VPN Leak Laptop Location

VPN
1

So, total newbie here.
I’m in Europe but trying to get my laptop to look like it’s in the US.
I’m using a VPN (private internet access) and a GL-SFT1200 plugged into a router.

Everything looks like it’s configured as it should be, when I check my location it comes back as in the US, but the laptop is showing I’m in Europe, the exact town… The laptops time isn’t even changing.

I have Block Non-VPN Traffic enabled so I’m assuming that there must be a leak somewhere.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

2

https://thewirednomad.com/vpn

Please read through the above link. As other commenters said, you might be using Wi-Fi instead of wiring your connection directly to the travel router which is what you must do otherwise the Wi-Fi SSIDs can geolocate your position.

3

https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalnomad/s/PCVtpWSO54

4

Disable location service for a peace of mind

5

All good suggestions above, might I add disabling your WWAN card if you have one? Also check what your DNS is set to - make sure to use the server’s DNS through the VPN

6

Surrouding wifi and bleutooth devices can be used to track you too

7

+1 about the wifi especially. Also OP, if you’re using Google to check your location, make sure that once you have locked down the computer using the tips above that you also clear cookies and cache in the browser… and make sure you don’t have any personal devices not protected by the VPN signing into the same account.

Also make sure you do not have any company apps (slack, etc) on your mobile phone.

8

I understand connecting the client laptop to travel router via Ethernet to reduce wifi geo-location .

What about the travel router to the local network router? Any disadvantages of connecting via wifi for this part as ip/location leaking ?

9

Same account as in same email? Same google account? Wdym?

10

Yes… Aside from using whatsmyip.com or similar IP sites I know some customers do a google search for “what’s my location” to check location and expect a VPN to change it - but if you do that via a vpn while logged into the same google account as you’re using on your personal phone, the phone is still going to be providing google with your real location.

I know of a few cases where people doing online interviews for remote jobs were asked to screenshare and do this same google search during a live videoconference interview and were surprised by the result because of this. You didn’t mention how the “laptop is still showing in Europe”, so wanted to add this just in case.