How to detect residential proxy networks are used by internet users to mask their real IP addresses and appear to be someone else when they connect to the internet. This is especially useful for people trying to bypass content blocks that are based on geolocation. Using a residential proxy can make web requests appear to come from a wide range of countries, allowing you to access restricted content.
Detecting Residential Proxy Networks: Tools and Strategies
However, as the popularity of residential proxies has grown, so too have the methods for detecting these proxies. Detecting and blocking these proxies helps level the playing field for genuine consumers by preventing scalpers from purchasing limited stock items in bulk and reselling them at significantly higher prices.
Identifying whether an IP address is a residential proxy requires some critical thinking and analysis of the information provided by an IP lookup. To start, focus on the geographic location of the IP address. If it matches a residential area, then it is likely a residential proxy.
The next thing to check is the ISP and organization associated with the IP address. If the name identifies a proxy company, it is more likely that the IP address is a residential proxy.
If you want to find out if an IP address is a datacenter or residential proxy, there are several online services that can help. One of the most reliable is WhatIsMyIPAddress Proxy Checker, which provides a comprehensive lookup that includes details about the ISP, organization and geographical location of the proxy.