VPN and Proxy detection is a technique used by websites, streaming services, and online retailers to identify if a visitor is using a masked connection. By checking your IP address against databases of known datacenter ranges, VPN servers, and Tor exit nodes, websites can decide whether to grant you access, show you different pricing, or block you entirely.

Streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer are the most famous users of this technology, often blocking entire VPN subnets to enforce regional licensing agreements.

Our auditor uses a multi-layered approach to determine your connection signature:

• ASN Analysis: We check if your IP belongs to a residential ISP or a commercial datacenter (like AWS or DigitalOcean).
• ISP Fingerprinting: Many VPNs use specific server providers (like M247) which are easily flagged.
• Blacklist Verification: We check if your IP has been flagged for "suspicious activity" in international abuse databases.

Most standard VPNs use **Datacenter IPs**. These are cheap and fast but very easy to block. **Residential VPNs** (often called Residential Proxies) route your traffic through someone's home network. These are much harder to detect but often slower and less secure.