed knowledge of the user. Denying cookies does nothing to alleviate this.

Fixing browser WebRTC leaks

Two main ways to fix WebRTC leaks include:

  • Disabling the WebRTC function in a chosen web browser, if possible .
  • Installing an extension that fixes or helps curve WebRTC components from leaking the internal IP address.

Users should be aware the extension method _isn't_ always 100% effective.

WebRTC can be completely disabled in Mozilla Firefox:

  • Open Mozilla Firefox
  • Type about:config into the address bar
  • If you've never been the advanced settings, you'll see an alert. Click the equivalent of "I accept."
  • You should be looking at a mostly blank page with a search bar the top. In the search bar on the page, type media.peerconnection.enabled
  • Double click on media.peerconnection.enabled . It should now say " false ."
  • Restart the browser and retest for leaks

This browser isn't recommended for users seeking privacy.

On the desktop version of Chrome, WebRTC cannot be disabled from within the browser settings .

The only option to disable WebRTC in Google Chrome is via installing an extension that mitigates WebRTC leaks.

WebRTC extension recommendations:

  • uBlock Origin

It's important to understand that these extensions will not disable WebRTC, but rather tweak settings to help prevent leaks from occurring.

And again, even with the tweaking done by these extensions, this is not foolproof . Under specific circumstances, IP address information can still be revealed via WebRTC leakage.

With Chrome on Android, WebRTC can be disabled:

  • Open Chrome on your Android device
  • In the address bar, type chrome://flags/#disable-webrtc
  • Find the setting Disable WebRTC
  • Click " Enable "
  • Restart the browser and test for leaks

Like Google Chrome, WebRTC cannot be disabled within Edge. Starting in 2020, the new version of Microsoft Edge uses Chromium like Google Chrome and the Brave Browser.

However, Edge does have a setting to disable sharing the internal IP address over WebRTC connections:

  • Open Microsoft Edge
  • Type about:flags into the address bar.
  • There's a whole bunch of settings here. Look for Anonymize local IPs exposed by WebRTC ( hint : use CTRL+F to the search the page for "hide")
  • For Anonymize local IPs exposed by WebRTC , select " Enable ."

Brave is based on the Chromium engine. Therefore WebRTC cannot be disabled from within the browser.

However, WebRTC leaks can be mitigated from within the Brave Browser's settings:

  • Open the Brave browser
  • Find and click " Settings "
  • Click on the search icon, located in the upper right of the screen (or press CTRL+F)
  • In the search bar, type webrtc
  • Under WebRTC IP Handling Policy, click the drop-down
  • Select "Default public interface only" from the drop-down
  • Restart browser and test for leaks
  • Look for the " Shields " section within the " Settings " page
  • Click on the drop down for " Fingerprinting blocking "
  • Select " Strict, may break sites " from the drop-down

Alternatively, since most extensions that work on Chrome also work on Brave, it's possible to install an extension to mitigate potential WebRTC traffic leaks.

Users may find the settings within Brave to be more reliable for mitigating WebRTC leaks as opposed to using extensions.

Supposedly , Safari doesn't leak IP address information via WebRTC, but many users have experienced otherwise since WebRTC was first introduced into Safari.

Allegedly, WebRTC leaks allegedly only affect browsers on Windows platforms and potentially on Linux systems, depending on the distro. This claim is yet to be proven and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Apple was relatively "late" in implementing WebRTC in Safari on both its macOS and iOS platforms. Specifically, WebRTC was officially introduced with the release of Safari 11 on both desktop and mobile platforms, circa 2017 . At this point in time, many web browsers had long adapted and incorporated WebRTC into their source code.

Disabling WebRTC in Safari:

WebRTC reportedly doesn't leak your internal IP address on iOS. Source

You can still disable WebRTC related features by using the advanced settings for Safari:

  • Open the Settings app on your iDevice
  • Tap " Safari "
  • Scroll all the way down and tap " Advanced "
  • Tap " Experimental Features "
  • Disable anything with WebRTC in the name
  • Open Safari and test for leaks

NOTE: There does not appear to be a way to disable WebRTC outright in iOS. Supposedly this has been the case since the release of iOS 12.

  • Open Safari and navigate to Preferences
  • Click on the Advanced tab and then check Show Develop menu
  • Outside the preferences menu, navigate to Develop > Experimental Features
  • Check Remove Legacy WebRTC API
  • Close Safari. Open and then test for leaks

Re-testing for IP leaks

After adjusting settings accordingly, users will want to retest the browser for any leaks:

  • Ensure the correct settings are enabled (or extensions are installed and active).
  • Restart the browser
  • Re-test for leaks

Again, these are solid web tools for testing for WebRTC leaks:

Keep in mind that seeing the external (or public) IP address is fine in most cases if not behind a VPN.

Final thoughts

WebRTC leaks are silent and websites engaging in tracking and fingerprinting can just as silently pull information leaked via WebRTC traffic.

Even if using a VPN, users should take steps to address potential WebRTC from inside their chosen browsers. All browsers are subject to WebRTC leaks.

Preventing WebRTC leaks is a relatively painless way to improve any given user's online privacy.

Stay safe out there!

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VPNoverview.com Privacy Anonymous Browsing WebRTC and WebGL Leaks: How to Fix and Prevent Them

WebRTC and WebGL Leaks: How to Fix and Prevent Them

David Janssen

Countless users will tell you they downloaded a Virtual Private Network (VPN) so they can be more anonymous online . Whether it’s bypassing oppressive government censorship or dodging unwanted online trackers, protecting one’s identity has become paramount in today’s online world.

But two persistent and sneaky vulnerabilities remain — WebRTC (Real-Time Communication) and WebGL (Graphics Library) leaks. WebRTC can give away your true location through your IP address, while WebGL can leak information about your device. If you use a weak VPN service and standard settings on popular browsers (like Chrome) these leaks can still happen today. They can also put your privacy at risk through browser fingerprinting .

Our tests found that Surfshark and NordVPN consistently block WebRTC leaks.

If you’re looking to seal WebGL leaks, you’ll need to get a good private browser or adjust the settings on your current one. Whichever route you’d like to take, we’ve got you covered in our full guide below on WebRTC and WebGL leaks and how to fix and prevent them.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) protects your data from hackers, advertisers, and other unwanted online trackers while keeping your privacy intact. VPNs do this by encrypting your internet traffic and assigning you an anonymous IP address . Unfortunately, online surveillance techniques are constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated.

Not all VPNs are created equal, either. With a subpar service, parts of your identity could still be traced using browser fingerprinting , which makes use of WebRTC and WebGL leaks .

In this article, we’ll explain exactly what WebRTC and WebGL leaks are and why you need to be wary of them if you want to be completely anonymous online.

Browser Fingerprinting and WebRTC and WebGL Leaks

Browser fingerprinting icon

In order to protect your online privacy, you’ll have to stop this form of tracking. Browser fingerprinting attempts to assign a unique profile, or “fingerprint,” to your device based on your browser and settings.

Once you’ve been “fingerprinted,” online trackers can collect your internet patterns , behaviors , and interests — a serious privacy invasion that could be used for advertising or other purposes. WebRTC and WebGL form a crucial part of this fingerprint.

What are WebRTC and WebGL?

Security, audio and video icon

These plug-ins were introduced to enhance your overall browsing experience and provide compatibility with other programs. Unfortunately, they also decrease your online anonymity . While WebGL is generally a strong indicator of your browser’s capabilities and other hardware information, WebRTC will sometimes accidentally leak your real IP address — revealing your true location.

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication)

WebRTC is a critical software specification for incorporating real-time streaming elements between browsers and devices via the HTML5 standard. Essentially, it is needed for audio and video (peer-to-peer) communications on the web.

Thanks to modern APIs (bundled software functions) WebRTC enables you to video chat directly from your browser , so you don’t have to install video conferencing software, like Skype or Zoom.

WebGL (Web Graphics Library)

WebGL, on the other hand, enables hardware rendering of 3D graphics within your browser , if your computer is capable. While WebRTC leaks your public IP address, WebGL can leak information about your device’s hardware — like your device’s operating system (OS) and browser.

Websites use all of this information to construct the unique “fingerprint” used to identify you.

How Does WebRTC Leak My Real IP Address?

One of the main reasons people use a VPN is to hide their real IP address . This helps them remain anonymous and secure. But WebRTC has access to your real IP address . Once your browser asks for permission to connect to your camera or microphone, your public IP address has to be transmitted in order to establish the connection. This direct connection allows you to easily video chat within the browser, but it also betrays your real location.

Sometimes, the peer-to-peer functionality of WebRTC has to send out your real IP address in order to work in what is known as WebRTC peering. Some VPNs will hide a computer’s public IP address from WebRTC , but not all manage to do so.

Which VPNs Protect You Against WebRTC Leaks?

What to Look for When Choosing a VPN icon

Other VPN providers are capable of neutralizing WebRTC leaks but aren’t consistent enough to stop them entirely . Most budget or free VPN providers don’t even try to stop WebRTC leaks. If you’re looking for top-tier security and anonymity, this problem emphasizes the importance of choosing a reliable and established VPN , rather than just searching out a freebie.

Surfshark: Protection against WebRTC leaks, top speeds, best price

Screenshot of Surfshark VPN provider website homepage

Surfshark is one of the best VPN providers at the moment. It is also, interestingly enough, one of the cheapest. Throughout our tests (we’ll show you how to do those yourself later), it repeatedly kept us safe from WebRTC leaks . Surfshark also has over 3,200 servers in 65 countries around the world, all offering top speeds and secure connections.

It works with some of the strongest encryption protocols available and allows you to simultaneously connect with as many devices as you’d like. Surfshark is a great VPN for WebRTC leak protection , has top-of-the-line security features, great speeds, and an unbeatable price. You can try it out for 30 days by taking advantage of Surfshark’s free money-back guarantee .

Surfshark

  • Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
  • 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
  • Cheap with many extra options

NordVPN: Seals WebRTC leaks, top security protocols at lightning-fast speeds

Screenshot of NordVPN website homepage with added logo in the corner

NordVPN is another of our favorite, security-geared VPN services. It is affordable, offers over 5,400 servers in 50 countries all across the globe, and works on nearly all operating systems. They have a strict no-logging policy , and also prevent WebRTC leaks consistently and reliably , so you can be sure your data is safe and remains anonymous .

Besides that, NordVPN is easy to install and has a clear, user-friendly interface, making it pleasant software to use on a daily basis. You can try NordVPN out free for 30 days to see if you’d prefer its WebRTC protection over Surfshark’s.

NordVPN

  • Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
  • Perfect for privacy and streaming
  • Trusted by many, with over 14 million users

How Do I Check Whether My Browser is Leaking Private Information?

Image showing microscope looking at the folder

Check WebRTC leaks

If you’re checking for WebRTC leaks, it’s especially important to check if your real public IP address is exposed. When we used NordVPN and Surfshark on these sites, our WebRTC IP address showed up as the VPN’s anonymous IP, and not our true IP — which is exactly the outcome you want.

Your public IP address is the address you send out to any other online entities, such as websites, cookies, trackers, etc. Some of the best testing sites are:

  • Browserleaks (offers tests for WebRTC and WebGL leaks)

Check WebGL leaks

VPNs can protect your true location and identity, but unfortunately, WebGL can still give away some information on your hardware, like your browser and operating system. You can check exactly which information you’re leaking with Browserleaks . While WebGL doesn’t give away your IP address like WebRTC has a tendency to do, it does contribute to creating a unique browser fingerprint.

In the table below, you can see a number of WebGL functions taken from the Microsoft Edge browser as well as Firefox. Take notice that as Firefox is a more privacy-oriented browser, there are fewer functions than Edge.

How Do I Prevent WebRTC and WebGL Leaks?

Using a top-tier VPN service like Surfshark or NordVPN is the starting point for preventing WebRTC and WebGL leaks. These VPN providers have built-in protection against such leaks — especially WebRTC. However, VPNs cannot make up for all information points being leaked. This has to be manually adjusted by the user for each browser, to whatever extent is possible.

Of course, if you choose to use a subpar VPN, or no VPN at all, it’s necessary to download and install a special extension, like uBlock Origin.

uBlock Origin

webrtc leak prevent safari

To prevent potential WebRTC leaks, you can use uBlock Origin. This is a reliable and trusted adblocker that is often regarded as one of the best free adblockers on the market . It’s completely free to use and works on Safari, Opera, Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Epic Privacy Browser .

Simply download the extension to your browser, and you’re ready to go. You’ll be protected against most forms of online tracking and won’t have to see as many annoying ads as usual. uBlock Origin also easily disables the WebRTC functionality. All you have to do to make sure you’re protected is change a setting. Here’s how you do that:

  • Click on the extension in the top-right corner of your browser.
  • Click on the Settings icon on the far right, just below the big on/off switch.
  • Check the box “ Prevent WebRTC from leaking local IP address ,” which is the third item under the “ Privacy ” tab.

Once you’ve done this, you can rest assured your browser leak your local IP address by means of WebRTC. You can now re-check if you are leaking with one of the checkers linked above.

WebRTC and WebGL Protection By Browser

Your browser can make a real difference when it comes to the amount of WebGL information that is being sent out . Because of that, the steps you have to take to protect your online traffic from WebRTC and WebGL leaks differ depending on which browser you have.

Below, we’ll show you how to improve your privacy on the most popular browsers out there today.

Firefox Logo

We’re leading with Firefox because it’s the most easy-to-use, privacy-oriented browser we’ve come across. You can customize this browser as much as you’d like , and we’ve even compiled a complete guide on how to set up Firefox as an anonymous browser . Once you’ve changed those settings, only the Tor browser will offer more anonymity.

To withstand WebRTC and WebGL leaks and browser fingerprinting specifically, there are four important settings to tweak:

Setting 1: Block content and trackers

This setting will help you stop trackers and cookies from following you across the web. Click on the information symbol (the circle with the “i” in the middle) on the left side of the address bar. You’ll be shown this menu:

Firefox settings

Click on the wheel on the right side of “ Content Blocking ,” right next to “ Custom .” Select the option “ Custom ” and check the boxes before “ Trackers ,” “ Cryptominers ,” and “ Fingerprinters ” as shown in the image below.

Firefox content blocking

You could also check the box in front of “ Cookies ” and choose “ Cookies from unvisited websites ” from the dropdown menu. This stops cookies from websites you haven’t visited from tracking you across the web. It’s even possible to block all cookies from third-party trackers, but this will seriously limit the browser’s ability to load a large number of websites.

Setting 2: Turn off WebRTC functionality

To prevent WebRTC leaks, type in “ about:config ” in the browser’s address bar and press Enter . You’ll be shown a warning, stating that changes you make might derail the browser. As long as you follow the steps lined out here and don’t change any additional settings, you won’t have to worry.

Click past the warning and type “ media.peerconnection.enabled ” in the search bar, as shown in the picture below. This setting is by default set to “ True .” Right-click this setting and click “ Toggle ” to switch the value to “ False .”

Firefox toggle options

Setting 3: Turn off WebGL

Similarly to turning off WebRTC, you can disable WebGL by typing in “ about:config ” in the address bar and searching for “ webgl.disabled .” Toggle this setting to “ True ” by right-clicking on the toggle button to the right. Restart Firefox and you should’ve turned off WebGL.

Setting 4: Use the Trace extension

Trace is a browser extension that allows you to spoof different settings that make up your browser fingerprint . Although adding an extension to your browser goes a bit beyond changing basic settings, it can be very useful and we would heavily recommend it if you worry about browser fingerprinting.

The Trace extension gives you many different options to adjust your fingerprint. You can adjust your “Canvas,” “Audio,” “Screen Resolution,” “Hardware,” and many other functions. The picture below gives an idea of what this extension looks like.

Trace extension settings

Once you’ve added Trace to your browser, you can find the settings by clicking the extension in the top right corner. This will open a new tab, where you’ll have to click on Settings again.

Next, you can turn on “ Trace Features ,” “ WebRTC Protection ,” and “ WebGL Fingerprinting Protection .” Your browser fingerprint will now no longer be as unique as before, which increases your online privacy.

Google Chrome Logo

However, there are many options to improve Chrome’s security . The easiest way is to add a number of extensions that allow you to spoof your WebRTC and WebGL settings.

There are multiple options available for WebRTC spoofing. Simply pick one of the extensions listed below and add them to your browser.

  • WebRTC Protect
  • WebRTC Network Limiter
  • WebRTC Control
  • WebRTC Leak Prevent

At the time of writing, there is only one extension that effectively helps you tackle the WebGL problem, and that’s WebGL Fingerprint defender .

Brave browser logo

The Brave browser runs on Chromium, an open-source project by Google. This means that all Google Chrome extensions also work for Brave . If you want to make this browser safer by adding extensions, you can use all of the programs mentioned above.

Additionally, you can play around with the settings in Brave to better protect yourself against cookies, trackers, and WebRTC leaks . Here are a few ways in which you can do that:

  • Use an anonymous search engine such as DuckDuckGo , Qwant, and Startpage. Make sure to set it as your default search engine . Don’t use Google, as Google is one of the biggest data harvesters in the world.
  • Go to “ Settings ” by clicking on the three stripes in the top-right corner of your browser. Scroll down to the section “ Shields ” and enable “ Upgrade connections to HTTPS .” An HTTPS connection is safer than HTTP, so this option will help you protect your online privacy while browsing.
  • You could also check to see if you can “force” secure HTTPS connections under Privacy and Security if it is listed.
  • At the “ Cookies ” section of your settings, select “ Only block cross-site cookies .” This will keep websites from following you across different parts of the internet.
  • Scroll down and go to “ Additional Settings .” Check the option “ Safe Browsing ” if it is listed.
  • Minimize the chance of WebRTC leaks by selecting “ Disable non-proxied UDP ” underneath “ WebRTC IP Handling Policy .” You could also choose to select one of the less safe options, such as “ Default public interface only ” or “ Default public and private interfaces .” These options allow the browser to load certain WebRTC functions if a website requests it. However, they will also increase the risk of leaking private information. That’s why we recommend going for the safest option and disabling the function altogether.
  • Under the “ Shields ” tab you will find a “ Block fingerprinting ” option. Set that to “ Strict .”
  • In that same area, set “ Trackers & ads blocking ” to “ Aggressive .”
  • In the “ Privacy and security ” tab, untick any analytics, diagnostics and usage options .

Apple Safari Logo

The standard settings of Safari are set to block website requests that seek access to your camera or microphone. Default settings also hide your IP address. Because of that, you won’t have to worry too much about WebRTC leaking your real IP address .

Even so, you can completely disable WebRTC functionality in the settings, if you want to make sure your information stays safe. First, go to the Safari main menu. Under the “ Develop ” tab, go to the “ WebRTC ” tab and make sure “ Legacy API ” is disabled.

Secondly, in the settings, you can visit the “ Experimental Features ” section under the “ Develop ” tab. Here you can disable all features relating to WebRTC and WebGL except the “ profile 2 codec .” You can also disable the “ VP9 codec .” If for any reason you experience an issue with your browsing, write down what you’ve disabled so that you can turn it back on.

It’s also possible to install uBlock Origin. If you’re specifically looking for protection against potential WebGL fingerprinting, however, you’d be better off using a different browser.

webrtc leak prevent safari

Apart from adding uBlock Origin to your Opera browser, it’s also possible to alter the settings to increase your online safety.

To do so, type “ WebRTC ” into the search bar in the Settings menu. You will be shown four options, which correspond with four different levels of safety against WebRTC leaks. Set the WebRTC function to “ Turn off proxied UDB .” Just as is the case with the Brave browser, you could also pick one of the other three options. However, this does mean that your browsing experience will be slightly less safe.

Tor The Onion Router Logo

This browser also allows you to visit the dark web , although that can be very dangerous without taking the right safety measures .

Thankfully, the Tor browser is not susceptible to most WebRTC and WebGL leaks . The basic settings of Tor are so strict that the average user won’t need to install any extra extensions. Once you’ve turned off JavaScript in the “Safest” mode, you will be safe from most forms of online tracking.

However, the “Safer” mode will be more than enough for most. This doesn’t mean Tor is invulnerable to leaks or other vulnerabilities. If you want to learn more about these vulnerabilities, you can read our article on the safety of the Tor browser .

Microsoft Edge Logo

Microsoft Edge is undoubtedly the best and safest browser Microsoft has released so far. Unfortunately, Edge is less resistant to potential WebRTC and WebGL leaks than some other browsers. Edge uses these protocols by default and doesn’t allow you to disable them.

Should you want to continue using Edge, it’s best to protect yourself with other extensions such as uBlock Origin or the NordVPN browser extension.

Wrapping Up: Test Your Anonymity

The internet allows for a tremendous amount of information about its users to be stored and collected. This is done through website trackers, cookies, fingerprinting, and more. As a frequent internet user, it’s good to be aware of the different types of online identification that exist and the options available to protect yourself.

Each browser and VPN has its own strengths and weaknesses. We recommend checking out our list of the best internet browsers for your privacy , and couple that with either Surfshark or NordVPN , and you’ll be well-protected against WebRTC and WebGL leaks.

After you’ve made these tweaks, you can revisit one of the anonymity checking sites via the links above and see if your WebRTC leak is sealed, and your anonymity score has improved. Need one more tip for the road? Most browsers will even perform better when these adjustments are coupled with the “ Incognito ” or “Private” browsing modes.

Got a question about WebRTC or WebGL leaks? We may have answered it already below.

WebRTC (Real-Time Communication) is a plug-in to makes it possible to stream peer-to-peer audio and video directly through your browser, rather than a video calling app. While WebRTC makes video calls more convenient, it has been known to accidentally leak true IP addresses. If you need a VPN with full WebRTC protection, make sure to read our full guide on WebRTC and WebGL .

To disable WebRTC, you’ll need to adjust your browser settings. We’ve compiled step-by-step guides on how to tweak settings on popular browsers like Firefox, Chrome and Brave, among others, in our full guide on WebRTC and WebGL leaks . If you’re concerned about WebRTC leaks, there are only a select few VPNs that we’ve found consistently provide protection.

WebGL (Graphics Library) is a plug-in that enables hardware rendering of 3D graphics in your browser. Though this extension improves your browsing experience, WebGL can leak hardware information about your devices — such as its operating system and browser. Check our full guide on WebRTC and WebGL leaks for more information and fixes.

VPNs with weak security measures will not stop WebRTC leaks. You’ll need a premium service with high-level security protocols. We’ve found that NordVPN and Surfshark both offer consistent protection against WebRTC leaks, keeping your true IP address from being discovered by online trackers.

David Janssen

David Janssen Author

Cybersecurity analyst.

David is a cybersecurity analyst and one of the founders of VPNOverview. Since 2014 he has been gaining international experience working with governments, NGOs, and the private sector as a cybersecurity and VPN expert and advisor.

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Explain what the acronyms mean up front, at the top, otherwise we are left dangling, so to speak, without the key thing you are painstakingly explaining. Otherwise, thanks. Good stuff. Sad I have to lie and make up name and email. The whole point of visiting you is to maintain best practices before doing other things. Surrendering info unnecessarily results in the opposite. I do not like to lie at all. Roger?

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How to Disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Others

This is an estimated reading time to let you know how long it will take you to read all the content on this particular PrivacySavvy.com page. However, it has a sneak peek, easy guide steps, and/or a quick list providing quick in-page navigations and easily-found answers if desired.

This article provides steps on how to disable WebRTC from your browser. Learn all about this feature and why you may want to turn it off.

WebRTC constitutes a critical communication component for most web browsers, empowering users with audio/video communication functionalities. However, despite all its usefulness, it can threaten your online privacy by leaking your IP address, which can be big trouble for VPN users. Therefore, you should know how to disable WebRTC whenever you wish to go anonymous online. This guide elaborates on how to disable WebRTC on Firefox , Chrome , Safari , and other popular browsers.

Websites can take advantage of WebRTC technology to make a direct connection between your browser and its servers. These connections can potentially leak your IP address , thus rendering your VPN useless. Consequently, third parties such as hackers and advertisers can access your location, ISP, and device if they get your IP address.

WebRTC is intended to work on all browsers, so it doesn’t matter what you use. Fortunately, it is effortless to disable it.

Wondering how to do that? Don’t worry. This article explains the different ways to deactivate WebRTC to stay private online. You’ll also discover how a trustworthy VPN such as NordVPN will keep you safe.

Quick guide on how to disable WebRTC on popular browsers

  • Open the Chrome Web Store.
  • Search for ‘ WebRTC Control .’ 
  • Click ‘ Add to Chrome ’ and then ‘ Add Extension ’ to install the add-on. 
  • Right-click on the add-on icon to change its options.
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WebRTC Leaks: A Complete Guide

VPNs protect our online privacy by hiding our IP addresses, but did you know that there's a browser feature that can compromise our anonymity, even when we're connected to a VPN?

Aliza Vigderman

WebRTC Leaks

What is webrtc, the problem with webrtc.

  • How to Check for Leaks
  • How to Block Leaks
  • Disable WebRTC

This feature is WebRTC, and today, we’ll talk about everything there is to know about it. What is WebRTC? Why do WebRTC leaks happen? And most importantly, how can we protect ourselves from this vulnerability?

Kaspersky WebRTC Leak Test on Windows

To put it simply, WebRTC leaks can reveal your device’s public IP address, which is the unique identifier that your internet service provider assigned to your device.

That can be problematic, especially if you’re using a VPN. The whole point of using VPNs is to conceal your public IP addresses. If your browsers have WebRTC leaks, they could compromise your IP addresses anyway.

The result? Well, there are many things others can do with your IP address . For example:

  • Your internet service provider can track your online activity.
  • Governments can spy on you.
  • Cybercriminals can access or steal personal data.
  • Advertisers can send you personalized spam.

In short, WebRTC leaks pose big security risks. Not only that, but if you’re using VPNs to change your Netflix region and access georestricted content, WebRTC leaks can interrupt your bingeing sessions. No one wants that.

Know the Difference: Two or more devices can have the same private (local) IP address, but public (real) IP addresses are unique. That’s why concealing your public IP address is key to achieving online privacy.

To understand how risky WebRTC leaks are, we need to take a step back and talk about WebRTC first. WebRTC stands for Web Real-Time Communication. It’s a free and open-source project that provides web browsers and mobile apps with real-time communication capabilities. 1

If you’re a website or app developer, WebRTC makes it easier to build communication solutions. But even if you’re not, WebRTC benefits us, the end-users.

One of the features of WebRTC is that it allows direct communication between browsers or apps without an intermediate server. That translates to faster and less laggy transfers of video, audio, and large files, which is why WebRTC is popular among video chat, livestreaming, and file transfer services. Some of the apps that use WebRTC are:

  • Google Meet and Google Hangouts
  • Facebook Messenger
  • Amazon Chime

Connecting to Surfshark on Windows WebRTC Leak Test

As you can see, WebRTC is not necessarily a bad thing. However, if you want to hide your IP address , there might be a slight problem. You see, any two devices that use WebRTC to communicate need to know each other’s public IP addresses.

This is where WebRTC leaks come in. Third-party actors can exploit WebRTC communication channels to obtain the real IP addresses of the parties involved, which would be a privacy threat. WebRTC leaks can even bypass the encrypted tunnels of some VPNs.

To make matters even worse, the exchange of IP addresses between two devices is a part of WebRTC’s basic functionality; it’s not something you can disable or skip. So how can we protect ourselves from WebRTC leaks? There are two options:

  • Find and block WebRTC leaks
  • Disable WebRTC on your browser entirely

Note: Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, and Microsoft Edge are most vulnerable to WebRTC leaks because these browsers default to WebRTC.

How to Check for WebRTC Leaks

It’s pretty easy to check your browsers for WebRTC leaks.

  • How To Find Your Computer’s IP Address
  • How To Find Your Mac’s IP Address
  • How To Find Your iPhone’s IP Address
  • How To Find Your Router’s IP Address
  • How To Find Your Roku’s IP Address
  • How To Find Your Printer’s IP Address
  • Next, use the WebRTC leak test tool on ExpressVPN’s website. 2
  • If the IP address on the leak test tool matches your device’s IP address, then your browser might be leaking your IP address via WebRTC.

Remember that WebRTC is a browser feature, so if you use different browsers, be sure to test them all.

Performing a WebRTC Leak Test on the iPhone

How to Block WebRTC Leaks

Now, if your browser is leaking your IP address via WebRTC, you need to block the leak immediately. You can do that by using VPNs. Yes, we know, we said earlier that WebRTC leaks can bypass some VPNs, but only because not all VPNs pay attention to this type of leak.

That’s why, when we’re testing VPNs, we always perform WebRTC leak tests on them. For example, all the best VPNs in our book passed the WebRTC leak test. That means they allow WebRTC to function, but only through their encrypted tunnels. That way, outsiders and third parties can’t exploit WebRTC communication channels to obtain IP addresses.

To check if your VPN is capable of blocking WebRTC leaks, here’s what you should do.

How to Block WebRTC Leaks with a VPN

  • Disable your VPN .
  • Find and note your device's public IP address.
  • Turn your VPN back on.
  • Open your browser to ExpressVPN's WebRTC leak test tool.
  • If it's showing your device's real IP address from step two, then there is a leak. If it's showing a different IP address, then your VPN works.

If you find out that your VPN isn’t doing anything to prevent WebRTC leaks, you can contact your VPN provider and cancel your VPN service , switch to a new VPN, or proceed to the most surefire solution for WebRTC leaks: disabling WebRTC altogether.

Pro Tip: WebRTC leaks are one of the things we check when testing VPNs. Learn more about how we choose VPNs in our VPN guide .

How to Disable WebRTC

Before you disable WebRTC, keep in mind that doing so will prevent you from using the functionalities that come with it. That’s why we recommend trying VPNs first. VPNs will let you use WebRTC services but in a more secure way. If you’re sure you want to disable WebRTC, though, here’s how to do it.

Fun fact: Google is one of the major supporters of the WebRTC project, and as such, there is no way to disable WebRTC on Chrome permanently. That’s unfortunate; however, there are browser extensions that will let you manage or disable WebRTC temporarily.

  • WebRTC Network Limiter : This Google-made add-on doesn’t turn off WebRTC, but it reconfigures WebRTC’s traffic routing options. One of the things it does is that it requires WebRTC traffic to go through proxy servers, making it harder for anyone to steal IP addresses. 3 This is similar to what the best VPNs for Chrome do, but instead of encrypted tunnels, the WebRTC Network Limiter uses proxy servers.
  • WebRTC Control : This simple browser extension lets you turn WebRTC on and off. When WebRTC Control is on, your Chrome browser will stop using WebRTC.
  • WebRTC Leak Prevent : Similar to the WebRTC Network Limiter, this extension prevents WebRTC leaks by controlling hidden WebRTC privacy settings and routing options.
  • WebRTC Protect – Protect IP Leak : By default, this browser extension disables WebRTC. However, you can configure it to let you keep using WebRTC. If you do, it will control your WebRTC routing options, kind of like WebRTC Network Limiter.

Like Google, Mozilla Firefox is a heavy supporter of WebRTC. If VPNs for Firefox can’t prevent WebRTC leaks, you can turn off WebRTC entirely by following these steps:

  • Open Firefox.
  • Type about:config into the address bar.
  • Click I Accept The Risk!
  • Type media.peerconnection.enabled into the search bar.
  • Double-click the result to change the value from True to False.

Turning off WebRTC on Firefox

Lastly, here’s how to disable WebRTC on Microsoft Edge:

  • Type edge://flags into the address bar.
  • Look for Anonymize Local IPs Exposed By WebRTC.
  • Click the drop-down menu next to it and select Enable.
  • Edge will prompt you to restart the browser for the new settings to take effect.
  • Close and then reopen Edge.

Anonymize local IPs exposed by WebRTC on Edge

What About Device IDs?

Although the main issue with WebRTC leaks is the leakage of IP addresses, third parties can also use WebRTC to obtain some information about the media devices on your computer. These are your microphones, cameras, audio output, CD players, and others. For example, if you go to the Browser Leaks website, 4 which is another website that can detect WebRTC leaks, you can see what types of media devices are on your computer.

Fortunately, browsers don’t allow third parties to obtain device IDs, which are unique 16-digit codes specific to media devices. However, third parties can still see what types of media devices you have, as well as the hashes that your browser generates in place of device IDs.

And since these browser-generated hashes change only when you clear your browsing data, it could only be a matter of time until someone figures out a way to use that information against you. The good news is, blocking WebRTC leaks, either by using VPNs or disabling WebRTC, prevents these pieces of information from leaking.

Despite all the good things WebRTC brings — faster livestreaming, less laggy video communication, smoother file transfers — we can’t ignore the threat that its leaks pose to our privacy. As we always say, privacy is everything and we can never be too secure online. While we wait for WebRTC developers to come up with solutions for WebRTC leaks, our best bets for now are to use reliable VPNs or to disable WebRTC entirely.

To sum everything up, let's answer some FAQs about WebRTC and WebRTC leaks.

You can fix WebRTC leaks by either using a VPN that blocks WebRTC leaks or disabling WebRTC on your browsers entirely. The former is the best solution if you want to enjoy all the functionalities that come with WebRTC, but with better security. VPNs that block WebRTC leaks allow WebRTC to work on your browser, but only through encrypted tunnels. That prevents anyone from stealing your IP address by exploiting WebRTC communications.

To stop WebRTC from leaking in Chrome, you can use a VPN whenever you use Chrome. VPNs route WebRTC communications through encrypted tunnels, preventing WebRTC leaks. You can also use Chrome extensions like WebRTC Network Limiter, which reconfigures the routing options of WebRTC to make them more secure, or WebRTC Control to turn WebRTC on and off at will.

That depends. You shouldn’t turn off WebRTC on your browser if you use websites or services that rely on WebRTC, like Google Hangouts, Google Meets, or Facebook Messenger. However, if the services you use don’t use WebRTC, turning off the feature prevents WebRTC leaks entirely.

You can find out if WebRTC is leaking by following these simple steps:

  • Find and note your device’s public IP address.
  • Go to ExpressVPN’s WebRTC leak test website or any online tool that detects WebRTC leaks.
  • If your public IP address matches the IP address on the website, then your WebRTC is leaking.

WebRTC.org. (2021). Real-time communication for the web . webrtc.org/

ExpressVPN. (2021). WebRTC Leak Test . expressvpn.com/webrtc-leak-test

Chrome Store. (2021). WebRTC Network Limiter . chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/webrtc-network-limiter/npeicpdbkakmehahjeeohfdhnlpdklia?hl=en

BrowserLeaks.com. (2021). WebRTC Leak Test . browserleaks.com/webrtc

ExpressVPN security tools

  • IP Address Checker
  • DNS Leak Test

WebRTC Leak Test

  • Password Generator

ExpressVPN not connected Connected Connected

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You may be leaking private information, even if you’re connected to a VPN.

Verify you’re safe using the instructions below .

Try opening this page in a new tab . If you still see a leak, your app may be out of date.

Please refresh the page to try again.

Your browser is not leaking your IP address to the websites you visit.

Prevent WebRTC leaks:

Update your app:

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WebRTC exposed IP addresses

Your browser is exposing these IPs to websites you visit:

No WebRTC leak detected

ExpressVPN is protecting you from WebRTC leaks.

WebRTC not available

Your browser doesn't support WebRTC or WebRTC has been disabled.

WebRTC Leak Test incomplete

Learn how to disable WebRTC:

How to use the WebRTC leak checker

What’s the difference between public and local ip addresses.

When you use the leak checker you’ll see two classes of IP addresses displayed: public and local .

Diagram showing local IPs, which can’t be used to identify you, and public IPs, which can

Public IPs are highly specific to you. They form part of your identity on the internet. When you use a VPN, sites see the VPN server’s public IP address instead of yours, and your identity is protected.

However, if WebRTC detects your real public IP address when you’re connected to a VPN, as opposed to the VPN server’s, then third parties can still use it to identify you. If you see a public IP in the test results, then you may have a privacy leak.

Local IPs are not specific to you. These IPs are assigned to you by your router and are reused millions of times by routers all over the world. So if a third party knows your local IP address, it has no way of linking it directly to you. If you see a local IP in the test results, it is not a threat to your privacy.

5 steps to test for a WebRTC leak (with and without VPN)

If you’re not using a VPN you will undoubtedly be exposing some private information to third parties. (Want to learn more? See how a VPN hides your IP address to keep your information private .)

If you are using a VPN and the leak tool indicates there may be a leak, then you can perform the following leak test to be sure:

Disconnect from your VPN and open this page in a new tab or window

Make a note of any public IP addresses you see

Close the page

Connect to your VPN and reopen the page

If you still see any of the public IP addresses from Step 2, then you have a privacy leak

If you’re using a VPN and the tool specifically tells you there is no leak, you’re safe!

Want to check for other privacy leaks? Try these tools:

What is WebRTC?

Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is a collection of standardized technologies that allows web browsers to communicate with each other directly without the need for an intermediate server. Benefits of WebRTC include: faster speeds and less lag for web apps like video chat, file transfer, and live streaming.

Diagram showing how WebRTC lets web browsers talk to each other directly without a server in between

Any two devices talking to each other directly via WebRTC, however, need to know each other’s real IP addresses. In theory this could allow a third-party website to exploit the WebRTC in your browser to detect your real IP address and use it to identify you. This is what we call a WebRTC leak.

Any leak of your public IP address is a threat to your privacy , but WebRTC leaks are lesser-known and easily overlooked, and not all VPN providers protect you from them!

How does a WebRTC leak put my privacy at risk?

The problem with WebRTC is that it uses techniques to discover your IP addresses that are more advanced than those used in “standard” IP detection.

How does WebRTC detect my IPs?

WebRTC discovers IPs via the Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) protocol. This protocol specifies several techniques for discovering IPs, two of which are covered below.

STUN/TURN servers

STUN/TURN servers play two key roles in WebRTC: They allow web browsers to ask the question “What are my public IPs?” and they also facilitate two devices talking to each other even if they are behind NAT firewalls. The former is the one that can affect your privacy. STUN/TURN servers discover your IPs much as a website sees your IPs when you visit it.

Host candidate discovery

Most devices have multiple IP addresses associated with their hardware. Usually these are hidden from websites and STUN/TURN servers via firewalls. However, the ICE protocol specifies that browsers can gather these IPs simply by reading them off your device.

The IPs most commonly associated with your device are local IPv4 addresses, and discovery of them won’t affect your privacy. If you have IPv6 addresses, however, then your privacy could be at risk.

IPv6 addresses don’t work quite the same as IPv4 addresses. Generally, an IPv6 address is a public one (which means it is unique to you). If you have an IPv6 address associated with your device, and it is discovered via ICE, then your privacy could be exposed.

A malicious website could use STUN/TURN servers or host candidate discovery to trick your browser into revealing an IP address that could identify you, all without your knowledge.

WebRTC leaks: Which browsers are most vulnerable?

As of this writing, users of Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Microsoft Edge are most vulnerable to WebRTC leaks because these browsers have WebRTC enabled by default.

Microsoft Edge

Mozilla firefox, google chrome.

Browsers that are most vulnerable to WebRTC leaks

Note that you may be safe from WebRTC leaks in one browser and not in another. If you regularly use multiple browsers, then you should consider using the ExpressVPN WebRTC Leak Test on each of them.

What does ExpressVPN do to protect me from WebRTC leaks?

ExpressVPN works hard to ensure its apps protect you from WebRTC leaks. When you open new web pages while connected to ExpressVPN, your public IP addresses won’t leak.

Some browsers, however, can be aggressive when it comes to holding onto data from old tabs. If you have a tab open from before you connected to the VPN, your real IP address may be cached in memory by the browser. These IPs can persist even if you refresh the tab, which puts your privacy at risk.

The ExpressVPN browser extension (currently available for Chrome , Firefox , and Edge ) solves this problem by letting you completely disable WebRTC from the settings menu, which will ensure that you’re not vulnerable to any caching issues.

How ExpressVPN’s dedicated leak-proofing engineers keep you safe

ExpressVPN protects you from a wide spectrum of WebRTC leaks across different browsers and platforms. Because WebRTC is still a relatively new technology, it’s important to continually test different scenarios for WebRTC leaks across different platforms and browsers. ExpressVPN leads the industry with a team of dedicated engineers who constantly investigate new leak vectors and rapidly develop any necessary fixes.

Learn more about ExpressVPN’s latest leak-proofing developments.

How else can I prevent WebRTC leaks?

In addition to using ExpressVPN, you may be able to guard against leaks by manually disabling WebRTC in your browser.*

How to disable WebRTC in Firefox on desktop

  • Type about:config into the address bar
  • Click the “I accept the risk!” button that appears
  • Type media.peerconnection.enabled in the search bar
  • Double-click to change the Value to “false”

This should work on both mobile and desktop versions of Firefox.

How to disable WebRTC in Chrome on desktop

There are two Chrome extensions known to successfully block WebRTC leaks:

  • uBlock Origin
  • WebRTC Network Limiter

uBlock Origin is a general all-purpose blocker that blocks ads, trackers, malware, and has an option to block WebRTC. WebRTC Network Limiter is an official Google add-on that specifically stops IP leaks without totally blocking WebRTC.

How to disable WebRTC in Safari on desktop

There’s no need to disable WebRTC in Safari. Safari’s permissions model is stricter than those of most browsers. By default, no IP addresses are made available to websites except the one you use to access the site. Therefore you shouldn’t need to take any additional action to prevent WebRTC leaks in Safari. Note, however, that if you grant any particular site permission to use audio or video capture, you might expose your IPs.

How to disable WebRTC in Opera on desktop

  • Open Settings in Opera. To do this:
  • On Windows or Linux, click the Opera logo at the top-left corner of the browser window
  • On Mac, click Opera in the toolbar and locate settings under Preferences
  • Expand the Advanced section on the left-hand side and click Privacy & security
  • Scroll down to WebRTC and select the Disable non-proxied UDP radio button
  • Close the tab and the settings should automatically save

How to disable WebRTC in Microsoft Edge

Unfortunately, there’s currently no way to completely disable WebRTC in Microsoft Edge. However, you can set your browser to hide your local IP address if you:

  • Type about:flags into the address bar
  • Check the option marked Hide my local IP address over WebRTC connections

As mentioned above, revealing your local IP address is not a threat to your privacy, so the steps above offer little benefit. Therefore the best way to stop WebRTC leaks while using Microsoft Edge is by using the ExpressVPN app for Windows .

*Disabling WebRTC probably won’t affect normal web browsing. Most websites don’t depend on it… yet. But as WebRTC becomes more popular, the functionality of certain sites may decline if you disable it completely.

What if I’m connected to ExpressVPN, and I still see a WebRTC leak on this page?

Contact ExpressVPN Support , and we’ll get that sorted out promptly.

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How to Disable WebRTC in Safari for iPhone

Are you looking for a way to disable WebRTC in Safari on your iPhone? WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a free, open-source project that enables real-time communication between web browsers and devices. Unfortunately, it can also leak your IP address and other sensitive information if not properly configured. In this blog post we’ll show you how to disable WebRTC in Safari on your iPhone.

The first step is to make sure your device is running the latest version of iOS. Then open the «Settings» app and tap «Safari». Tap «Advanced» and enable the «Show Develop menu in menu bar» option. Now you’ll see a new menu item called «Develop» in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

Next, tap «Develop» and select «Experimental Features». Scroll down until you find the WebRTC section and toggle off all options related to WebRTC such as ICE Candidate Filtering and Media Source Extensions (MSE). This will effectively disable all WebRTC features in Safari on your iPhone.

That’s it! You have now successfully disabled WebRTC in Safari on your iPhone. Keep in mind that this is an experimental feature so it may not work with all websites or services, but it should be enough to protect most of your online activity from leaking sensitive information such as your IP address or other identifying information.

We hope this blog post has been helpful for disabling WebRTC in Safari on your iPhone. If you have any questions or concerns abot this feature, feel free to leave us a comment below!

How to Disable WebRTC in Safari for iPhone 1

Enabling WebRTC in Safari

To enable WebRTC in Safari, firt open the Preferences menu by clicking Safari in the top left corner and selecting Preferences from the dropdown menu. Then go to Advanced and enable the option Show Develop menu in the menu bar.

Next, open the Develop menu and select Experimental Features. In there, search for WebRTC and check the box next to it to turn it on. Once you have done that, WebRTC will be enabled in Safari.

Stopping WebRTC

To stop WebRTC, you can use the Avast SecureLine VPN browser extension. This free browser extension is availble for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and it blocks WebRTC. To install it, open the Avast SecureLine VPN app on your device, then select the “SecureLine Browser Extension” option from the main menu. Follow the prompts to install the extension in your preferred browser. Finally, enable the WebRTC Blocker feature within the extension settings to effectively stop WebRTC.

Does iOS Safari Support WebRTC?

No, iOS Safari does not currently support WebRTC. WebRTC is a web technology that allows for real-time communication between two devices in the form of peer-to-peer connections. The Safari 10 browser does not have native support for this technology, altough it can be enabled through third-party plugins and extensions. As of now, the only way to enable WebRTC on iOS Safari is through these third-party plugins. It is important to note that due to the lack of native support, users may experience certain limitations when using these plugins.

Understanding WebRTC on iPhone

WebRTC is a streaming protocol that enables real-time communication between mobile applications and web browsers, including those on iPhones. It was first released in 2011 and is now supported by all major modern browsers, including Safari on iPhones. WebRTC provides a variety of functionalities, such as voice calling, video conferencing, file sharing, text messaging, and more. With WebRTC, developers can create apps that run smoothly across different platforms and devices without having to rewrite code for each platform. Additionally, WebRTC is an open-source technology that encourages collaboration between developers and offers them access to the latest advancements in real-time communication.

Disabling WebRTC in Safari

In order to disable WebRTC in Safari, you will need to open the Settings application on your iOS device. Once you are in the Settings app, find and tap the Safari option. After that, tap on the Advanced option followed by Experimental Features. This will bring up a switch that you can use to turn off Legacy WebRTC API. After this is done, the switch will turn green to indicate that WebRTC has been successfully disabled for the current session.

Does iOS 13 Support WebRTC?

Yes, iOS 13 does support WebRTC. WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is an open source framework for enabling web browsers and mobile applications to communicate using real-time data streaming. This allows for audio and video calls, as well as data sharing within a browser. The support for WebRTC in iOS 13 is limited to Safari; othr browsers do not yet have support for WebRTC on iOS devices.

Blocking WebRTC on an iPhone

If you’re using iOS 13 or below, you can block WebRTC on your iPhone by going to the Settings app, tapping on Safari, scrolling all the way down, and then tapping on Advanced. Under Experimental features, toggle off the switch for WebRTC mDNS ICE candidates. This will prevent websites from accessing your device’s local IP address and location information. However, if you’re using an updated version of iOS (iOS 14 or later), thee is no option to disable WebRTC directly on your device. Instead, you’ll need to use a third-party browser such as Firefox that offers an option to block WebRTC requests in its settings menu.

disable webrtc safari iphone

Should I Disable WebRTC?

It is a good idea to turn off WebRTC if you are concerned about protecting your privacy and security. WebRTC is a technology that allows websites and applications to access certain information about your network, such as your IP address, even if you are usng a VPN or proxy. This could potentially lead to sensitive information being exposed, and also give malicious actors a way to track you online. Disabling WebRTC can help protect your privacy by blocking websites from accessing information about your network. It can also help improve the performance of some applications, as not having to deal with the extra data exchanged through the WebRTC protocols can make them run smoother.

In conclusion, WebRTC is not supported on iOS devices. To disable WebRTC on Safari for iPhone, you will need to install the Avast SecureLine VPN browser extension and enable the WebRTC Blocker feature. This will prevent potential data leaks, keeping your data and browsing sessions secure while using Safari on your iPhone.

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webrtc leak prevent safari

WebRTC is often talked about on VPN Websites. WebRTC is a Technology that allows your Browser to have Video and Voice Communication Abilities. When you use Google Meet to hold a Video Conference, you’re using WebRTC. The same is with the Facebook Messenger Video Call. There are other Applications that make use of WebRTC. For Example, if you’re on Discord. It enables live Communications in real Time.

What is WebRTC Leak?

WebRTC works by sending Audio/Video Feeds between two Entities. This means your Browser will share some of your Information with the Website, which will include your IP Address. And these Channels can bypass the encrypted Tunnel you have Setup. So basically, a WebRTC Leak can reveal your real IP Address even if you are using a VPN.

How to know about a WebRTC Leak?

To see if your IP is leaked go to IPLEAK.NET . If you see your real IP on the Website, your IP is being leaked. If you can see the IP Address of the VPN Server, you’re safe and your browsing is secure.

WebRTC Leaks can be blocked

One Way is by getting a VPN that doesn’t allow these Leaks. Another Option is to block the WebRTC Requests directly from the Browser. You can also use browser Extensions if you cannot disable WebRTC.
Keep in Mind that if you disable WebRTC, you won’t be able to enjoy the Functionalities that come with it.

Disabling WebRTC in Chrome:

You cannot disable WebRTC in Chrome. The only thing you can do is use Add-ons. A good Chrome Add-on is WebRTC Leak Prevent . It controls the hidden WebRTC Settings and protects you against the Leaks.

Disabling WebRTC in Chrome Mobile

  • Type this URL: chrome://flags/#disable-webrtc in your Android Chrome Address Bar. It will open a Settings Page
  • Scroll down and you’ll find WebRTC STUN Origin Header. You can disable it here
  • You can even disable WebRTC Hardware Video Encoding and decoding Options if you want

Disabling WebRTC in Mozilla Firefox:

  • Go to the URL Bar, type about:config and press Enter
  • Firefox will display a Warning Message. Click on Accept the Risk and Continue
  • It will take you to another Page. In the Search Bar, type: media.peerconnection.enabled
  • Double click on the Row and change its Value to "false". Now WebRTC will be disabled.

Disabling WebRTC on Safari Browser:

  • On Safari, visit Preferences
  • Check Show Develop menu in menu bar
  • In the Develop Section, go to Experimental Features
  • Click on Remove Legacy WebRTC API

Disabling WebRTC in Opera:

Opera doesn’t have a Way to disable WebRTC. You can use third-party Addons like WebRTC Leak Prevent just like you did with Chrome. Keep in mind that these Extensions do not fix the Leak. Instead, they block the Attempts the Websites make to collect IP Addresses.

Disabling WebRTC on Microsoft Edge:

  • Open Edge and type: about:flags in the Address Bar & press Enter
  • You’ll see WebRTC here. Under that, there’s an Option to hide your real IP Address. Check the Box: Hide my local IP address over WebRTC connections to activate.

How to stay secure:

Make sure you use a VPN. The VPN should be able to bypass the WebRTC Leak. With a VPN, you can use a Secure Browsers like LibreWolf that does not keep any of your Details.

List of available regions

Main regions.

  • Worldwide (English)
  • Europe (English)
  • América Latina (español)
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (français)
  • EE.UU. (español)
  • México
  • USA (English)
  • België (Nederlands)
  • Belgique (français)
  • Česká republika
  • Deutschland
  • España
  • Magyarország
  • Schweiz (Deutsch)
  • Slovensko (česky)
  • South Africa
  • Suisse (français)
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  • ประเทศไทย

Please enable JavaScript

For the best support center experience, javascript must be turned on in your browser settings, enabling javascript and cookies in your web browser, preventing webrtc leaks.

In most web browsers, Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) leaks can cause your IP address to be visible, even when you are connected to Avast SecureLine VPN. You can prevent WebRTC leaks by blocking or disabling WebRTC.

To block or disable WebRTC in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox , use one of the methods below:

Use the SecureLine browser extension

Disable webrtc in your browser.

Alternatively, you can avoid the vulnerability by using a browser that does not apply WebRTC, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Safari .

The latest version of Avast SecureLine VPN includes a browser extension that blocks WebRTC for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox .

Ensure that you have installed the SecureLine browser extension and enabled the WebRTC Blocker feature. For instructions, refer to the following article:

  • Installing the Avast SecureLine VPN browser extension on Windows and Mac

If you do not want to use the SecureLine browser extension , you can install a third-party browser extension on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox , or disable WebRTC manually.

Google Chrome

You can install free third-party extensions that block or disable WebRTC via the Chrome Store . We suggest trying the following extensions:

  • WebRTC Network Limiter
  • WebRTC Leak Shield

As a more extreme measure, you can install an extension that blocks all scripts. This increases privacy but may significantly decrease browser functionality, as many websites rely on scripts to load properly. We suggest trying the following extension:

You can install free third-party extensions that block or disable WebRTC via the Chrome Store . We recommend trying the following extensions:

  • WebRTC Leak Prevent

Mozilla Firefox

You can install free third-party extensions that block or disable WebRTC via FireFox Browser Add-ons . We suggest trying the following extensions:

  • Disable WebRTC
  • WebRTC Control
  • NoScript Security Suite

Alternatively, you can manually block WebRTC in Firefox settings:

webrtc leak prevent safari

WebRTC is now blocked in Mozilla Firefox.

webrtc leak prevent safari

  • Avast SecureLine VPN 5.x for Windows
  • Avast SecureLine VPN 4.x for Mac
  • Microsoft Windows 10 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education - 32 / 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 8.1 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 8 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate - Service Pack 1, 32 / 64-bit  
  • Apple macOS 11.x (Big Sur)
  • Apple macOS 10.15.x (Catalina)
  • Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave)
  • Apple macOS 10.13.x (High Sierra)
  • Apple macOS 10.12.x (Sierra)

Updated on: 6/2/22

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Kingpin Private Browser

How to disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera and Edge

How to disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge

You might have heard about WebRTC leak and ways to prevent it. WebRTC is often talked about on VPN websites. What exactly is WebRTC and what’s the havoc it causes?

WebRTC is a technology that allows your browser to have video and voice communication abilities. It might seem like an annoyance when you think about the leaks it causes, but it’s actually a great technology.

Try Kingpin Private Browser for Free »

When you use Google Meet to hold a video conference, you’re using WebRTC. The same is with the Facebook Messenger video call. There are other applications that make use of WebRTC. For example, if you’re on Discord, you use WebRTC. 

Basically, if you’re voice or video calling on your browser, you’re using WebRTC. Without this feature, your browser will be severely limited in its abilities. And with this feature, you don’t need any extra plugins for voice and video communication.

All major browsers ( Mozilla Firefox , Google Chrome , MS Edge , Apple Safari , Opera , etc.) come with WebRTC capabilities. In fact, it is used in many mobile apps as well. It is a completely free technology and is open source. Since it is open source, it is improving and evolving to offer better services.

It enables live communications in real time. 

Now, what is WebRTC leak?

WebRTC works by sending audio/video feeds between two entities. For this, it established communication channels from the browser to the website you open. This means your browser will share some of your information with the website, which will include your IP address. And these channels can bypass the encrypted tunnel you have setup. So basically, a WebRTC leak can reveal your real IP address even if you are using a VPN.

Imagine this scenario: You’re using a VPN and want to have a voice call with someone so you need to use WebRTC. But it will leak some data so your real IP will get shown on the website side. This beats the entire purpose of using a VPN. A channel that bypassed the tunnel you’ve created – it’s scary.

How to know about a WebRTC leak?

To see if your IP is leaked, just connect to a server and run a leak test . If you see your real IP on the website, your IP is being leaked. But if you can see the IP address of the VPN server, you’re safe and your browsing is secure.

What to do if your WebRTC is leaking your details?

The good thing is that WebRTC leaks can be blocked.

Here’s how you can block the WebRTC leak

There are many ways to block the WebRTC leak. One way is by getting a VPN that doesn’t allow these leaks. These VPNs will let WebRTC work but only through the encrypted tunnel.

Another option is to block the WebRTC requests directly from the browser. You can also use browser extensions if you cannot disable WebRTC. 

Keep in mind that if you disable WebRTC, you won’t be able to enjoy the functionalities that come with it. 

Disabling WebRTC in Chrome

You cannot disable WebRTC in Chrome. The only thing you can do is use add-ons. A good Chrome add-on is WebRTC Leak Prevent which is fast and powerful. It controls the hidden WebRTC settings and protects you against the leaks. Of course, when you use this, you won’t be able to use a WebRTC based service.

disable WebRTC in Chrome browser - install addon WebRTC Leak Prevent

Disabling WebRTC in Chrome mobile

1. type this url chrome://flags/#disable-webrtc in your android chrome address bar. it will open a settings page. , 2. scroll down and you’ll find webrtc stun origin header. you can disable it here. , 3. you can even disable webrtc hardware video encoding and decoding options if you want.  , disabling webrtc in mozilla firefox.

webrtc leak prevent safari

1. Go to the URL bar, type about:config and press enter

2. firefox will display a warning message. click on i accept., 3. it will take you to another page. in the search bar, type media.peerconnection.enabled, 4. double click on the row and change its value to false.

Now WebRTC will be disabled on the browser. 

Disabling WebRTC in Opera

Opera doesn’t have a way to disable WebRTC so you can use third-party addons like WebRTC Leak Prevent just like you did with Chrome. Keep in mind that these extensions do not fix the leak. Instead, they block the attempts the websites make to collect IP addresses.

disable WebRTC in Opera browser - use addon WebRTC Leak Prevent

So even if you use these extensions, the website might be able to get your data through cookies. However, if you use a safe browser like Kingpin that deletes cookies after each session closes, your data will be safe and you won’t be tracked by website trackers.

Disabling WebRTC on Safari browser

1. on safari, visit preferences preferences”>, 2. visit the advanced tab and go to the box given at the bottom that says show developer menu, 3. in the develop section, go to experimental features remove legacy webrtc api”>, 4. click on remove legacy webrtc api, disabling webrtc on microsoft edge.

You’ll find WebRTC and ORTC (Microsoft’s proprietary version of WebRTC) on Edge. While you cannot disable it on Edge, you can certainly hide your real IP address. Here’s how you can do it.

1. Visit MS Edge and type about:flags in the address bar. Press enter.

2. you’ll see webrtc here. under that, there’s an option to hide your real ip address. check the box to activate it., will it work if you install vpn on the router instead of the browser.

You might think WebRTC leaks happen because you’re using a VPN plugin on your browser. But that’s not true. Even if you use a VPN on your router, it will do nothing to fix the leak issue. You’ll need to follow the methods discussed above.

How to stay secure

To stay secure online, make sure you use a VPN. And the VPN should be able to bypass the WebRTC leak. With a VPN, you can use a secure browser like Kingpin that does not keep any of your details. There is absolutely no history on records and it’s like you’re on incognito all the time.

Of course, you can disable WebRTC on several browsers but there are many steps involved. Also, after disabling WebRTC, you might not be able to enjoy the internet as you do now. A better option is to use a trusted VPN.

When selecting a VPN, read their reviews about WebRTC and discuss it with their customer service. If they confirm that they’re able to block WebRTC leaks, only then get that VPN. And to be secure, you can get a VPN that offers a money back guarantee so that if their claims don’t work, you can claim a refund.

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Microsoft Edge vs. Google Chrome, which browser is better?

Item logo image for WebRTC Leak Prevent

WebRTC Leak Prevent

310 ratings

Prevent WebRTC leaks using the official API.

Prevent WebRTC leaks in Chrome by controlling hidden WebRTC privacy settings. This will protect against WebRTC leaks. Test for leaks here - https://diafygi.github.io/webrtc-ips/ Compatible only with Chrome version 42+, and Chromium browsers based on 42+. Newer options require at least Chrome version 48. ISSUES/CLARIFICATION WebRTC-based services may be affected by this extension. Please open the options page and read the instructions before leaving a review. GitHub source - https://github.com/aghorler/WebRTC-Leak-Prevent CHANGELOG 1.0.13/14 - Save options automatically. 1.0.12 - Bind open options functionality to toolbar icon. 1.0.11 - Options now open automatically on first install, new description.

4.0 out of 5 310 ratings Google doesn't verify reviews. Learn more about results and reviews.

Review's profile picture

Jobo Technopeasant Apr 12, 2023

Is this supposed work without a VPN? IP still visible and both WEBRTC tests are still TRUE according to https://browserleaks.com/webrtc after restarting CHROME 112 on WIN10 Tried both public and private interface options. In-extension link to github is broken.

Review's profile picture

Tradster Mar 16, 2023

Review's profile picture

Arul R Feb 20, 2023

IP Address is not leaked while using this. This actually works for me, unlike "WebRTC Network Limiter". I'd suggest testing whether it works for you or not, using https://browserleaks.com/webrtc.

  • Version 1.0.14
  • Updated June 14, 2021
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  • Offered by Aaron Horler
  • Size 16.78KiB
  • Languages English
  • Developer Email [email protected]
  • Non-trader This developer has not identified itself as a trader. For consumers in the European Union, please note that consumer rights do not apply to contracts between you and this developer.

This developer declares that your data is

  • Not being sold to third parties, outside of the approved use cases
  • Not being used or transferred for purposes that are unrelated to the item's core functionality
  • Not being used or transferred to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes

For help with questions, suggestions, or problems, visit the developer's support site

webrtc leak prevent safari

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Chrome History Cleaner

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Canvas Blocker - Fingerprint Protect

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WebRTC Control

Have control over WebRTC (disable | enable) and protect your IP address.

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WebRTC Leak Shield

Disable WebRTC and prevent IP leak.

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Browser Fingerprint Protector

Prevents browser fingerprinting by spoofing your plugins, languages and user agent

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WebRTC Leak Prevent Toggle

Toggle WebRTC leak prevention using the official API.

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WebRTC Protect - Protect IP Leak

Hides your private and public IP addresses by configuring how WebRTC's network traffic is routed.

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WebRTC Network Limiter

Configures how WebRTC's network traffic is routed by changing Chrome's privacy settings.

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Easy WebRTC Block

The easiest way to prevent WebRTC Leaks

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Disable Webrtc: The Ultimate Guide To Webrtc Disabling Methods

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By Markus Winkelhock

January 14, 2024

WebRTC, an acronym for Web Real-Time Communication, is a powerful technology that allows browsers to establish audio, video, and data communication without the need for plugins or external software. While WebRTC enables convenient and seamless communication over the internet, it also poses certain risks to your privacy and security.

What is WebRTC?

WebRTC is a collection of communication protocols and APIs that enable real-time communication between web browsers. It allows users to make audio and video calls, share files, and transfer data directly through their browsers without the need for additional software or plugins.

Explanation of WebRTC and its function

WebRTC operates by establishing a peer-to-peer connection between browsers without the need for central servers. It utilizes various protocols such as ICE, STUN, and TURN to facilitate communication between devices, handling network address translation (NAT) and firewall traversal.

Why Disable WebRTC?

While WebRTC offers convenience, it also poses potential privacy risks. One of the primary concerns is that WebRTC can leak your real IP address, even if you are using a VPN. This means that websites and services can potentially track your location and identify you.

The Risks and Privacy Concerns Associated with WebRTC

When WebRTC is enabled, websites can use JavaScript to query your browser for your IP address. This information can be used to track your online activities, compromise your anonymity, and potentially lead to targeted attacks. Additionally, WebRTC leaks can bypass VPN protection and expose your actual IP address, undermining your privacy efforts.

How to Disable WebRTC on Different Browsers

Fortunately, disabling WebRTC is possible on most popular browsers. Here are the steps to disable WebRTC on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari:

Steps to Disable WebRTC on Google Chrome

  • Open Google Chrome and type “chrome://flags” in the address bar.
  • Search for “WebRTC” using the search bar on the page.
  • Disable the option for “Enable WebRTC Stun origin header” by selecting “Disabled” from the dropdown menu.
  • Restart Google Chrome for the changes to take effect.

Steps to Disable WebRTC on Mozilla Firefox

  • Launch Mozilla Firefox and enter “about:config” in the address bar.
  • Accept the warning and proceed.
  • In the search bar, type “media.peerconnection.enabled”.
  • Double-click on the preference to set its value to “false”.

Steps to Disable WebRTC on Microsoft Edge

  • Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
  • Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
  • Scroll down to the “Privacy, search, and services” section and click on “Privacy and services”.
  • Under the “WebRTC” section, toggle the switch to “Off”.

Steps to Disable WebRTC on Safari

  • Launch Safari and click on “Safari” in the top menu bar.
  • Select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu, and then click on the “Advanced” tab.
  • Check the box that says “Show Develop menu in menu bar”.
  • Now click on “Develop” in the top menu bar and select “Disable WebRTC”.

Additional Measures to Enhance WebRTC Privacy

While disabling WebRTC is an effective step in protecting your privacy, you can take additional measures to further enhance your online security:

Using VPN to Protect Against WebRTC Leaks

Using a reliable and secure VPN (Virtual Private Network) is highly recommended to protect against WebRTC leaks. A VPN masks your IP address by routing your internet traffic through a server in a different location, making it difficult for websites to track your real IP address.

Other Recommended Browser Extensions or Settings to Disable WebRTC

There are several browser extensions available that can disable WebRTC and provide an additional layer of protection. Some popular extensions include WebRTC Control, ScriptSafe, and uBlock Origin. Additionally, modifying browser settings and disabling WebRTC-related features can help safeguard your privacy.

Testing the Effectiveness of WebRTC Disablement

Verifying whether WebRTC is successfully disabled on your browser is crucial to ensuring your privacy. There are online tools and websites available that can test for WebRTC leaks. By running these tests, you can confirm whether your browser is effectively blocking WebRTC and preventing potential IP leaks.

How to Verify if WebRTC is Successfully Disabled on Your Browser

Several websites offer WebRTC leak tests, such as https://ipleak.net and https://www.purevpn.com/webrtc-leak-test . Visit these websites and follow the instructions to perform a WebRTC leak test. If the test results show that your IP address is hidden and the WebRTC functionality is blocked, then you have successfully disabled WebRTC.

Disabling WebRTC is an essential step in protecting your privacy online. By following the steps outlined for different browsers and adopting additional measures like using a VPN and browser extensions, you can significantly reduce the risk of WebRTC-related IP leaks and safeguard your online identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will disabling WebRTC affect my ability to use certain websites or services?

A: Disabling WebRTC should not have any significant impact on your regular browsing experience or the use of common websites and services. However, some specific websites or services that rely heavily on WebRTC functionality may experience limited functionality.

Q: Is it necessary to disable WebRTC if I already use a VPN?

A: While using a VPN helps protect your privacy by masking your IP address, WebRTC leaks can bypass VPN protection. Therefore, disabling WebRTC is still recommended to ensure complete privacy.

Q: Are there any potential downsides to disabling WebRTC?

A: Disabling WebRTC can limit certain real-time communication features offered by websites and services that rely on WebRTC. However, these limitations are generally minimal and are outweighed by the increased privacy and security benefits.

Q: Are there any alternatives to disabling WebRTC?

A: If disabling WebRTC is not feasible or desired, you can consider using a reputable WebRTC-blocking browser extension. These extensions allow you to control WebRTC functionality and prevent potential IP leaks.

Q: Can mobile browsers be affected by WebRTC leaks?

A: Yes, mobile browsers can also be susceptible to WebRTC leaks. It is recommended to disable WebRTC or use WebRTC-blocking browser extensions on mobile devices to protect your privacy.

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How to Disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, Safari & Opera

How to Disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, Safari & Opera (Step by Step)

In this article, we will show you how to disable WebRTC in various browsers for the most popular operating systems.

1. What WebRTC is and how it works

WebRTC means Web Real-Time Communication. This protocol is an open standard one which helps you to stream audio and video data in real-time. To use this technology, you do not require to download and install any programs. All configurations are performed directly in the browser. At the moment, this standard is supported by most popular browsers.

WebRTC was created to quickly transfer and protect confidential information when using local network streams. This protocol is useful to organize network meetings and remote conferences.

01 how webrtc works

Does the WebRTC handle its tasks? Definitely not. According to the original idea, the WebRTC technology was developed by Google to securely exchange video and audio data between two users (p2p-connection) without the need to use any third-party software. That is, you do not need to install anything on your computer, you simply use WebRTC as a useful addition to the browser installed on your PC. However, the technology does not fulfill its tasks.

The WebRTC standard allows third-party users to easily determine the IP address of a network user, avoiding the software barriers of VPN, TOR, SOCKS, and other network protectors. In addition, this is not the bad functioning of these services, but the flaws of your browser. As WebRTC is available by default in many browsers, they are all potentially vulnerable. They nullify all your efforts to anonymize your computer on the network.

Therefore, we recommend disabling this feature in your browser. Let us dive into how you can do that.

2. Why WebRTC-leaks are dangerous

Despite the real convenience of only using the web browser instead of several additional applications, it endangers your online privacy. In what way? We already mentioned that using this technology your browser connects directly to another customer’s browser, as well as web application or website.

In this case, the software you use will ignore the network settings. All these steps allow disclosing your real IP address, both local and external, given by your internet service provider. In case you use an anonymous VPN service, it can help to solve the privacy issue. It will hide your IP address and in most cases block the WebRTC leak. What the service will be able to detect is the local address or the VPN server address. Don’t be afraid of local addresses. It is usually the same thing when you use the Wi-Fi router to access the network.

In case you use a proxy server, WebRTC can disclose your real address. In this case, you will not be able to access restricted resources, or when you use such resources, you can be detected and punished.

3. How to check for WebRTC-leaks

First of all, you are able to check whether your browser leaks the WebRTC. How? There are many services on the internet you can just access and run a simple test.

02 whoer.net

One of the most popular and best platforms to check the connection privacy is whoer.net. It provides the detailed information about your connection. You will be able to access the lite and extended version of the test. If your WebRTC leaks, it will display WebRTC enabled.

4. How to disable WebRTC in different browsers

4.1 google chrome.

The version of Google Chrome for Windows, MacOS, and Linux does not contain any built-in features to disable the WebRTC. Perhaps Google thinks that, since the WebRTC was created to improve online convenience, nobody would consider disabling it. At the same time, the feature is available in Google Chrome for Android. So, how to disable WebRTC in Google Chrome for desktop operating systems? You will have to use one of the many available extensions from the Chrome Web Store.

What are the most popular ones?

Check WebRTC Control, WebRTC Leak Prevent, Easy WebRTC Block, uMatrix, ScriptSafe, uBlock Origin etc. Some of them have more features, some of them less. Anyways, they provide an additional functionality to disable WebRTC in Google Chrome. We advise using WebRTC Control as it is the simplest one and allows you to disable WebRTC in one click.

How to install this extension

Open the Chrome Web Store in your browser.

03 chrome store

  • In the search field, type WebRTC Control.
  • In the search results, click on add to Chrome button, and wait until the installation completes. You will get a pop-up notification.
  • Enable the plugin. If it is active, its icon will be blue.

04 chrome enabled

In comparison to the desktop version of the browser, Chrome for Android allows disabling the WebRTC with built-in features. What should you do?

  • In the browser’s address bar, type chrome://flags/#disable-webrtc.
  • Select Enable to activate the feature.
  • Reboot your browser and, in some cases, your device in order to apply the changes.

However, this feature is not available in the latest versions of the browser. If this is the case for you, the only possible option is to use a reliable VPN service that blocks the WebRTC leaks.

Despite Opera using the same browser engine as Google Chrome, its latest version supports the WebRTC block in the browser settings. What do you have to do to activate the feature?

  • In the side menu on the left click on Settings — Privacy & Security.
  • Find the WebRTC section and check the Disable non-proxied UDP box.

Opera WebRTC

That’s all. As you can see, it is really very easy. However, if you use an older version of Opera, it also does not provide the feature to disable the WebRTC by default. In that case, similar to Google Chrome, the only possible option to disable this protocol is to use additional extensions. They are similar to the Google Chrome extensions and provide the same functionality. We advise also using WebRTC Control as it is very simple and easy to use.

How to install WebRTC Control for the Opera browser

05 opera install

  • In the left side menu, select Extensions – Get more extensions to open the extension store.
  • Type WebRTC Control in the search field.
  • In the search results, click on Add to Opera button.
  • In a couple of seconds, you will get a notification about the successful installation, and the icon will be displayed in the extensions bar.
  • Like Google Chrome, activate the extension to disable WebRTC. If it is active, the icon’s color will be blue.

06 opera enabled

4.3 UC Browser

This is another browser that uses the Google Chrome engine, meaning you are also unable to disable WebRTC by default. At the same time, you are able to install any Chrome extension to activate a feature. We also advise using WebRTC Control.

How to install this extension in the UC Browser?

  • Go to the Chrome Web Store page and type in the search field WebRTC Control.
  • In the search results, click on Add to Chrome button and wait until the installation completes.
  • Activate the extension. The icon’s color must be blue when it disables the WebRTC.

4.4 Mozilla Firefox

If you are useing the Mozilla Firefox browser, there are two available options to disable WebRTC: from the advanced settings, or by using third-party extensions.

Advanced configuration

  • In the address bar type about:config
  • When the system asks whether you understand the risk, click the <I accept the risk!> button.
  • In the search field, copy and paste the following: media.peerconnection.enabled
  • In the search results, click the right mouse button and select Toggle.

08 firefox manual toggle

This action will disable the WebRTC in your browser.

09 firefox manual disabled

Third-party extension

  • In the right top corner click on the button looking like three horizontal lines, and select Add-ons.
  • In the search results, click on Install button and wait until the installation completes.
  • Reload the browser to activate the add-on. If it is active, the icon’s color will be blue.

10 firefox plugin install

4.5 Microsoft Edge

Microsoft has recently announced the WebRTC support. However, it is not possible to block it completely in the browser but you can partially do it. So what can you do with your Edge browser? Microsoft Edge uses the WebRTC technology.

To partially disable WebRTC in the Microsoft Edge browser, follow these steps:

  • In the address bar, enter about:flags and go to WebRTC section.
  • Mark the checkbox named Hide my local IP address over WebRTC connections.
  • Restart your Microsoft Edge browser to apply the changes.

12 edge

4.6 Brave Browser

This browser positions itself as a highly protected software so it includes the built-in features to disable the WebRTC.

How can you manually deactivate the feature?

  • In the right top corner, click on the menu button and go to Settings.
  • Find the Security section, and then the WebRTC IP Handling Policy.
  • In the drop-down menu, select Disable non-proxied UDP.
  • Restart your browser to apply the changes.

13 brave

4.7 Epic Browser

This is another browser that uses the Chrome engine and positions itself as a highly protected browser. However, it leaks WebRTC and does not contain any features to disable it. How to fix the issue? Use a reliable VPN that protects against WebRTC leaks.

Apple has also recently announced the WebRTC support. It works on all the latest versions of the browser, both for MacOS and iOS. The setting is experimental, but you can disable the protocol both on the computer and mobile device. Let’s look closer on how to do it.

14 safari develop menu

  • Open the browser and click on the Safari tab in the menu tab.
  • Select Preferences and go to the Advanced tab.
  • At the bottom, find the box named Show Develop menu in menu bar and check it.
  • Come back to the main menu and go to the Develop tab.
  • In the drop-down menu, check the Remove Legacy WebRTC API line.

This configuration will help to disable WebRTC in the desktop version of Safari.

  • To disable WebRTC in Safari for iPhone or iPad, first of all, go to the device Settings.
  • In the Settings area, scroll down to the Safari tab.
  • Next, go to the Advanced — Experimental Features section.
  • Now check the Remove Legacy WebRTC API box.
  • Open the Safari browser. WebRTC will be disabled.

16 safari ios webrtc disabled

4.9 Dolphin Browser (Android)

The Dolphin browser for Android is a modern browser that supports all the popular security protocols. It also supports WebRTC technology. So, how to disable it in this mobile browser? Unfortunately, there is no way to manage the WebRTC features and you are not able to disable it right in the browser. What can you do instead? Install a reliable VPN app on your device. It will be able to protect you against the WebRTC leaks.

As we found out, WebRTC is a great protocol when it comes to online conferences and direct video streaming between two browsers because you will be able to do everything directly in your web browser without having to install any additional software.

At the same time, if you worry about your online privacy, WebRTC is not your friend. It ignores all the network settings and allows to share your real IP address and other network data with third parties. So, if you want to hide your real data and avoid data leaks, disable this feature in the browser settings.

However, not every browser allows managing the WebRTC settings. The very popular Google Chrome is the best example. As a result, many browsers using the same engine inherited the same problem. In such cases, you will be able to disable the WebRTC by using some of the popular extensions or add-ons. In the review, we advised WebRTC Control because it is very easy to use and it’s available for most popular browsers.

In some cases, you will not be able to change this feature at all. What can you do in that case? Select one of the reliable VPN services. We reviewed many of them on our website. Read our previous materials and make the right choice.

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About The Author

webrtc leak prevent safari

Marcus Eriksson

3 thoughts on “how to disable webrtc in chrome, firefox, safari & opera”.

' src=

Thanks but the safari develop menu doesn’t look like the one you posted… Any possible update would be much appreciated!

webrtc leak prevent safari

If you don’t see Legacy WebRTC API then you have the updated version and you don’t need to do anything. Legacy WebRTC API had a flaw that exposed your IP even if you used a VPN.

' src=

I need to disable WEBRTC in safari IOS, it does not show up the LEGACY WebRTC API

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IMAGES

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  1. How to Fix WebRTC Leaks (Solutions for ALL Browsers)

    Here's how: Click "Safari" in the menu bar. Then click Preferences. Click on the "Advanced" tab, then at the bottom check the box for "Show Develop menu in menu bar". Now, click on "Develop" in the menu bar. Under the "WebRTC" option, if "Enable Legacy WebRTC API" is checked, click on it to disable this option (no ...

  2. How to stop WebRTC leaks on Chrome or any browser [SOLVED]

    See also: Best VPNs for Safari. How to stop WebRTC leaks on Android. Those with old versions of Android — such as 8.1.0 Oreo — are often advised to disable WebRTC Stun origin header in the flags menu. However, in our experience this does not work. Even if we disable every WebRTC-related setting, our real IP address leaks.

  3. How to Stop a WebRTC Leak on Your Favorite Browser

    Stopping a WebRTC Leak in Firefox. Unlike Chrome, Firefox does allow for these WebRTC related settings to be changed within the browser. It just takes three simple steps: After opening Firefox, enter "about:config" in the URL bar. The setting you need to search for is "media.peerconnection.enabled". Now double-click the entry, or single ...

  4. WebRTC leak: how to test & prevent IP leaks

    To test whether your browser is leaking your IP address, use any online WebRTC leak checker (there is also one at the top of this page). If the WebRTC leak checker suggests that you have a leak, here are the 6 steps you can take to confirm whether or not that's 100% true. Disconnect from your VPN. Open a new page in a new window and look up ...

  5. WebRTC leaks: what they are and how to prevent them

    With Safari, go to Preferences and click on the Advanced tab. Here, check the box saying Show Develop menu in menu bar. ... While many providers claim to prevent WebRTC leaks, many fail to do so. ...

  6. What is a WebRTC leak & How To Test It [+Video]

    It's up to the user to find ways to block these leaks or disable WebRTC entirely. The good thing is that you can easily perform a WebRTC leak test yourself. Performing the test is one of the best ways to enact WebRTC leak prevention. ... Disabling WebRTC on Safari is possible, but the option is a bit harder to find than on Firefox. That's ...

  7. What Are WebRTC Leaks and How Can You Prevent Them?

    How to Disable WebRTC In Safari. If you're using Safari, you can disable WebRTC in the Preferences menu. Once you enter it, navigate to the Advanced tab at the bottom, ... Prevent WebRTC Leaks to Stay Safe . WebRTC is an ambitious project that will likely stick around for years to come. As useful and convenient as it is, it does have some ...

  8. WebRTC Leaks and Your Privacy (+ how to fix them)

    Open the Brave browser. Find and click " Settings ". Click on the search icon, located in the upper right of the screen (or press CTRL+F) In the search bar, type webrtc. Under WebRTC IP Handling Policy, click the drop-down. Select "Default public interface only" from the drop-down. Restart browser and test for leaks.

  9. What is a WebRTC Leak & How to Test On Any Browser

    Safari. Safari recently added WebRTC as an experimental developer feature, so you'll have to enable developer settings first. Follow these steps: Click the Safari option in your browser. Select Preferences from the drop-down menu. ... To prevent WebRTC leaks with uBlock, right-click on the extension's icon and select Options. Head to the ...

  10. WebRTC leaks: How to find and fix this potential privacy problem

    But the Chrome Extension we mentioned above can change the security & privacy setting of the WebRTC but can't disable it. 3. Safari browser. If you're using this web browser, you can also disable WebRTC. But note that the developers of the browser only recently implemented WebRTC to it. ... The best way to handle a WebRTC leak is to prevent ...

  11. What Is WebRTC? How to Stop WebRTC Leaks

    Like Firefox, Safari allows you to change the settings to disable WebRTC. Click Safari in the menu, then click Settings. Click Advanced and then check "Show Develop menu in menu bar. Then, in the menu bar, click the Develop tab. In the drop-down menu, navigate to the WebRTC option, then click Enable Legacy WebRTC API.

  12. WebRTC and WebGL Leaks: How to Fix and Prevent Them

    Setting 3: Turn off WebGL. Similarly to turning off WebRTC, you can disable WebGL by typing in " about:config " in the address bar and searching for " webgl.disabled .". Toggle this setting to " True " by right-clicking on the toggle button to the right. Restart Firefox and you should've turned off WebGL.

  13. How to Disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Others

    Open the Chrome Web Store. Search for 'WebRTC Control.'. Click 'Add to Chrome' and then 'Add Extension' to install the add-on. Right-click on the add-on icon to change its options. This article provides steps on how to disable WebRTC from your browser. Learn all about this feature and why you may want to turn it off.

  14. WebRTC Leaks: A Complete Guide

    Disable your VPN . Find and note your device's public IP address. Turn your VPN back on. Open your browser to ExpressVPN's WebRTC leak test tool. If it's showing your device's real IP address from step two, then there is a leak. If it's showing a different IP address, then your VPN works.

  15. WebRTC Leak Test: Prevent IP Address Leaks

    How to disable WebRTC in Firefox on desktop. Type about:config into the address bar. Click the "I accept the risk!" button that appears. Type media.peerconnection.enabled in the search bar. Double-click to change the Value to "false". This should work on both mobile and desktop versions of Firefox.

  16. WebRTC Leak Test

    Click Safari in the menu bar; Then click Preferences; Go to the Advanced tab: at the bottom, find the checkbox that reads Show Develop menu in menu bar; Next, click on Develop in the menu bar. Under WebRTC, see if Enable Legacy WebRTC API is checked. If so, click on it to disable. Easy

  17. How to Disable WebRTC in Safari for iPhone

    In order to disable WebRTC in Safari, you will need to open the Settings application on your iOS device. Once you are in the Settings app, find and tap the Safari option. After that, tap on the ...

  18. How to disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera & Edge

    Opera doesn't have a Way to disable WebRTC. You can use third-party Addons like WebRTC Leak Prevent just like you did with Chrome. Keep in mind that these Extensions do not fix the Leak. Instead, they block the Attempts the Websites make to collect IP Addresses.

  19. How to prevent WebRTC leaks from revealing your real IP address

    Open Mozilla Firefox and type about:config in the address bar, then press the Enter key on your keyboard. Accept the warning by clicking Accept the Risk and Continue. Type media.peerconnection.enabled in the search bar. Double-click the media.peerconnection.enabled entry or click the Toggle icon.

  20. How to disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera and Edge

    Disabling WebRTC in Mozilla Firefox. 1. Go to the URL bar, type about:config and press enter. 2. Firefox will display a warning message. Click on I accept. 3. It will take you to another page. In the Search bar, type media.peerconnection.enabled.

  21. WebRTC Leak Prevent

    Prevent WebRTC leaks using the official API. Prevent WebRTC leaks in Chrome by controlling hidden WebRTC privacy settings. This will protect against WebRTC leaks.

  22. Disable Webrtc: The Ultimate Guide To Webrtc Disabling Methods

    Here are the steps to disable WebRTC on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari: Steps to Disable WebRTC on Google Chrome. Open Google Chrome and type "chrome://flags" in the address bar. ... mobile browsers can also be susceptible to WebRTC leaks. It is recommended to disable WebRTC or use WebRTC-blocking browser ...

  23. How to Disable WebRTC in Chrome, Firefox, Safari & Opera

    Type WebRTC Control in the search field. In the search results, click on Add to Opera button. In a couple of seconds, you will get a notification about the successful installation, and the icon will be displayed in the extensions bar. Like Google Chrome, activate the extension to disable WebRTC. If it is active, the icon's color will be blue.