Detecting and check IP reputation and trust level is a not-so-secret effort by websites, apps, and networks to spot when someone is using a virtual private network to hide their location. Whether due to region-specific content licensing or to avoid fraud, the goal is to protect accounts and prevent unauthorized access. But there’s more to VPN detection than just checking for a mismatched device and browser fingerprints—and it requires understanding how VPNs evade detection methods.
Using obfuscated servers, VPNs create tunnels that look like normal internet traffic to firewalls and security systems. However, deep packet inspection (DPI) can sift through the data in these packets and identify unique characteristics indicative of VPN use. Firewalls that offer DPI capabilities are adept at detecting and obstructing VPNs as they filter through their infrastructure, preventing them from connecting to their services.
VPNs are popular among media companies and copyright holders as a means of protecting intellectual property by ensuring that content only streams within its legal boundaries. Additionally, prices for flights, apps, and digital services often vary by region, making VPNs a common tool to bypass pricing restrictions. VPN detection helps these platforms ensure users don’t try to access regionally-exclusive discounts from outside their intended market—a clear violation of terms of service.
In addition to their operational, privacy, and fraud protection benefits, enterprise VPNs also provide encrypted network tunnels critical to ensuring cybersecurity. Disrupting them can lead to unauthorized workarounds by remote employees, creating vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. Additionally, disrupting them can deprive them of the resources they need to do their jobs, reducing productivity and putting the business at risk.
