VPN detection API allows developers to identify proxy or virtual private network connections. This helps to prevent users from using a masked IP address, which can bypass a network’s built-in security and may lead to a data breach. For example, streaming service providers can use VPN detection to block unauthorized subscribers or viewers from accessing their content. Additionally, e-commerce and financial companies can use this to detect fraudsters, as changes in the type or location of an IP address is one of the most common indicators of fraudulent behavior.
A VPN detection API uses a database to check whether a given IP is being used as a proxy, a Tor exit node, or if it belongs to a VPN server. This can be done with either a simple API call or by installing a web application on your servers. These tools typically run a series of tests on the provided URL and return the results in a simple format that can be parsed by your application.
The SEON service, for instance, provides a simple API for detecting VPN and proxy IPs. It can also perform other tests, such as determining if a user is behind a firewall or has an open port. This information can then be combined with other factors to flag a customer as potentially fraudulent. For example, you could build a custom rule on the SEON scoring engine that will score a customer higher if their VPN type is DCH and they are connecting from a Nordic country.
Depending on your business’s security requirements, you can choose from a variety of different VPN detection API options. Some APIs can return the test results in real-time, while others will require a certain amount of processing power to process the requests. You should also consider the cost of integrating the API into your system, as some may be costly if you have a large volume of calls.
In addition to checking the status of a VPN connection, some of these APIs can even help you detect the types of protocols being used by a particular VPN. This is important, as each VPN protocol offers unique features that can be exploited by hackers. Some of these features include obfuscation, which is a method of encrypting the payload.
Some of these APIs offer a free tier that you can use to test your integration, while others have more advanced plans for those with greater needs. For example, GetIPIntel offers a full suite of security services that can detect VPNs, proxies, and other bad IPs. They also provide an SDK so that you can integrate their services into your app.