A VPN or proxy connects a user’s computer to a server in a remote location, masking their real identity and obscuring their true geographic location. As such, fraudsters use this connection to commit a wide range of fraudulent activities like account takeover attacks, fake registrations, and payment fraud. To prevent this, developers need a robust API that can detect proxy and VPN connections so that suspicious users or payments are subject to additional verification measures.

ipXapi’s API offers a enterprise malicious link detection set of features that help developers maintain security and authenticity in their applications. Among them is a VPN and Proxy detection feature that enables developers to instantly identify risky connections. This capability can be especially useful for iGaming, e-commerce, and other applications that require a high level of security to protect sensitive data and financial transactions.

Why Businesses Rely on Mobile Carrier Identification APIs

The VPN and Proxy detection feature utilizes multiple methods to evaluate the legitimacy of a user’s connection. One method checks if the IP address is on a known blacklist of VPN or proxy IPs. Another technique matches the timezone in a web browser with the timezone of the user’s device to identify mismatches that indicate proxy usage.

By analyzing the security details of an IP, the API can provide an accurate threat score to determine whether it’s associated with a proxy, Tor, bot, spam, cloud provider, or shows signs of a suspicious location mismatch. This ensures that only legitimate users can use a gaming platform, community forum, or live chat application.